Transcribed from:  The Lexington Herald  Mar. 16, 1906

GIANT WHO WEIGHED 560 POUNDS IS DEAD

Ross Skaggs, of Lawrence County, Was Six Feet Ten Inches Tall and Largest Man in Kentucky.

Mt. Sterling, Ky., March 16 - Ross Skaggs, the Lawrence county giant, is dead at his home near Blaine.  He was about fifty-five years old and was six feet and ten inches tall.

He tipped the beam at 560 pounds, and was the largest man in Kentucky.  Mr. Skaggs had traveled extensively.  He was a popular and genial man.

1906-07-02; Extracted from: Lexington Herald-Leader, published as: The Lexington Herald

MURDER AT CONVENTION OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS

Two Dead as the Result of a Shooting Affray Near Louisa

                Louisa, Ky., July 1 – Tupper Vanhorn and a Miss Ross are dead as the result of a shooting affray that occurred twelve miles from Louisa.  The scene of the tragedy was the grounds surrounding Mt. Zion church, on Bear Creek, and a Sunday school convention was in session at the time.  Two youthful sons of W. M. Caldwell were conducting a lemonade stand a short distance from the church.  Vanhorn and his brother, both intoxicated, it is claimed, wrecked the lemonade stand.

                The father of the boys went to their rescue and the affair at once became so serious that he drew a pistol.  About twenty-five shots were fired.  One of the Vanhorns was shot and a stray bullet struck Miss Ross, causing her death soon afterward.  The young lady was a daughter of John Ross, a prominent farmer.  Mr. Caldwell is an excellent citizen and was taking part in the program of the convention when the trouble came up.

1906-11-25; Extracted from: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, published as: The Fort Worth Telegram

DIES IN WATER

Woman Takes Her Own Life by Jumping in Creek

                Louisa, Ky., Nov. 24 – The wife of Rev. G. W. Pangburn of Buchanan, this county, ended her life by drowning in Bear creek.  She was recovering from typhoid fever.  Her absence was discovered at 2 a.m. and a searching party was organized.  The body was found after daylight, clothed only in a night gown.

1907-09-20; Extracted from: Lexington Herald-Leader, published as: The Lexington Herald

JOHNSON GETS LIFE IMPRISONMENT TERM

                Louisa, Ky., Sept. 19 – The jury in the case of Charles Johnson found him guilty today and fixed his punishment at life imprisonment.  Johnson killed James Boggs about three months ago.  There were no eye witnesses and the evidence was circumstantial.  Johnson claimed self-defense.

February 23,February 1908 Extracted from The New York Times

Hatfield Dies Tied to a Tree

Famous Feudist Captured by Enemies and Left to Die

Special to The New York Times

                  Louisville, Ky., February 22 - It was learned here today that Tom Hatfield, the famous mountain feudist, had died at Louisa, Ky.  Hatfield had been captured by enemies just across the West Virginia border, about a fortnight ago, and after being taken some distance back into the woods was tied to a tree and left to die.  He was found and brought to Louisa, but so severe had been his sufferings from the cold and exposure that both legs had to be amputated, and several of his fingers and toes were badly frozen.

                  Hatfield was a member of the Hatfield clan in the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud.  It will be remembered that “Devil Anse” Hatfield died in Pike County a few years ago after almost all of his kin had left for the south.  Tom Hatfield was one of the members of the band who seemed to bear a charmed life.  He had been in a number of battles, but had escaped practically unharmed in every instance.

                  Surviving members of the clan are vowing vengeance, and will try to find who killed Tom.

1908-09-02; Extracted from: Columbus Daily Enquirer, published as: The Columbus Enquirer-Sun

MAN SPIRITED AWAY TO ESCAPE FROM MOB

                        Louisa, Ky., Sept. 1 – John Spouse, charged with arson, was brought here Monday from near Cherokee to escape mob violence.  He is accused of having set fire to the residence of Charles Cooper, near Cherokee, Saturday, resulting in the destruction of the property and the lives of two of Cooper’s children.  Two other children are in serious condition.

                        Cooper is so badly burned that his recovery is not expected.  Mrs. Cooper  is seriously burned.

                        Spouse and Cooper had been engaged in a suit over lumber.

Transcribed from:  The Lexington Herald   September 7, 1908

Alonzo Kelley Admits Having Touched Match After Sproutz Spread Oil

  Louisa, Ky., Sept. 6 – Alonzo Kelley, aged fifteen years, today made a confession to the Sheriff and prosecuting attorney implicating John Sproutz in the burning of the home of Charles Cooper, in Lawrence county, near this place.

  Two small children were burned to death.  Cooper probably will die, and Mrs. Cooper and another will be disfigured for life as the result of the act of the incendiaries, committed on the night of August 28.

  Sproutz, who is a middle aged man, was removed from the county for safekeeping some days ago, a mob having been formed soon after he was arrested as a suspect.

  Young Kelley credits Sproutz with the leadership in the crime, which was the outgrowth of a neighborhood quarrel.  Sproutz, according to the confession of Kelley, threw oil on the corners of the house and Kelley applied the match on one side while Sproutz touched off the other.

1909-07-07; Extracted from: Lexington Herald, published as: The Lexington Herald

DIES FROM WHITE PLAGUE

                Louisa, Ky., July 6 – The wife of County Clerk Mont Holt died at this place of consumption.  Her age was thirty-two.  Three small children survive.

1910-05-19; Extracted from: Lexington Herald, published as: The Lexington Herald

Louisa, Ky., May 18 – Dan Allison was burned to death last night at his home near Louisa.  The building was consumed by flames.  Allison was seventy years old and lived alone.  He was well known and one of the last members of a family once prominent in this county.

1910-11-11; Extracted from: Lexington Herald, published as: The Lexington Herald

SUPPOSED SLAYER OF LOUISA MAN IS ARRESTED IN TEXAS

El Paso, Texas – Nov. 10 – Ben Blankenship, who was supposed to have killed Oscar Waller in Louisa, Ky. Last March as the result of a feud, surrendered to the police here today.  Blankenship says he is tired of evading arrest.

Transcribed from Charlotte Daily Observer March 8, 1914

ON BIGAMY CHARGE

Roanoke Man is Held in Roanoke, Has Two or Three Wives

1915-07-25; Extracted from: Grand Forks Herald, published as: The Grand Forks Daily Herald

OPERATION KILLS MOTHER

                Lexington, Ky., July 24 – Rolla K. Ferguson of Louisa, Ky., shot himself through the abdomen today and died three hours later.  He was despondent because he urged his mother to undergo an operation from which she died from shock.