Update on the "Most Violent Domestic Murder Case In Kentucky History"

 Back in September 2023, I did a blog entitled "The Most Violent Domestic Murder Case In Kentucky History."


I got that story from Leo & Heather of  "The Hillbilly Files" video . 

Well Leo of the Hillbilly Files recently did a follow up video on this case, in which he shared a little bit of the victims story.  So  I wanted to update you as well.

Angie Johnson shared this on the Hillbilly Files original video:

"Verna Long (victim) was my grandmother.  I never got to meet her. Thelma Bentley (victim), the woman who was left permanently blind, was my great aunt and I did know her while I was growing up. She was so kind and could do most anything regardless of her lack of vision. It brings up many feelings to hear this tragic story told outside of my family. This event impacted generations."

Robert Long, son of
victim Verna Long

Robert Long, the son of the Verna Long, the first victim, said this about that horrible day:

"Verna Long was holding my hand ( Robert was 8 years old) when drunk Anderson Adkins shot her 4 times as she started to run away after pumping gas for him.  I will never forget his chilling words & deliberate attempts to kill the entire Bentley family.   

On that day he did NOT ask Verna to reconcile the family. as he lied during his trial. (Beside him on the passenger seat was a whiskey bottle.)   He said, 'Verna, you love your children, don't you?' She replied, 'Yes, Anderson, I do.; Anderson Adkins said 'Well, Verna, I loved mine too.' 

He reached on the floor beside his right foot & pulled out his pistol & fired 5 shots. Verna shoved me to the front of the car & ran to the back.  

After shooting Mommy, he drug off to the west to find Bill Goff, but Mrs. Goff told him Bill was 'out'. 

As Ervil & I were pulling Mommy off the highway, Anderson returned & began firing at us & crashed his car.   The story from there was close to what was recited [in the original video]. 

I witnessed Mrs. Johnson's death & heard that conversation. She said, 'Anderson Adkins, I have never done anything to hurt you.' He said, 'Yes you have!' & fired.  We watched her tumble down the hill.  

Anderson Adkins STOLE the car & sped toward Harless Creek to seek the Bentleys.     

He verbally & physically abused his wife Elmo .Bentley & son, Jimmy who related his fear of his drunken father.   Anderson Adins robbed us of our family unity, a  further TRAVESTY." 

The Automobile Duel of Phelps, Kentucky

 
This is another one of those cases that for whatever reason just jumped out at me. I felt that I had to cover it even though I had very little information on it. So here is the story of the Phelps, Kentucky Automobile Duel. 

The Owensboro Messenger

Owensboro, Kentucky • 

Tue, Sep 20, 1927

Page 4

When it comes to duels, most people don't think about automobiles being used in those.  But on September 18, 1927, that is exactly what happened in the small Pike County, Kentucky town of Phelps.

The conflict between Phelps, Kentucky policeman Blaine Bowling and former Pike County teacher and Army veteran Francis Marion "F.M." Ball began around August 1927 when Bowling allegedly searched Ball for liquor. And the grudge turned deadly on September 18, 1927.

Francis Marion "F.M." Ball

Very little information is available regarding this incident other than two newspaper articles that I found.  But based on what information we found in the Messenger-Inquirer in Owensboro, KY, dated September 19, 1927, the story goes like this:

Headline from the Messenger-Inquirer 
September 19, 1927.

"When their automobiles met on Blackberry Creek, near Ransom, 35 miles from Pikeville Sunday, F. M. Ball was shot and killed by Blaine, after he had shot Bowling through the left arm. 

Bowling is a policeman at Phelps Ky. About a month ago, Bowling is alleged to have searched Ball for liquor, and it is said that this brought about yesterday's affair.

According to reports, Ball stopped his automobile and began shooting at Bowling as Bowling's car came alongside, firing eight or ten times. Only one shot took effect. Bowling emptied his pistol at Ball, the fatal shot penetrating his side and passing through the body. Bowling was accompanied here by Officer Blackburn of Pond Creek and placed in jail.  

Ball was a former teacher in the Pike County schools."

In October 1927, Bowling was tried and sentenced to ten years in prison for the murder of Ball.  He appealed that conviction but on April 30, 1929, the Court of Appeals upheld the conviction and the 10 year sentence. 

Clipped from the Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY
May 1, 1929.

Not much else is known about Blaine Bowling. His trail goes cold after this.  

Ball was buried in the Ball Family Cemetery on Pinson Fork in Pike County, KY.  He left behind a wife and two children. 

