AN UNEVEN TEMPER.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 156, 21 June 1879, Page 3

AN UNEVEN TEMPER.

The latest t£ shooting incident” of any importance in the United States occurred on the 26th of March at Frankfort, Kentucky. Colonel Thomas Buford on the afternoon of that day shot and killed Chief Justice Flliott, of the Court ot Appeals, in front of the Capitol Hotel. The weapon used on this occasion was not a revolver, but a double-barrelled shot-gun loaded with twelve buck shot in each bairel. Colonel Buford assigns as an excuse for his conduct that a case was lately decided against him in the Court of Appeals by the deceased judge. After shooting the judge he expressed his regret at having done so, and lifting up tlmhcad of the dead man, placed his own hat under it. No attentions of this kind were, however, of any avail, for tfee judge was quite dead, his body being completely riddled with shot. Colonel Buford, who is now in custody, was, it is stated, “ reared in one of the most civil and peace-loving sections of the State of Kentucky.” His family for generations have been noted for their susceptible honour and fiery temper, and these qualities were conspicuous almost to exaggeration in the gallant colonel. He was also distinguished by a proud reserve towards acquaintances that threw him almost entirely upon his own resources for amusement. On one occasion, annoyed by a remark made to him by bis brother Henry, be drew his revolver and fired three shots in the public street at his relative, “ all of which went close enough to show that rao’C only shook bis arm, and saved him the guilt of fratricide.” On another occasion, having had a difference with a o-entleman by name Thomas whom he met at Lexington Fair, the two “ drew pistols on the fair-ground and began popping at each other.” Thomas having emptied his pistol, Colonel Buford, cocking his for the sixth time, was preparing for another shot, when a man named Ferguson handed Thomas a fresh and fully-loaded weapon. This displeased General Abe Buford, the Colonel’s brother, who rushed at Ferguson and slashed off a considerable portion of his scalp with a bowieknife. In the meantime Colonel Buford, in firing his pistol, accidentally shot a negro girl in the mouth and nearly killed her. The bystanders then interfered and stopped the shooting. So many lives had been endangered by the reckless affair that Colonel Buford became unpopular ; and, his proud spirit being unable to brook the feeling against him, he retired to Louisville and took to porkpacking. This proved a failure, and his temper became more irritable than ever, hence the death of Judge Elliott.