Coffey, Earlington Bee, October 31, 1901
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ASSASSINATION OF COFFEY.
Brave Officer Shot Down From Ambush Near the Empire Mine.
WAS FOLLOWING UNION OUTLAWS WHEN KILLED.
Party of Unionists Had Fired on Guard Preceding Miners Going Peaceably to WorK
FIVE UNION MEN ARE UNDER ARREST
Indignation Intense and Prospect for a Vigorous Prosecution
Hopkinsville, Ky.,
October 29,
The Empire Coal and Mining Company this afternoon offered a reward of $500 for the apprehension and conviction of the assassin or assassins of Mr. Robert Coffey.
(Special to the Bee.)
Empire, Ky., Oct. 26.—Robert H. Coffey, of Hopkinsville, a deputy sheriff of Christian county, was shot and killed early this morning near the Empire Coal Company’s mines at this palace. The murder was another of the outrages growing incident to the long and bitter contest between the union men allied with the United Mine Workers and the non-union miners employed in the coal mines of this section. Coffey was evidently shot from ambush while he was attempting to arrest a man or men in a buggy on a country road, whom he seems to have been pursuing. His body was found some hours later. A soft-nosed bullet had pierced his thigh, tearing out a great mass of bone and flesh.
A camp of union men, idlers and malcontents, is located in Hopkins county, a few miles from the Empire mines. The non-union miners have been so often fired and the property of the companies so often attacked that it has been necessary for the operators to employ guards to protect lives and property.
This morning about 6 o’clock John Fields, a guard at the Empire, was making a survey preparatory to the coming on of the day shift. He was fired on from the timber on a neighboring hillside. He dropped behind a railroad embankment and returned the fire from his Winchester. Fifty or sixty shots were directed at him, only three striking near him, though the range was only 150 to 200 yards. Hearing the shots, Coffey, and other deputies and guards about the mining settlement, seized their guns and rushed for the scene of action. Coffey, who was in charge of the armed forces, met a horseman, Dr. Geo. J. Gooch, who lent him his mounty, and Coffey made for the woods at a gallop, the others following and scattering through the hills. Some time after Coffey disappeared five shots were heard in the direction he had taken but were not immediately regarded.
When the searchers returned to Empire, Coffey was missing. Parties were sent out to look for him and he was found dead in the road. His horse, unharmed, was grazing near by with the bridle reins thrown off his neck. Coffey’s rifle and pistol were with him and had not been discharged.
Searching parties scoured the woods and seven persons were arrested on suspicion. Charles Barnes, son of the sheriff of Christian county, and himself a deputy, arrested Will Goldsworthy who was armed with a big 44-callibre [sic] revolver and a belt filled with cartridges. After Goldsworthy was disarmed he grabbed a pistol from one of the arresting party and tried to shoot Barnes but someone grabbed his arm in time. Barnes leveled his rifle at Goldsworthy but a bystander also seized him and prevented his shooting. Of the men arrested Goldsworthy was the only one with arms. The other prisoners are Ed Goldsworthy, Jim Will Anderson, George Phillips, — Deckards, and two men whose names could not be learned. Those names are all union men and agitators. All of the prisoners were taken to Hopkinsville this afternoon.
After the inquest held by Coroner Allensworth the body of the murdered man was taken this afternoon to the family home in Hopkinsville. The deceased leaves a wife and several children. One of his sons is in the Philippine army and another, Frank Coffey, is telegraph operator at Madisonville. He was about 55 years old.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
People of Christian County Shocked and Outraged by the Dastardly Crime.
TROUBLE THERE FOLLOWED ESTABLISHMENT OF CAMP
Hopkinsville, Ky., Oct. 26.—The news of the trouble and the killing of Coffey has caused the wildest excitement in and around Empire and throughout that section of North Christian.
It was heard by Hopkinsville people with the greatest indignation, mingled with deep regret over the assassination of the brave and popular officer, and there is a universal feeling that the strong arm of the law should be used in the greatest possible effort to restore peace and stamp out the lawlessness that has resulted in the foul murder.
The murdered man was well and favorably known throughout this region. He was a detective of splendid ability, and there was no officer more dreaded by the criminal classes.
A Courageous Man.
He was a man of intrepid courage. Time and again his bravery had been tested under the most trying circumstances, and always he was cool, alert and absolutely fearless. He was devoted to his work, which had won him widespread and well-deserved reputation. He was formerly on the police force of Hopkinsville, and later was a special agent for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company. He served a term as mayor of Guthrie, Ky., and later operated a detective agency.
For about eight months he had been in the service of the Empire Coal and Mining Company as chief guard, and had discharged the duties of the place with perfect success.
Nearly a year ago, and again last spring there was considerable disorder about Empire due to efforts to organize the mines. These attempts failed, for the miners have no complaints to make against the company, and express themselves as pleased at all times with their relation to it.
Trouble Starts.
Everything had worked very smoothly till the last week in September, following the breaking up of union camps in Hopkins county. On September 30, the unarmed Empire men were fired on from ambush when they were on their way home from work. On the following night the houses of the miners were fired into. In the two attacks two of the company’s men were wounded, but not seriously.
The grand jury investigated the assaults and returned indictments against Bud and Bert Knight, who had been recognized among the assailants. Neither has been captured.
Lives in Peril
From that time till the present the miners and the guards who had been sent to protect the company’s property have been in peril, for shooting from ambush and at all hours of the day and night has been kept up.
On Oct. 10 there was a fight in the rain and darkness between the guards and unknown men and over two hundred shots were fired. A day or two later several guards were fired on near Mannington.
It became more quiet during the following week and on the 18th the authorities reduced the force of guards, releasing ten men. There are now twenty men on duty. It is probably that the number of guards will be immediately increased.
Aided by Union.
Hopkinsville, Ky., Oct. 28.,—The five strikers were taken this morning at 10 o’clock before Judge Cansler to have the time of their examining trial set. The United Mine Workers of America, the miners’ union of which they are members, has hurried to their assistance. District President James D. Wood arrived in the city this morning on the 6 o’clock train. With him was Attorney Everett Jennings, of Madisonville. The firm of G. W. Southall & Son was employed to aid in the defense, and the services of Judge William H. Yost of Greenville have also been secured. County Attorney Anderson, for the commonwealth, and Hunter Wood & Son, representing the mining company, stated that they would not be ready to enter into the trial for ten days, as at least that much(Continued on Seventh Page.)
ASSASSINATION OF COFFEY.
(Continued from first page.)
time would be required to gather evidence. J. C. Duffy, who represented WIll Goldsworthy, said that his client was in delicate health and insisted on an immediate trial. The attorneys employed by the miners’ union said they were unwilling to a longer postponement than two days. Judge Cansler named Thursday as the day for the examining trial and remanded the prisoners to jail. They are charged with the murder of Mr. Coffey and shooting at John Fields and others with intent to kill. Will Goldsworthy is also charged with resisting and attempting to kill an officer.
The prisoners refuse to talk of the affair. Sunday they notified the miners’ union officials by telephone of their arrest.
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