Mr. Addison Chinn returned to Lexington, where he purchased a store and was a leading citizen of that town. Known for his fine character and honesty, he was tragically murdered when robbers broke into his house in the middle of the night. His son Asa Chinn, Jr. was also seriously wounded in the robbery during a gun battle with burglars.
[Summarized from an article in the Harrodsburg Herald, Harrodsburg, Mercer Co. KY, dated Thursday Oct. 16, 1902).
A compelling story of the murder and investigation based on historical newspaper accounts can be found at http://geneanotes.blogspot.com/2010/07/thriller-thursday-home-invasion-circa_08.html.
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The Lexington Intelligencer, October 18, 1902
Lexington, Mo.
Murder of Addison Chinn
Mr. Joseph G. Chinn received a telegram last Saturday from Lexington, Ky.,
stating that Addison Chinn had been killed and his son, Asa, wounded by
burglars. Mr. Chinn was a brother of Mr. Joe Chinn and Mrs. Mary E. Bowman
of this city. He and his son were in the dry goods business there and owned
one of the largest places of business in Lexington.
Several suspects were arrested Saturday morning, but the evidence against
them accumulated slowly until Wednesday evening when Earl Whitney, the
young man arrested last Saturday, make a complete confession Thursday,
admitting that he and Claude O'Brien a companion, did the killing.
Whitney made his confession to the officers in the presence of a
stenographer, who transcribed it for the prosecution. He said that O'Brien
fired the shot which killed Chinn, and admitted the shot in his knee was
inflicted by Asa Chinn in the struggle that followed. He told where the
pistol was hidden. The officers went to the place and found the weapon. The
confession has been made public and there is considerable excitement.
Addison Chinn was known to many of our older in inhabitants, having lived
here in his youth. He was a son of Dr. J.G. Chinn.
Mr. Addison Chinn returned to Lexington, where he purchased a store and was a leading citizen of that town. Known for his fine character and honesty, he was tragically murdered when robbers broke into his house in the middle of the night. His son Asa Chinn, Jr. was also seriously wounded in the robbery during a gun battle with burglars.
[Summarized from an article in the Harrodsburg Herald, Harrodsburg, Mercer Co. KY, dated Thursday Oct. 16, 1902).
A compelling story of the murder and investigation based on historical newspaper accounts can be found at http://geneanotes.blogspot.com/2010/07/thriller-thursday-home-invasion-circa_08.html.
-------------------
The Lexington Intelligencer, October 18, 1902
Lexington, Mo.
Murder of Addison Chinn
Mr. Joseph G. Chinn received a telegram last Saturday from Lexington, Ky.,
stating that Addison Chinn had been killed and his son, Asa, wounded by
burglars. Mr. Chinn was a brother of Mr. Joe Chinn and Mrs. Mary E. Bowman
of this city. He and his son were in the dry goods business there and owned
one of the largest places of business in Lexington.
Several suspects were arrested Saturday morning, but the evidence against
them accumulated slowly until Wednesday evening when Earl Whitney, the
young man arrested last Saturday, make a complete confession Thursday,
admitting that he and Claude O'Brien a companion, did the killing.
Whitney made his confession to the officers in the presence of a
stenographer, who transcribed it for the prosecution. He said that O'Brien
fired the shot which killed Chinn, and admitted the shot in his knee was
inflicted by Asa Chinn in the struggle that followed. He told where the
pistol was hidden. The officers went to the place and found the weapon. The
confession has been made public and there is considerable excitement.
Addison Chinn was known to many of our older in inhabitants, having lived
here in his youth. He was a son of Dr. J.G. Chinn.