The application for the U.S. Government
Headstone for Francis M. Ball.

The Headstone of Francis Marion Ball
courtesy of Paul Phillips / Find-A-Grave

The History of Ellisville, Kentucky

 Have you ever passed through a community and asked yourself "I wonder what it's history is?"   I do that sometimes. And one of the communities I've had that thought about is Ellisville located in Nicholas County, KY.  Now I've only passed through Ellisville a handful of times.  But each time I have, when I see the "Ellisville" road sign I start thinking about its history. How did the community start? Where did it get its name? What businesses were here?  All those types of questions.

The small road sign coming into Ellisville.

Ellisville, formerly Ellis Station, is located on Hwy 68, better known as the Lexington-Maysville Road on what used to be the James Ellis farm.  Ellisville became the first county seat of Nicholas County in 1805.

According to Riley Mola's post on Findagrave.com, " prior to 1782, James Ellis built a log tavern to protect himself and other pioneers from the attacks of the British and native Americans. It was there, on August 19, 1782, that the Soldiers en route to the battle at Blue Licks stopped to eat and rest. 

The Old Stone Tavern in 2018, courtesy of 
Christopher Riley's Flicker account.

The Ruins of the Old Stone Tavern at Ellisville,
courtesy of Google Maps, August 2023.

[When the act] was passed that moved the county seat of Nicholas County to the farm of James Ellis. Ellis deeded the county the necessary acreage of land, across the road from his home, to build a courthouse and a jail. Later in 1807, James Ellis built his final residence nearby his log tavern. This home was also a tavern that was later a residence of the McClanahan Family. Charles McClanahan, a pioneer who is buried in the cemetery, help move the stones to the site where the Stone Tavern was being built, when he was only 10 years old.

Arieal view of Ellisville, courtesy of Google Maps.
The red dot is the Old Stone Tavern location. And 
according to Mr. Riley, the old courthouse and jail 
used to sit across the road from it. 

James Ellis sold scores of lots to individuals who wanted to live in the new county seat, and the residents named the area Ellisville in his honor. But the county seat was short lived, for in 1816 another act was passed that moved the county seat from Ellisville to Carlisle. The Courthouse and jail were razed and moved there also. Following its demotion from county seat, progress suffered at Ellisville and many of its businesses shut down.

Although the community was no longer the county seat, it still kept its name and persisted for many decades before it lost all its business. Many families continued living there, and soon Ellisville established a cemetery on the McClanahan's farm for the community to lay their loved ones to rest. Today, the cemetery is privately owned and is not visible when driving down US 68.

The abandoned Ellisville Cemetery. Now overgrown.
Photo courtesy of  Riley Mola / Find-A-Grave.

James Ellis's Stone Tavern still stands to this day and the remains of the pioneers of Ellisville are interred in the cemetery just across the road. A few country homes, The Old Stone Tavern, and fields of tobacco are all that's left of the beautiful little town of Ellisville as we drive down US 68."

UPDATE: According to the Nicholas County Tourism Department,, the Stone Tavern is still standing as of today, "but barely."  It's most likely not safe for anyone to enter or visit.

Mr. Riley Mola's description of Ellisville is about the only one you can find online. Just as the town has about all vanished physically, it has also done so historically. There's not much information out there at all. 

This is why the work that historians such as myself and others do is so important. Unless we preserve what little history is left, it will soon be forgotten.

The O'Banion Logan Story

Carl Newton Mahan: The Youngest Murderer To Ever Stand Trial

I'm not sure why, but this case from 1929 is once again receiving a lot of attention.  Several YouTube videos have been done on the case within the past year. So let us too take a look at the case.

One of the biggest mysteries when it comes to crime is what causes young kids to do bad things? We know that we are all a product of our environment.  But could there also be underlying factors as well?  

This is a true story of a 6 year old boy-turned-killer in Paintsville, Kentucky.

Paintsville is the county seat of Johnson County. It was originally known as Paint Lick Station, then Paint Creek, before becoming Paintsville in 1843.  

Paintsville has given birth to numerous celebrities over the years, including country music star Crystal Gayle, Major League Baseball stars Willie Blair and Johnnie LeMaster, and may more.  But it was also the home of the youngest murderer in American history - Carl Mahan. 

Carl Newton Mahan

Carl Mahan was born on September 22, 1922 there in Johnson County. He was the son of John Mahan and Cora Dixon Mahan.

Cecil Vanhoose was born March 17, 1921 in Johnson County, the son of Albert Jackson Vanhoose and Vera Ann Blair Vanhoose.

