Shooting in Grants Lick
Submitted February 10, 2008 by Buck Seibert
Covington Journal, Saturday, September 17, 1853
HOMICIDE IN CAMPBELL COUNTY
We have to record another murder in Campbell County. On the afternoon of the 8th inst. near Tibbatts' X Road (Note; this road no longer exists but was in Grants Lick), JESSIE YELTON shot WILLIAM PRITCHARD from the effects of which he died in a few hours. An examination took place on Saturday and resulted in holding Yelton to bail in the sum of $1000, for his appearance at the next term of the Campbell County court.
The Newport Messenger says the facts elicited by the examination were as follows, founded principally upon the dying declaration of PRITCHARD, taken down in writing, and swore to about an hour before he died.
"Pritchard was the home of Jackson Phillips near his own residence. He had been in the woods at work. Yelton and Phillips had been to a grocery and had purchased some sugar and coffee. When they arrived opposite the house, Yelton got from his horse for the purpose of getting Phillips' groceries out of his saddle bags; Pritchard came out of the house when Yelton remarked, 'There's old Pritchard now.' Pritchard then went around the house and got his gun and axe, and approached the spot where Yelton and Phillips were. As he passed he said to Phillips, 'How are you Jack?' and appeared to be going on.
Yelton made some movement when Pritchard remarked, 'Don't follow me.' Yelton replied, 'You better go on, or I'll put you where you ought to have been a long time ago.' and picked up his gun. Pritchard said, 'Don't cock your gun at me.' Yelton replied, 'by G__ I will' raised his gun to his shoulder and fired, the charge entering the abdomen of Pritchard.
Phillips said that as Pritchard first spoke, he threw away his axe and raised his gun. The proof showed that some of the shot entered the handle of the axe, and the hands and front part of the wrists of Pritchard. Mrs. Phillips testified that Prichard offered her ten dollars to get Yelton in a place where he could kill him. We learn that a woman was the cause of the original difficulty between the two parties."
The parties to this deadly encounter were well advanced in life. Mr. Yelton was for many years a Justice of the Peace. Mr. Pritchard was the largest man in this part of Kentucky. Both were farmers.
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Newport Messenger, December 22, 1853
THE TRIAL OF JESSIE YELTON FOR HIS KILLING OF WM PRITCHARD
HIS ACQUITTAL!
The trial of Jessie Yelton for the above offence was concluded at 9 o'clock on Tuesday night, in the circuit court in Alexandria. The evidence was all given in near that hour, and the cause submitted to the jury, who after a short absence, returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY, and the prisoner was discharged. The names of the jurymen were as follows:
John Stevens, Foreman; Wm B Harrison, Jno W Flora, Andrew McHaffey, David L Carney, Alfred Orr, John Perry, Benj. Hully, Thos J Daniel, James White, George R Harrington, Alex Caldwell.
The court will probably adjourn this evening, to court in course.
NOTE: William Pritchard was buried in the
Richard
Tarvin Cemetery in Grants Lick.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 18 June 1862, page 3
ARREST BY THE PROVOST MARSHAL
Esquire Jesse Yelton, who lives at Grants Lick, near Alexandria, Campbell County, was arrested yesterday by Provost Marshall Henry H Gassaway and lodged in the Newport Barracks. Mr. Yelton is a strong Southern rights man. We have not learned on what particular charge he was arrested. Strong efforts were made by his friends to procure his release, but without success.
Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 19 June 1862, page 3
NEWPORT NEWS
FOR CAMP CHASE-Sergeant Callahan, of the Newport Barracks, started for Camp Chase yesterday, having in charge Squire Jesse Yelton of Grants Lick, who was arrested on Tuesday by Provost Marshal H C Gassaway.