The Hartford Republican 3/2/1892 - Thomas and Baird

The Hartford Republican

March 25, 1892

TOWN MARSHAL SHOT.

W. P. Thomas is Seriously Wounded by a Desperate Character Named Ben Long, Jr.

Ben Long and son, Ben, living about two miles above town, were accused of hog stealing, and on last Saturday a warrant was issued for their arrest. On Monday about 3 o'clock Town Marshal W. P. Thomas and J. S. Moseley went to their home and arrested the two men, who made no resistance and said they would go along at once. All parties were sitting by the fire talking when young Ben got up, walked to the rear of the room and taking down an old musket when the officers were not expecting it, turned upon them with the gun. Moseley ran to a rear door of the house while Long continued to advance on Thomas, who tried to knock the gun away, but missing it, received the load in his forearm, which was torn in a frightful manner. The load went up his sleeve and not a shot passed out, the wad, shot and all lodging in his arm near the elbow. Moseley fired from the rear but missed Long, and Thomas, who had fallen, needing his attention, he was assisting him when Long appeared at the door and threatened to shoot both of them.

Moseley finally succeeded in getting Thomas out of the yard and leaving him in the care of old man Long and Strother Hawkins, came to town for a physician. Young Long loaded his gun and came on to where Thomas was lying wounded, attempted to shoot him, but being prevented by his father and Hawkins, fled. Thomas was brought home and Drs. Pendleton, Baird and Miller dressed his wound. A close watch has been kept for Long, but so for he has not been captured.

Judge Baird Dead.

The reaper of death has again visited our town and taken away one of our oldest and best citizens. Alexander Burnett Baird was born in this county, February 21, 1821; died March 20,1892. At the of age 21 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Ohio county, and in 1851 he was elected Justice of the Peace, being one of the first to serve under the new Constitution, but resigned to take his seat as County Judge to which position he was elected in 1854, holding that office two terms - 8 years; in 1861 he was engaged in the tobacco business here as agent for a New York firm. Since then he has been engaged in the Civil Engineering and Surveying business. He was a prominent member of the C. P. Church, in which he stood high, having represented that Church in a General Assembly at Keesport, Pa.

On December 24, 1844, he was married to Miss Sallie M. Barnett and is the father of Col. C. T. Baird, of Louisville; Dr. A. B. Baird, of this town, and the father-in-law of Gen. Sam E. Hill, of Lexington. He was buried in the Hartford Cemetery Monday at 3 p. m. in the presence of a large crowd of sorrowing friends and relatives.