Three Forks of the Kentucky River Historical Association

Newspaper Articles

Excerpts from the Courier

Material gleaned by Vivian Combs Moon and Sherry Lynn Baker

Owsley County Courier, May 18, 1934

Fred Frost and Terry Mainous, sheriff deputies, raided the residence of Luther Judd where they found a still and a small quantity of whiskey. Judd was taken before Commissioner T. B. Blakey Beattyville, who bound him over to the Federal Court, Lexington for trial.

Owsley County Courier

"Moonshine Raid on Meadow Creek - Sheriff A. J. Creech and deputy, Terry Manious, raided the G. B. Wilson farm on Meadow Creek Thursday of last week and found a still before the fire was out. Arkus Bowman is alleged to have just run off a gallon and a pint of moonshine. The still was destroyed and Bowman brought in. He was bound over to appear in Federal Court in Jackson. Sunday a raid on Upper Buffalo resulted in the capture of a still on the farm of Elihu Carmack. The still was destroyed and Carmack taken before Commissioner T. B. Blakey, Beattyville who released him."

Owsley County Courier 9 Feb. 1934

Mill Branch - 3 Feb

The throat of Ethel Mae JOHNSON was slashed with a razor at 8:30 o'clock last night making a ghastly wound. However, the jugular veins were not severed and there seems to be a good chance of recovery. Julia VIRES, a neighbor, is said to have wielded the razor, and made her escape. Jealousy is said to be the reason for the attack. The victim is a daughter of Banford JOHNSON.

Owsley County Courier 19 Jan. 1934

Burgoyne BOTNER was arrested at his home in Traveler's Rest Wednesday night on a charge of operating a moonshine still. Botner was arrested some time ago but escaped from the officiers. The still which he is charged with operating was found near his home. BOTNER, and a pint size of moonshine taken off him at the time of his last arrest, was taken before Commissioner T.B. BLAKELY who bound him over to Federal Court at Jackson, fixing his bond at $500, in default of which he is now in jail.

Owsley County Courier - January 19, 1934 - #115

Martin Bowman In Bastile

Sheriff A. J. Creech and deputies, Terry Mainous, Willie Seale, and Bascom Dooley, after quite a chase, arrested Martin Bowman last Sunday on an indictment charging him with house breaking. Bowman is said to have broken into the Booneville electric light plant some four months ago and was indicted by the Grand Jury at the December term of Owsley Circuit Court. Bowman was placed in jail in default of bond.

Owsley County Courier - May 18, 1934 - #295

Breaks Jail Twice In Three Months

Booneville, May 14 - For the second time within three months Martin Bowman has broken jail here when he escaped early Saturday morning. Bowman being held for trail on a felony charge, is said to have filed the rivets off to a part of his cage, and then to have removed some bricks near the top of the wall where he came down a rope made of blankets tied together. About halfway down the wall the blankets became untied and it is thought he may have been injured in the fall. The jailer, John M. Holcomb, has posted a reward of $25 for Bowman's return.

The following article appeared in the Owsley County, Kentucky Courier on Friday, June 8, 1934.

"Desperado Battles Officers - Martin Bowman who recently escaped from the Booneville jail was located Wednesday at Chestnut Gap. Sheriff A. J. Creech and deputies, Charles McIntosh and Elisha Moore, made an effort to arrest him but his gun kept them at a respectful distance. Several shots were fired by each side and Bowman was forced to leave his barricade. However, the officers got his hat, coat and flashlight."

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