| wives and children including two infants born after the mrder were
finally traced to Brown County, Indiana, where the old man and his
wife were living in an abandoned hut and the two boys and their wk
families were living in buts that they had built of poles, and .
arrested in January, 1891, Returned to Fentucky, they were granted
severances for their trials and William Puckett, tried first, was
convicted and sentenced to hang. His two sons were subsequently
convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, Puckett's conviction
was affirmed on appeal and then a strong effort for a commtation of
his sentence was made. A week before his execution, the Governor
was informed that he was dying of consumption but he refused a re-
preeve in order that he might, die of natural causes and he was
hanged Before a crogd of 4,000 persons in a.bottom surrounded by
hills outside of Irvine on,Feb, 5, 1892, His neck was broken by
the fall and he was pronounced dead four minutes after the trap fell,
The only sign of nervousness that he displayed was when his hands
were bound and the black cap placed over his head, He then swayed
and began repeating over and over: "Lord, have mercy on me,"
LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, Louisville, Ky., Feb. 6, 1892.
17 SOUTHWEST ERN 335¢
See excerpt from booklet THE NOOSE AND THE CHAIR by William Barker,
pp 9=5). My copy filed with other Kentucky pamphlets in envelopes
] wives and children including two infants born after the mrder were
finally traced to Brown County, Indiana, where the old man and his
wife were living in an abandoned hut and the two boys and their wie
families were living in buts that they hed built of poles, and .
arrested in January, 1891, Returned to Eentucky, they were granted
severances for their trials and William Puckett, tried first, was
convicted and sentenced to hang. His two sons were subsequently
convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Puckett's conviction
was affirmed on appeal and then a strong effort for a commtation of
his sentence was made. A week before his execution, the Governor
was informed that he was dying of consumption but he refused a re-
préeve in order that he might die of natural causes and he was
hanged Before a cro%d of ,000 persons in a.bottom surrounded by
hills outside of Irvine on,Feb. 5, 1892, His neck was broken by
the fall and he was pronounced dead four minutes after the trap fell,
The only sign of nervousness that he displayed was when his hands
were bound and the black cap placed over his head, He then swayed
and began repeating over and over: "Lord, have mercy on me,"
LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, Louisville, Ky., Feb. 6, 1892.
17 SOUTHWEST ERN 3356
See excerpt from booklet THE NOOSE AND THE GIAIR by William Barker,
pp 9-5. My copy filed with other Kentucky pamphlets in envelopes
wives and children including two infants born after the mrder were
finally traced to Brown County, Indiana, where the old man and his
wife were living in an abandoned hut and the two boys and their six
families were living in futs that they had built of poles, and
arrested in January, 1891, Returned to fentucky, they were granted
severances for their trials and William Puckett, tried first, was
Sous sted aun iaen enc cdhta) uae.) 5s) wale onal wece|aubseiiers1y
tenced to life Puckett's
was aortas of appeal and then a strong effort for a commutation of
his sentence was made. A weck before his execution, the Governor
was informed that he was dying of consumption but he refused a re~
préeve in order that he might die of natural causes and he was
hanged Before a crofd of 11,000 persons in a. bottom surrounded by
hills outside of Irvine on,Feb. e 1892, His neck was broken by
were bound and the lack cap placed over his shea He then swayed
and began repeating over and over: "Lord, have mercy on me,"
LOUISVILLE COURTERS JOURNAL Louisville, Ky,, Feb, 6, 1892.
17 SOUTHWESTERN 335¢
See excerpt from booklet THE NOOSE AND THE d
pp Lge! copy filed with other Kentucky pai
op Paced ov
iba Sak ceo moles
iar 3
ere, es
PUCKETT, William
Puckett, a middle-aged white man, was a resident of Estill County,
Ky. On election day, Nov, 4, 1890, he and his two grown sons, Tobe
and Ambrose, were in Irvine, the county seat, and got into a quarrel
with a man named Dillard Adams, The constable summoned Henry EH all
and several others to assist him in quelling the disturbance and
small pocket knives were taken from each of the Pucketts with Hall
tak@hg the weapon from Ambrose Puckettg. The Pucketts then left town
and it was throught that the trouble was over, but they returned
in a ghort while armed with clubs, Ambrose Puckebt approached Hall
and demanded the return of his knife, When Hall told him that he
did not have the knife, Ambrose struck him with the club and Hall
knocked him to the ground with his fist, William Puckett then
knocked Hall to the ground with his club and all three of the Puck-
etts began beating him, They were forced away by the crowd and a
physician summoned, He was treating Hall's wounds when William
Puckett broke through the crowd again and attacked Hall, saying that
he would."finish him," The crowd again interfered and Hall was taken
to his home while the Pucketts left town Hal} died of this epynds
three days aater and warrants were issued f
Pucketts who had by then left the county, After their indictment
: t hey
for murder, the Governor issued a reward for their arrest but
had left the State, The three Puckett men, together with their
PUCKETT, William
Puckett, a middle-aged white man, was a resident of Estill County,
Ky. On election day, Nov, , 1890, he and his two grown sons, Tobe
and Ambrose, were in Irvine, the county seat, and got into a quarrel
with a man named Dillard Adams. The constable summoned Henry H all
and several others to assist him in quelling the disturbance and
small pocket knives were taken from each of the Pucketts with Hall
takgtig the weapon from Ambrose Puckettg. The Pucketts then left town
and it was throught that the trouble was over, but they returned
in a dhort while armed with clubs, Ambrose Puckebt approached Hall
and demanded the return of his knife, When Hall told him that he
flid not have the knife, Ambrose struck him with the club and Hall
knocked him to the ground with his fist. William Puckett then
knocked Hall to the ground with his club and all three of the Puck-
tits began beating him, They were forced away by the crowd and a
physician summoned, He was treating Hall's wounds when William
Puckett broke through the crowd again and attacked Hall, saying that
he would."finish him." The crowd again interfered and Hall was taken
to his home while the Pucketts left tow jall. died of jhis Ads
three days ater and warrants were issued for r
Pucketts whe had by then left the county, After their indictment
but they
for mrder, the Governor issued a reward for their arrest
had left the States The three Puckett men, together with their
PUCKETT, Willian
Puckett, a middle-aged white man, was a resident of Estill County,
Ky. On election day, Nov. , 1890, he and his two grown sons, Tobe
and Ambrose, were in Irvine, the county seat, and got into a quarrel
with a man named Dillard Adams, The constable summoned Henry H all
and several others to assist him in quelling the disturbance and
small pocket knives were taken from each of the Pucketts with Hall
takiiig the weapon from Ambrose Puckettg. The Pucketts then left town
and it was throught that the trouble was over, but they returned
in a dhort while armed with clubs, Ambrose Puckebt approached Hall
and demanded the return of his knife, When Hall told him that he
Sid not have the knife, Ambrose struck him with the club and Hall
knocked him to the ground with his fist, William Puckett then
knocked Hall to the ground with his club and all three of the Puck-
‘tts began beating him, They were forced away by the crowd and a
physician summoned, He was treating Hall's wounds when Willian
Puckett broke through the crowd again and attacked Hall, saying that
he would."finish him." The crowd again interfered and Hall was taken|
to his home 1, di i
tree days Abter ard waveante wees seeta cHelneiad et ends eunds
Pucketts who had by then left the county, After their indictment
for mrder, the Governor issued a revard for their arrest but they
had left the State. The three Puckett men, together w:
io, he aod Bis to grow eorey Tob
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0