husband of Nancy Bailey;

BOARD
ASSASSINATED.
---J.W. BUGG SHOOTS WM. BOARD
Deed Perpetrated at Benton Church, Saturday.
Alleged Intimacy Between Board and Bugg's Wife the Reason Given.
Great Excitement Prevailed.
J.W. Bugg shot and almost instantly killed J. William Board, at Benton church, near Dixville, Saturday afternoon about 7 o'clock, because of an alleged intimacy between Board and Bugg's wife. The two men had been life long friends, and were raised together. Board was shot three times in the back. Board fired one shot at Bugg, after he had fallen, but his aim erred and Bugg escaped unhurt. The killing created great excitement wherever known, and for a time it was thought more trouble would follow before the officers got their man to the county jail.
After committing the deed, we are informed, Bugg ran to the home of William Lay. Magistrate Obe Lester and Constable Jim Huff, anticipating his action, hastened to Lay's house and got there a few minutes ahead of Bugg. When the latter came up he saw the officers, and it is said he tried to run from them, but was captured and brought to Harrodsburg and lodged in jail.
We give the evidence adduced at the Coroner's inquest, Sunday morning. Our readers can judge for themselves of the enormity of the crime.
Board leaves a wife and six children, the oldest of whom is nine years and the youngest four months. He was about 35 years of age. Bugg is about 25 years old, and lived on an adjoining farm to Board, about half a mile apart.
The funeral of the dead man occurred Saturday at Benton church, and an immense crowd witnessed it.
Here is the
EVIDENCE IN DETAIL.
Coroner C. B. Adams impannelled a jury, after which the following evidence was presented to it.
WILLIAM BAILEY.
Am acquainted with Board. Went with him to Benton church yesterday, (Saturday) about sunset. As we approached, J. W. Bugg was taking his horse from buggy. He and his wife went into the church, together. He came out of church and stopped at stile block. Board was sitting on the block. Bugg walked around to his back. He fired a pistol-all the loads out and snapped it several times. Did not see Board fire, but saw him throw his pistol at Bugg after he had fired one shot and heard him say, "Bugg, that's my last load. You can kill me" Bugg then advanced and attempted to fire again, and snapped his pistol several times. Board fell off the stile at the first fire. Bugg then ran to far end of church, reloaded his pistol, and went up the pike cursing and waving his pistol.
HARVEY DIVINE.
Saw part of the shooting. Was standing at the stile talking with Board, who was sitting on the stile. Bugg came up behind Board and fired three shots at Board. Board fell off the block at the first fire. He arose and aimed to get away from Bugg, who continued to shoot. Board turned and fired one shot at Bugg, who continued to shoot. Bugg, then threw his pistol at him, exclaimed, "Oh God! That's my last load." Bugg attempted to shoot again, and snapped his pistol several times. Bugg then ran down the pike, reloading his pistol and cursing. Board lived for five or ten minutes after being shot.
JORDAN BAILEY.
Was sitting on the stiles when the shooting began, with back to Board. One man-Bill Bailey- was between us. Saw Bugg fire three shots at Board's back, about four feet from him. Board fell off the stile. Then saw Board staggering towards the church, and saw him throw his pistol at Bugg and heard him say: "Jim, this is all the load I've got. You've done killed me." He was then falling, when I caught him and eased him down. Heard no other words between them. Shooting occurred about sundown. Board died in my arms, without speaking further.
LUSTER.
Was at Benton church, sitting on the stile when the shooting began. Did not see any of the shooting. Sat on the block till Bugg got through shooting. Think there were three shots by Bugg. Saw Board throw his pistol, did not see him shoot. Don't know what became of Board's pistol. Bugg was about two feet from me and about four feet from Board when he did the shooting. Was talking to Bugg two minutes before the shooting. After Bugg left he went towards the pike, reloaded his pistol and was cursing Board. Board didn't see Bugg when he drew his pistol. Board fell or slipped off the block at the first shot, and was shot twice while down.
DR. M .L. FORSYTHE.
Have examined the body of Wm. Board. Found three wounds from shots, either of which would have proven fatal.
WM. BAILEY, recalled.
It is a common report that the trouble arose over an alleged intimacy between deceased and Bugg's wife. Bugg was told of this intimacy, and charged Board with it, which Board admitted. This occurred about six weeks ago. Have heard talk of Bugg's having been bribed to do the killing.
J. DIVINE.
Have heard of the cause of the trouble. Heard J. W. Bugg's wife say that her mother had $640 to give Bugg to kill William Board, or to clear him with if he would kill him. This was about six weeks ago. Bugg left here and returned after about two weeks' absence. Never heard Board say anything about killing Bugg. Heard him say that Bugg's wife told him once to kill Bugg if he ever tackled him.
THE JURY'S VERDICT.
After hearing the foregoing testimony the coroner's jury returned the following verdict:
We the undersigned, summoned by Charles Adams, coroner of Mercer county, Kentucky, to inquire into the cause of the death of J. William Board, have examined the body of deceased and heard all the testimony, and believe from the evidence that the said Board was maliciously assassinated by J. W. Bugg, who committed the murder by shooting him three times from behind, on the afternoon of July 18, 1896, near Benton Church, in Mercer County, Ky., at about the hour of 7 o'clock.
T.M. Huff, W. L. Elliott, C.R. Russell, W. A. Duncan, W. U. Divine, B. L. Hale, J. H. Grimes, Jr., Clerk.
(The Sayings, Harrodsburg, Mercer Co, Ky, Wed July 22, 1896)