From: KyArchives [Archives@genrecords.org]
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 2:53 AM
To: Ky-Footsteps
Subject: Hugh.Merideth.Cashes.In.1913.Bell-Leslie.NEWS


Hugh Merideth Cashes In September 26, 1913
Bell-Leslie County KyArchives News

Pineville Sun September 26, 1913
Word reached this city last Saturday afternoon that Hugh Merideth,who broke jail in Pineville in January of this year,had benn killed in Leslie County at the home of his brother-in-law,George Wilson,while resisting arrest. On Sunday about noon a wagon,pulled by one horse,in which was a home-made box,on which was seated four men heavily armed,drove into town and stopped at the jail. The word soon passed that the body of Hugh Merideth had been brought here and delivered to jailer Wilson. A large crowd soon gathered,and the particulars of Merideth's death were soon made known. On Sunday,September 17,1911,Hugh Merideth shot and killed Andy Saylor at the home of his (Merideth's) Mother on Red Bird. He was arrested and brought to Pineville the following day and lodged in jail. Merideth was tried at the Febuary term,1912,of the Circuit Court and was convicted of volutary manslaughter. His attorney's appealed his case,and this verdict was set aside by the Court of Appeals. He was released on bond of $5,000,which was sighned by Rufus Wilson, I.L.Hopkins and Henry Broughton. His case was set for trial at the October term of the court,and a few days before the day of his trial he skipped the country leaving his bondsmen in the lurch. His bondsmen at once instituted search for the fugitive,and a reward of $500 was offered for his capture. He was finally arrested several months later in a mining camp in Virginia,where he was going under the name of Slusher. He was returned to Pineville and again lodged in jail. At his trial at the Jan- uary term of Court Merideth was again convicted of murder,the jury giving him a life sentence in the penitentiary,confined in the jail with Merideth were Fayette Jones and Giberk both of whom had been convicted of murder.And the trio were awaiting the sentence of the court before being taken to the penitentiary at Frakfurt. 
On Sunday mourning,January 19,when the turnkey at the jail went to look over the prisoners he found that sometime during the night five of his charges had diss- appeared,among the number being Merideth,Jones and Giberk. The prisoners had 
sawed thier way to liberty,and had made good thier escape. Jailer Rufus Wilson was at Middlesboro at the time attending court. He came home on the first train and the effort to capture the fugitives was begun. A reward was offered,and from time to time,reports as to the whereabouts of the escaped prisoners would come,but investigations would prove thier falsity,about two weeks ago Mr.Wilson recieved a letter from,Deputy Sheriff Robert Helton,of Leslie County sayong that he had Merideth located in that county and asked that a warrant be sent to him for his arrest. This was done. That Helton had his man located the events of Saturday mourning played. Mr.Helton recieved the warrant on last Wednesday and on Friday night,accompanied by Daniel Helton,Samps Brock,and Grant Sizemore he went to the house of George Wilson,a brother-in-law of Merideth who lived on Beech Fork. They arrived at Wilson's just before daylight on Saturday mourning. Hardly an hour had elapsed before they saw Merideth in the house,Brock and Daniel Helton were on one side of the house and Robert Helton and Sizemore on the other.Robert Helton called for Merideth to come out and surrender,Meridith and his sister Mrs.Wilson,started out the side door,near where Brock And Dan 
Helton were standing. Meridith had his arm around his sister,seeing Brock, Meridith pulled his pistol and fired,but missed,and ran back through the house and out another door..As he attempted to get over a fence he again attempted to shoot,but the posse was to quick for him. Several shots rang out and Meridith fell. Samps. Brock ran to him and grabbed his pistol,but that was unnessary,he was dead. Only one shot took affect,it striking Meridith in the left cheek, ranging backwards breaking his neck. The posse stayed at Wilson's home until about 1 o'clock Saturday. In the meantime they had procured a suit of clothes and other articles of dress,and prepared the corpse for burial. They brought the remains to the home of Deputy Sheriff Robert Helton on Middle Fork,reaching there about 2 o'clock Sunday mourning. After a short rest and breakfast they started to Pineville,reaching here as stated. Meridith's remains were taken to the undertaking establishment of Brownlee & Sons and placed in a casket. His relatives on Red Bird had been notified,and they came in late in the evening and left a few hours later with the remains,taking them to the home of his mother. The interment took place Monday afternoon in the family burying ground. Deputy Sheriff Helton and his associates remained in Pineville until Monday afternoon,when they left for home. They were paid the reward offered for Meridith's capture by jailer Wilson. Meridith himself was responsible for his tragic end,it is the general opinion had he acted the man and appeared for trial instead of jumping bond,he would have probablly been aquited of the murder of Saylor. The cource he followed robbed him of his friends,and made him an outcast with a price on his head. Of the five men who broke jail with Meridith,two are yet at large,Fayette Jones and Giberk.



Submitted by: Floyd Vaughn and Floyd Vaughn
%demail  floydvaughn@netscape.com



Additional Comments:
This is brother of my grandmother;Martha Merideth Lawson and son of Lucy Asher who married Henry Lincoln Lawson.

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