These two families were neighbors and friends. And on May 18, 1929, six year old Carl and eight year old Cecil, who had been playmates, were out scouting for scrap metal.  This was just months before the stock market crash of 1929, but according to other historians, the folks of Paintsville were already falling into poverty.  So the boys were out looking for scrap iron in hopes of selling it for a few cents to buy some candy.

Scrap iron was found by the two, but that piece of scrap iron would cause the death of Cecil.  How? Well I'm about to tell you. 

The two boys began arguing over the possession of the scrap iron. The argument lead to a fight. The two battled for some time when Mahan told Vanhoose that he was going to kill him, and started toward home.  When Mahan got home, he climbed upon the back of a chair and got his father's shotgun.  He aimed the gun at Vanhoose and pulled the trigger.  He then returned the shotgun to its place. John Mahan, Carl's Father, stated that Carl told him that he "wouldn't have done it if he had known the gun was loaded."

Cecil Vanhoose, the victim

  Although mortally wounded, Cecil ran toward his home crying "Mamma! Mamma!".  He ran a few yards before he collapsed. Neighbors ran to his assistance, placed him in a car and rushed him to the hospital.  But he breathed his last breath just as they reached the hospital.

When questioned by the authorities, Mahan admitted to the shooting.  He showed the officers how he got the gun. He then showed them how he opened the door and fired the gun at Cecil.  He allegedly told the officers that he intended to kill Cecil and would do the same thing again.

 Young Cecil Vanhoose was buried in the Mayo Cemetery in Paintsville, KY. And Mahan was arraigned for his murder and was scheduled to stand trial on May 23, 1929. However the judicial system in Johnson County found itself with a case for which there had been no precedent.   The prosecutor stated that there was nothing in Kentucky law to guide him in prosecuting a child under 10 in serious matters. The law suggested that a child under that age could not be "held to account." So it was up to the jury to decide what to do.

The Gravesite of Cecil Vanhoose - Mayo Cemetery, Paintsville, KY.

The defense asked for a jury trial because they were afraid that the judge would sentence Carl to reform school.  The request was granted.  However the jury selection set off an altercation between Sheriff Harry Adams and Judge John W. Butcher, and the Sheriff was fined $3.00 (the equivalent of $53.53 in today's money.) The Judge claimed that the Sheriff was not bringing in veniremen and the Sheriff reported that he was not being furnished with the venire lists.  The County Jailer ended up becoming a peacemaker in the matter.

The selected jury consisted of: William Puckett, farmer; Lum Green, farmer; Samuel Cantrell, storekeeper; Sanford Stapleton, teamster; Tina Hazelett, miner; Frank Brown, farmer; Ray Turner, farmer; Bascom Stanley, farmer; Isaac Hamilton, farmer; James Gibbs, miner; Tom Hazelett, teamster, and Sam Brown, miner. 

Carl Mahan went on trial laughing and talking with his friends and did not realize that he was being tried on a serious charge.   

During the trial Carl told his side of the story of the shooting. The two had been seeking scrap metal to sell.  Carl found the "prize piece" of scrap metal of the hunt, and Cecil tried to take it away from him. Cecil, being older and bigger succeeded in taking the scrap metal from Carl.  Carl  then went into his house, stood up on a chair, got his fathers shotgun off the wall, opened the door, pulled the trigger. The charge struck Cecil, and he died later.

The Mahan Family Home in Paintsville, KY

Witnesses for the prosecution included Manuel Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Manuel Fitzpatrick, and Albert Vanhoose, father of the slain boy.    Vanhoose testified that he was not at home and knew nothing of the shooting until later. He was not cross examined.

Mrs. Fitzpatrick testified that she heard the quarreling from her back door. She stated that she heard Carl Mahan tell Cecil Vanhoose that if he did not give up the piece of scrap iron that he would kill him.  She stated that Vanhoose continued to hold on to  the scrap iron and Carl again cried out that he would get a gun and kill him.  She stated that  she thought it was just a childish quarrel and never paid anymore attention to the boys, until she heard a gunshot about five minutes later.  She went on to state that Cecil, though shot, was running from the yard  and she overtook him and helped put him into an automobile. He was taken to the hospital where he died on the examining table. 

Mr. Fitzpatrick testified that he was at home at the time but not in the rear of the house so he did not hear any of the argument between the two boys. 

The jury deliberated just thirty minutes before rendering a verdict of guilty of the charge of manslaughter. Judge John W. Butcher sentenced six year old Carl to 15 years in the Glendale, Kentucky reform school. 

