Hancock County, Kentucky Stories
Helm Jarret Kills George
Henderson Saturday Night

[Query Forum] [Archives] [Lookups] [Home] [Email County Coordinator]

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.