Hancock County, Kentucky Stories
Helm Jarret Kills George
Henderson Saturday Night
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By Stacey Allen
News Clipping Dated January 14, 1890, by
R. M. Mulholland, for non-profit use
A Deliberate Deed that Deserves a Speedy Hanging - Jarret Escapes - A Reward
for His Capture.
Hawesville, January 13. - Last Saturday night as Ben F. Morris' six miles
below this place Helm Jarret shot Geo. Henderson in the Abdomen. Henderson
died this morning at 2 o'clock. The cause of the shooting as stated to your
correspondent by an eye witness is as follows: Jaret went to Morris' where
a dance was in progress and was about half drunk and very noisy and
boisterous. The young men present asked him to keep quiet as there were
ladies present and his language was not the kind to be used in the presence
of ladies. This proved worthless as Jarret continued his indecent language
until Henderson, who was a warm firend of Jarret's was persuaded to request
him to be quiet. Henderson went to him and told him to be quiet and behave
himself. Old man Morris then spoke to Jarrett, and the latter then drew a
pistol on him and threatened to shoot him. Henderson stepped between them
and told him not to shoot an old man who was nearly blind. Jarret replied;
"Oh, damn you, maybe you want some of it," and deliberately fired, adding as
the poor fellow fell, "Now die, damn you."
The ball entered the central part of Henderson's abdomen, causing his death
as stated above.
Jarret made his escape, but dropped his revolver just outside the house in
the yard.
Henderson was one of our best and most highly respected farmers. He was of
good family and was always a very quiet and sober man.
Jarret is a regular desperado. There is an indictment in this county
against him for shooting with the intent to kill one Jas Lampkins. The
Hendersons are looked upon as reasonably wealthy and it is thought they will
offer a reward sufficient to cause the arrest of Jarret. The pistol with
which the murder was committed was a .38 caliber British bulldog, and was
the same one with which Jarret had been guilty of shooting before.
James Henderson, the father of the murdered man, has offered a reward of one
hundred dollars for the capture of Jarret. There is much indignation
against him in the neighborhood in which the crime was committed, and the
general sentiment of the people is that he ought to be hung.
See Also Helm
Jarred hid-out in room beneath corn crib for more on this story.