Judge John W. Butcher

Defense Attorney John Wheeler immediately announced that he would file a motion for a new trial. Judge Butcher took the motion under advisement. 

Just as promised, Attorney Wheeler filed the motion for a new trial under the charges that 

*the court permitted incompetent evidence to be introduced,

*refused to allow the defense to introduce certain evidence,

*that as the defendant is under the age of seven the court had no jurisdiction,

*that the jury's verdict was not supported by competent evidence,

*that since the child was charged with murder and not charged with delinquency, the court had no jurisdiction in the case except to transfer it to the Johnson County Circuit Court for trail, and lastly,

*the court improperly instructed the jury. The jury received only meager instructions from Judge Butcher. He said, in part: "I can see only two things in this case - acquittal or conviction. If you gentleman believe that this boy did not know it was  wrong to take the life of another, or  that he did not know what he was doing at the time of the killing, you must bring in a verdict of not guilty.  But if you believe that he knew it was wrong to kill and knew what he was doing, you must bring a verdict of guilty."

Judge Butcher  stated that he would not act upon the motion for a new trial until Judge Bailey has passed on the prohibition writ.

Overruling of the motions by County Judge John W. Butcher, who presided at the jury trial that found Carl guilty automatically sent the prohibition writ  before District Judge J.F. Bailey of Lexington.

In addition to filing for a new trial, the Counsel for Mahan requested a writ to prohibit him from being sent to reform school.  Judge  J.F. Bailey issued the writ. 

Judge J.F. Bailey

Judge Bailey held that Judge Butcher exceeded his authority when he pronounced sentence after a jury had found the boy guilty of manslaughter. "There is no doubt he exceeded his authority", said Bailey. He held that Judge Butcher had no jurisdiction to give a final decision on anyone charged with murder.

Judge Bailey went on to say that there was no law in Kentucky under which a child under 10 years' might be confined to a reform school.

During the proceedings Carl sat with his parents and Mrs. Harry Neugel, social worker of Cincinnati.  Carl amused himself by looking at the comic section of newspapers, chewing gum, and playing quietly. He paid no attention to what was going on.

Governor Flem Sampson refused to intervene in the case, stating "I feel sure there will be no miscarriage of justice, that the courts will handle the case properly."

Mrs. Emma Hunt, director of the Kentucky Children's Bureau, took the first steps toward deciding young Carl's future.

Mrs. Hunt called a conference of defense and prosecution counsel in the recent trials. She said she had not decided what would be done by the bureau to which Carl was paroled by County Judge John W. Butcher after he had been declared delinquent.

After reviewing the views of those invited to the conference she stated that she will make her recommendations to the bureau's governing board the following week.

Psychologists ran tests on Carl and revealed that Carl had no criminal tendencies and that he didn't realize the wrong he had committed. 

On June 26, 1929, Kentucky Attorney General J.W. Cammack, to whom the authorities had left the final decision on an appeal, announced that his department had completed a study of the case records. And it was understood that he would take no action.

That left young Carl in the custody of his parents, protected from imprisonment by a writ of prohibition issued by Judge J.F. Bailey. One month and three days after the original trial, the case was done.

Six Year Old Carl Mahan with his family: L-R
Cora Mahan, Mother, John Mahan, Father, and Grandmother Roxie Tackett

Carl and his family would move to Louisville, KY at some point after the trial.  It was there in April 28, 1958 at the age of 35, Carl Mahan would take his own life.  

In a closing note, as I was researching this case, I found both of these boys - Carl Mahan and Cecil Vanhoose, in my ancestral tree. In fact, young Cecil was somewhat closely related to me.

"I Love You But I'm Going To Kill You"

 When it comes to subjects for blogs, I really have no method. I keep a list of subjects that I would like to eventually cover, but I really have no method of choosing which ones to cover and when.

But this blog is an exception to that.  I was working on another blog when I ran across this crime story.  And my gut feeling was that I needed to stop working on the other blog and instead do this one. It was as if this story must be told and told now.   I listened to my "gut" and that is what I did.

So here is "I Love You But I'm Going To Kill You."

 Jack Claude Cobern was born June 2, 1926, in Ashland, KY, a son of the late William Vernal Cobern and Ethel Schattinger Cobern.

Not much is known about Jack's life other than he served in the United States Marines during World War II, and he served for nine years with the Kentucky State Police. For a few years of that time, he was stationed with the Kentucky State Police Post 8 here in my hometown of Morehead, KY. He resigned after being transferred from Morehead to London, KY.  He would later become the owner of the Boonesboro Boat Club Restaurant at Boonesborough, KY.

