Newspaper Articles on a Sad Shooting

March 8, 1902

Sad Killing

Near Maple Grove Last Saturday Night

John Thomas Shoots and Instantly kills Alfred Bridges At a Singing Thomas Escapes

Bridges Buried Sunday Afternoon

One of the saddest and most tormented affairs that has occurred in Trigg county for quite awhile is the

killing of Alfred Bridges by John Thomas, near Maple Grove, last Saturday night, both families being very

prominent in that neighborhood. The particulars of the killing as given by two eye witnesses, are as

follows:

There was a singing given Saturday night at the residence of Mr. Bridges, and quite a crowd of young

people had gathered there to enjoy the evening. Mr. Thomas, in company with a number of other from

Donaldson creek, came there drunk and went into the house and soon began talking and swearing in the

presence of the ladies. Mr. Bridges asked Mr. George Fraser to please get Thomas out of the house

which he at once proceeded to do. Bridges following on out behind them. About the time they passed

out of the door into the hall Thomas drew a pistol from his pocket, and when they had gotten well into

the hall he turned and fired twice at Bridges, the first ball taking effect in his left side and penetrating his

heart, killing him instantly, the second shot went wild.

Thomas left immediately after the last shot was fired, going out of the house and on out through a lot,

leaving his horse, overcoat, and hat, and at last accounts had not been heard of. We understand a

reward of $100 has been offered for his arrest by the relatives of Bridges.

Mr. Thomas is a young man about twenty-four or twenty five years old and a son of Mr. Scott Thomas.

While he is considered rather a wild young man, he comes from one of the largest and best families in

Trigg county, and was a clever, pleasant and social boy when sober.

Mr. Bridges was a man about forty years old and also comes from one of the largest and most highly

respected families in the county. He was a son of "old uncle" Sim Bridges and was a sober, quiet man

and highly respected, and loved by all who knew him. He leaves a wife and eight children, five by his last

wife and three by his first, besides a host of other rela tives and friends to mourn his untimely demise.

His remains were buried Sunday afternoon at 5 o'clock at his home only a short distance from the place

where he was shot. Mr. Charles H. Herndon preached the funeral in the presence of a large crowd of

sorrowing relatives and friends.

Interesting article below from the "Kentuckian" which addresses story above, but rebukes several

other newspapers' account of what happened with the above incident:

Following is the report as given by the Kentuckian's reporter.

Cadiz, KY. Mar. 9 - On last Saturday night, while on a drunk, Alf. Bridges went to the house of John

Thomas and demanded an entrance to the house, which was denied him. He then became abusive and

finally in some way gained an entrance and attacked Thomas with a chair, when Thomas fired two shots

into Bridges body, killing him instantly. Thomas made his escape, but it is thought he will be

apprehended and returned here in a few days.

Now, there are but two truths in this entire notice, and they are that "Bridges was killed" and Thomas

escaped." We would suggest to Bro. Meacham that if this is the nearest his reporters can get to the

truth that he "fire" them and wait until THE RECORD comes to get the facts about Trigg county

happenings.

THE NEW ERA gave it as follows:

Licenses for four saloons were granted in Cadiz, and they opened for business Monday, March 3, for the

first time in several years. The first killing as result of their influence occurred Saturday night, March 8th.

Scott Thomas, after drinking heavily at the new liquor houses and becoming intoxicated went to the

home of Alfred Bridges, about eight miles from town, where an entertainment was in progress. He

became very boisterous, and Bridges asked John Francis to take him outside. Francis led Thomas from

the room into the hall, with Bridges walking behind them. Thomas pulled loose and jerking a pistol from

his pocket fired at both the other men. He missed Francis, but Bridges was shot directly through the

heart, dying instantly. A second shot was fired at Frances and then, in the excitement, Thomas made his

escape and has not been capture.

You are entirely wrong, neighbor. Thomas, whose name is John instead of Scott, was not in Cadiz that

day and had not been for some time; and we understand, upon investigating the matter, that the

whiskey was not secured from any saloonist, but was secured from a "blind tiger" in the neighborhood

where young Thomas lived.

Now, we are not trying to protect or shield anyone, but we do believe in "giving the devil his dues" and

do not propose to let any such false report as this go out from out town unrebuked.

And now, Brother Bacon, when you come to Cadiz again for news, be sure and get your news first, and

get it STRAIGHT, and then you may make as many calls on our saloons as you wish: otherwise, you will

generally have trouble in getting your notes straight.           THE LINEAGE: (Alfred Franklin Bridges was the son of Simco and Emeline Martin Bridges and the grandson of William and  Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Mary Thomas was the fifth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.) (John Sherman Thomas was the son of Winfield Scott and Cassandra Jemima Futrell Thomas and the  grandson of Perry and Elizabeth Josephine Bridges Thomas.  Perry was the third child of James and Mary  Standley Thomas.  Elizabeth Bridges was the sixth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)