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.)

James Bernard Thomas, or Jay Bernard, the Actor

James Bernard Thomas was a motion picture and television actor whose professional acting name was Jay Bernard.  He was born on August 27, 1923 in the ancestral home built in 1847 by his great grandfather, James Thomas, Jr., located on the Donaldson Creek Road in Trigg County, Kentucky.  He was the son of James Carroll “Pat” and Elizabeth Bessie Satterfield Thomas and the grandson of Carroll and Frances Wills Vinson Thomas.

 

He grew up in Akron, Ohio and served as a private in the U. S. Army in World War II.  He then moved to southern California where he began to pursue an acting career.  When he joined the Screen Actor’s Guild, he chose the name Jay Bernard as his professional name.  During his years in Hollywood, he had roles in 70 films and numerous television shows.  In his later years, bad health caught up with him and he had to limit his acing assignment.  He died on October 28, 2006 in Phoenix, Arizona.  His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered over the Arizona desert near Phoenix.  He was survived by three sons, Terry, Seth and Sean.

 

Jay’s theatrical film career included roles in such films as Footloose, The Philadelphia Experiment, Halloween 5 and Kleptomania.  His TV movies included The Executioner’s Song in 1982, The Adventures of Nellie Bly in 1981 and his final performance in Anya’s Bell in 1999.  His TV series appearances included Walker, Texas Ranger and The Young Riders.

 

A highway historic marker honoring James Thomas, Jr. was erected adjacent to the site of his homestead on Donaldson Creek in Trigg County, Kentucky. The marker includes the wording “Great grandson, movie actor, Jay Bernard (James B. Thomas) born here Aug. 17, 1923.”

 

 

THE LINEAGE:

(James Bernard "Jay Bernard" Thomas was the son of James Carroll "Pat" and Bessie Elizabeth Satterfield Thomas and the grandson of Carroll and Frances Wills Vinson Thomas.  Carroll was the second child of James, Jr. and Margaret Ethridge Thomas.  James, Jr. was the sixth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Joyce Davis Banister—A Lady Who Loved Genealogy and the Family

Joyce Davis Banister was born on September 28, 1928, the daughter of A.L. “Bill” and Lou Belle Thomas Davis, and granddaughter of Seldon Trimble and Martha Elizabeth “Bettie” Bridges Thomas.   She was a native of Cadiz, Kentucky . In her youth, Joyce joined Oak Grove Baptist Church and was baptized in the Cumberland River in Canton, Kentucky. Following her marriage to John T. Banister, she joined Cadiz United Methodist Church. She taught Sunday school in different departments, served on numerous committees, worked as secretary in the church office, and served as a delegate to the annual Methodist conference for numerous years. Joyce also attended Union Ridge Baptist Church in Marshall County and Sellersburg United Methodist Church in Sellersburg, Ind. Joyce was a charter member of the Cadiz Women’s Club where she served on the constitution and bylaws committee, a member of the Ophelia Chapter No. 55, Order of the Eastern Star, a lifetime member of the Thomas-Bridges Association where she served in every elective office, on the resolutions committee and as a correspondent to long time editors, Edison H. Thomas and Charles K. Bridges; a member of the James Thomas Chapter of the American Revolution. She was a former member of the Trigg County Historical Society, the Trigg County PTA and the Trigg County Band Boosters. Joyce was also a Kentucky Colonel. Her hobbies included genealogy, scrap booking, quilting, cross-stitching, crocheting, sewing, her camera and last, but not least, spending time with her family and friends. Joyce was always sharing the past with anyone and could always find a family “connection” with all. All would agree Joyce never met a stranger. She was a1946 Trigg County High School Honor graduate. She attended Nashville Business College and Murray State University. Joyce had been employed at Trigg County Farmers Bank and retired as president and general manager of Trigg County Insurance Agency. With an insatiable appetite for knowledge, Joyce said the best gift she ever received was when she was 10 years old; a dictionary her Thomas grandparents ordered by sending a quarter and a Rectonga box top (Rectonga was a tonic they used). In her golden years, among her clutter there was always a dictionary within arm’s reach. She kept abreast of current events by reading a daily newspaper and watching world news on TV nightly. 

 

THE LINEAGE:

(Ruby Joyce Davis Banister was the daughter of Alfred Leroy "Bill" and Lou Bell Thomas Davis and the granddaughter of Seldon Trimble and Martha Elizabeth Bridges Thomas and the great-granddaughter of James Jasper and Mary Magdaline Cunningham Thomas. James Jasper was the fourth child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.  Mary Bridges was the fifth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

Earl Jennings Cantrell -- Language Teacher and Education Administrator

Earl Jennings Cantrell was born on December 25, 1923 in Everton, Arkansas, the second of four children born to William Emory Cantrell and Vida Viola Vinson Cantrell.  Vida’s father, Jesse Allen Vinson was born in Trigg County, Kentucky and had moved with his family to Lonoke County Arkansas in the 1860s. He later moved to Searcy County, Arkansas. In 1903 he purchased a 240 acre farm outside of Everton, Arkansas. In the 1920s, when Earl was a child, his family moved to Dalhart, Texas.

Earl graduated from the high school in Dalhart in 1941.  He then enrolled at Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) as a pre-med student.  Earl was accepted in the Baylor University School of Medicine in the spring of 1944 but was called to active duty to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. After finishing his basic training, Earl was designated by the army to study languages, focusing on the Japanese language. Initially he was assigned to the office of the Provost Marshal General in New York City for his language training.  After completing his training he was assigned as a language and sociology teacher to Japanese POW’s in Huntsville, Texas.  After the Japanese POW’s were repatriated, Earl was transferred to Fort Eustis, Virginia where he was promoted and assigned to assist with the management of German POW’s. Earl was discharged from the service in May 1946.

In the fall of 1946, Earl enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin.  He elected not to continue in medical school.  Instead, he began studies to prepare for a career as a teacher.  He graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish in 1950. Earl remained in school and continued with his graduate work in Spanish at the University of Texas.  He later left the university for a teaching position in Dumas, Texas, teaching Spanish and English. In 1954, he returned to Austin to further his graduate studies in educational administration.

Earl accepted a position at the Texas Education Agency, where he found himself drawn to the nature of the business at TEA, and worked there nine years, rising to the position of Director of the Division of Research. In 1963, Earl left TEA for a position at the Texas State Teachers Association, where he became the Director of Research. 

He retired from the TSTA in 1982 and went to work for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas as Director of Annuity Payroll.  He served in this position until his full retirement from the TRS in 1990.

Earl married Dorothea Mae Robertson on January 8, 1949 in Brazoria, Texas.  Dorothea was born on September 18, 1927 in Lawton, Oklahoma.  She was the daughter of Thomas Jack and Arlee Robertson and grew up in Oklahoma and New Mexico before moving to Dallas, Texas where she met Earl.  After their marriage they settled in Austin, Texas.  Earl and Dorothea were the parents of one child, a son, Steven Earl Cantrell, born in 1963.

Earl died on September 9, 2003 at the age of 79 in Austin, Texas following a valiant battle against cancer.  Earl was cremated and his ashes were scattered by his family. Dorothea died on October 17, 2004 at the age of 77 in Austin and also was cremated.  No record of any tombstones could be found for either Earl or Dorothea.

 

 THE LINEAGE:

(Earl Jennings Cantrell was the son of William Emory and Vida Viola Vinson Cantrell, grandson of Jesse Allen and Elizabeth Sims Vinson and great-grandson of Thomas Allison and Alpha Gemima Sholar Vinson.  Alpha was the ninth child of Allen and Jemima Bridges Sholar.  Jemima was the first child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)