Despite his honorable service with the Marines and the Kentucky State Police, Jack will most likely be remembered for the events of August 21, 1963.

The family babysitter, Donna McIntosh, told authorities that on the evening of Wednesday, August 21, 1963, Jack's wife, Anna Jean Morguson Cobern, came home from working her shift at the Dixie Cup Plant on Industry Road in Lexington, Ky. Jack, who had been drinking, was waiting for her at their home on Bryan Avenue in Lexington.

Jean Cobern
1930-1963
photo courtesy of FamilySearch / Jackie Cobern

Jack instructed McIntosh to go upstairs and get the baby. McIntosh got the baby and returned. It was then   McIntosh stated that she heard Cobern tell Jean "I love you but I'm going to kill you."  And Jack then shot Jean with a .38 caliber pistol while they both were sitting at the dining room table. The bullet struck Jean in the left chest, below the breast.  The bullet lodged at the back of her spine.

McIntosh stated that she witnessed the shooting from the living room.

After being shot, Mrs. Cobern arose from the table and ran from the house into the front yard yelling "I'm dying! I'm dying!"

  McIntosh stated that Jack followed her outside and waited with her until the city police arrived. Police stated that when they arrived, Jack was holding her in his arms in the driveway.  Blood was evident on his shirt, trousers, and tie where he had attempted to aid her.

Jean told police that her husband had shot her.

Jack admitted to shooting her but would not make a formal statement as to the reason. Instead, he told Patrolman D.F. Sallee "This is the worst thing I've ever done. What is it that makes a man shoot his wife?"  

Both of the Cobern's children were in the home when the shooting occurred. The youngest, which was approximately a year old, was with Miss McIntosh. The seven-year-old was upstairs when the shooting occurred. 

Jean was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital where she underwent surgery. She died about three hours later.  She was taken to the Edgington Funeral Home in Winchester. She is buried the Winchester Cemetery. 

Jean Cobern Gravesite

Initially Jack was charged with malicious shooting and wounding with the intent to kill. However, when Jean passed away from her injuries, a charge of murder was added. He was held in the Fayette County jail in lieu of a $5,000.00 bond.  The examining trial was set for Thursday, August 22, 1963, in Quarterly Court at Lexington.

The Examining Trial

During the examining hearing Jack was held to the Grand Jury on a charge of murder and bond was set at $10,000.00

Testimony about Jean's statement was given by Police Lieutenant A.M. Carter. Carter stated that he had spoken to Jean in the emergency room shortly after the shooting.  Jean told Carter over and over that her husband shot her and that she was going to die and didn't want to die. But she never said anything about the circumstances that may have lead up to the shooting.

I'm not sure if this is still the case or not, but at the time, under criminal law a statement by a victim who realizes they are going to die is admissible in the prosecution of a homicide.

Coroner Chester Hager said that shortly after Cobern was informed of Jean's death Jack said that he had been a former state police sergeant, had carried a gun since he was 17, and had been taught to kill.  Hager stated that Jack said he "didn't mean to kill her.", and that the shooting was in sudden heat and passion.

Mrs. Phyllis White, a co-worker of Jean's, stated that she arrived at the Cobern residence moments before the shooting to visit Jean. She stated that she saw Jack coming down the stairway inside the house and that he said to Jean "you're still legally my wife", and he was carrying a pistol.  

White stated that she left the house immediately although Jean called to her to come back.  White stated that she heard the shot as she drove away.

Patrolman Donald Sallee, who had been the first on the scene, said that Jack admitted the shooting and turned over a .38 caliber pistol containing four live shells and one spent shell.

The Indictment and Trial

On Monday, September 23, 1963, Jack was indicted for the murder of his wife Jean.  The trial was scheduled for February 3, 1964, but was then reassigned to the June 1964 term of the court.

In May 1964 and prior to his trial, Jack was fined $150.00 and costs on a drunk driving charge, amended to driving contrary to law.

On June 29, 1964, Jack pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Circuit Court and was sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary.

Sometime after the trial and sentencing, Jack remarried. He married Laura Belle Gribbins Cobern.  He passed away on January 25, 1989, and is buried in Marion County, KY.


As a result of this crime, two children grew up without their mother or father. That is the sad reality of this case.

GHOSTS CAUSE TERROR!!

 GHOSTS

 Cause Terror In Lewis County Oil Camp

------

They Knock On The Roofs And Terrify Sleepers By Walking Over Beds

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Mr. Gottlilsch Moves Out

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Old Resident's Story of How He Met Three Headless Women At Midnight

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Site Of Indian Massacre

The Vanceburg Sun says: For some days past excitement has prevailed at the Kinniconick Oil Camp, not saying that excitement is any unusual state of affairs since the oil boom struck Straight Fork some months ago. But a new feature somewhat more novel and Interesting to the nonresidents of the camp is now disclosed.

We shall attempt to describe, if though vaguely and imperfectly, the maneuvers of what, for want of a more suitable name, must be called a ghost, and as writers of ghost stories have, it seems, acquired quite a reputation from the reckless manner in which they seem to deal with truth, we shall endeavor to give accurate details, which may be verified by any of the members of the said company, so to begin.

 The members of the company mentioned above occupied a house owned and occupied a few years ago by E.W. Bryant, who recently moved to Olive Hill. 

Mr. Bryant and his family, with but little ado moved suddenly from the building which was then comparatively new into an old log house on the same place.

 Shrewd enough he was in not allowing the fact that the building was haunted to become public and, so fortunately for him, disposed of it before the circumstances became generally known.

About a week ago the specter made Its initial visit to the present occupants of the building while a protracted meeting was being held in the neighborhood.

 One just after dusk, several churchgoers were called in to bear the peculiar rapping it persisted In making, which must have been similar to rapple familiar to the soldier. The noise at that time was made on the roof of the building at different points and at various intervals, and some of the boys were of the opinion that It was a sport of the neighborhood amusing himself at their expense and a search of the premises was made. Finally, forbearance ceasing to be a virtue, a repeating rifle was brought out with the remark, "I just dare you to do that again," but the word dare seemed only a signal for a recommencement of the proceedings instanter. The owner of the rifle was afterward seen very carefully removing evidence of its sudden immersion in a mud puddle, and some, were of the opinion that a Bible might prove more defensive in such an emergency than a repeating rife.

To relieve the monotony of rappings frequent falling as of some heavy weight on the second story floor would be accompanied by groanings which might be expressive of the feelings of the lost in the lower regions of eternal darkness, and now, as this nocturnal visitor which had been ordering dreams for the crew in serial form during a succession of nights, concluded that its presence had not been sufficiently manifested, made an effort the result of which was gratifying to such an extent that it was made final. 

Messrs. Gottllsch and Frank Rowland, occupying the same room, seemed to be commanding the especial attention of this ghost, and on this last visit Mr. Gottlisch was awakened as by some thing or person walking over him. and at almost the same moment Frank Rowland jumped from his bed in another part of the room with a terrifying yell that "there it was" and trying to catch the thing which he says he plainly saw, and which had unmistakable weight, but no material body was there to meet his clutches. 

Little wonder it is that when the other occupants brought in a light on these subjects they found them with every individual hair on their heads standing on tiptoe, and every color in their faces that had no business there, and an endless procession of lumps still chasing each other in hot haste up their throats. 

Mr. Upton. one of the preachers, spent the night with them on one occasion, and although he does not testify to the apparition, confirms report that there is something extraordinary about the case, "as sure God," and explained further that "it was not appointed for man to understand the workings of the spirit." 

On two different occasions a ghost conducted Frank Rowland past the haunted house when he was returning from church up to the head of Cherry Camp when each time Wad Morgan's timely appearance caused the ghost to release Mr. Rowland and influence him to return, then favor Mr. Morgan with its attention.

 lr is reported by the older inhabitants that a tradition has been handed down that many years ago an Indian massacre was committed in this vicinity, and while it is not known   exactly where the outrage was committed, it is thought probable that it occurred on the site of the present haunted building.

In conclusion, we will mention that James Bryant, an old resident of this place, a few years ago met, a short distance from this ghostly rendezvous, three headless women dressed in white sauntering along the road about midnight, and also that E. W. Bryant, one-night last winter, while riding near the same place saw a monstrous frog following him along the road. From his description the creature resembled an enormous frog being subject to the X-ray test, it being translucent with luminous eyes, which were constantly blinking at him. 

The affair Is a neighborhood topic and can be substantiated by many reputable persons in the community and will be held in dread remembrance by the gentleman whose headquarters have been in the building. Mr. Gottlisch returned to his home in the city this week, where ghosts and rumors of ghosts will not mar the even tenor of his everyday life.

Published in the Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY, December 21, 1902.