McComas & Hutton Kentucky Feud

Date: 11 Sep 1903
Location: Downingsville, Grant County, Kentucky
Surnames/tags: McComas Hutton Kentucky

McComas, Moses & Jasper Feud with Hattons

A Kentucky Tragedy

• The Evening Bulletin (Maysville, KY) 12 Sep 1903, page 1. ^[1]

Jasper McComas shot 3 men to protect his father.

Williamstown, Ky as the result of a feud between the McComas and Hutton families, John R. Hutton and his two sons, Samuel and Wilbur, were fatally shot about noon Friday.

The Huttons were in the village when Moses McComas and his son drove up and stopped in their buggy near Kinmin's saloon. Some words were passed, when the Hutton boys drew their knives and attempted to pull old Mr. McComas out of the buggy.

Jasper opened fire on them with his revolver and all three of the Huttons were mortally wounded. Two of them being shot through the abdomen and one just below the heart.

Young McComas was met by officers on his way to Williamstown to surrender.

Shooting Affray

• The Lexington Leader, 12 Sep 1903, page 2. ^[2]

Young Kentuckian mortally wounds three men defending his father. - same article as above follows

Father Killed; Son Hurt

• News-Democrat (Paduca, Ky), 12 Sep 1903, page 2. ^[3]

Jasper McComas tries to wipe out Hutton Family in Grant County

Louisville, Ky., Sept. 12 - Jasper McComas at Downingsville, in Grant county wounded Wilbur and Samuel Hutton in a fight and then killed their father. McComas was arrested and admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000. He pleads self-defense.

Jasper M'Comas Taken To Williamstown

• The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky) 13 Sep 1903, page 4. ^[4]

Great Excitement Among Citizens of Downingville and Mob Spirit Is Rife.

Williamstown, KY., Sept 16 [Special.]-late last night a telephone message reached here stating that a mob was forming at Downingsville to get after Jasper McComas, the man who did the shooting in that village yesterday afternoon. Fearing violence sheriff Barker and deputies, hastened to the home of McComas and spirited him to Williamstown about midnight and placed him in jail. There was great excitement among citizens until the return of officers. One of the McComas' victims is dead, and the lives of the other two is hanging by a thread

Mob formed to Lynch McComas

• The Twice a Week Messenger, Owensboro, KY 15 Sep 1903, page 2. ^[5]

Williamstown, Ky Sept 12 - Telephone messages were received here tonight stating that a mob was forming to lynch Jasper McComas. Ther sheriff went to McComas' home and brought him to this place. One of his victims is dead and the other two are not expected to live.

Jasper McComas at Downingsville, Ky., shot and dangerously wounded Samuel and Wilbur Hutton and then killed their father. McComas was arrested and admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000.

• The Interior Journal (Sanford, Ky) 15 Sep 1903, page 2. ^[6]

Must Answer Murder Charge.

• The Courier Journal (Louisville, Ky) 20 Sep 1903, page 3 ^[7]

Williamstown, Ky., Sept. 19. - At an examining trial held before judge Conrad, Jasper McComas, charged with the killing of J. R. Hutton and the wounding of his two sons, was held to the Circuit Court in the sum of $8,000 which he readily gave. His father arrested for complicity in the crime was released.

Important Case Tried

• The Courier Journal (Louisville, Ky) 7 Feb 1904, page 12 ^[8]

Man Acquitted After Languishing In Jail For Months.

Williamstown Ky., Feb 6. - Two important cases have been disposed of in the grant Circuit Court. Jasper McComas, who, in an altercation at Downingsville, last fall, shot and fatally wounded John Hutton and seriously wounded two of his sons, was acquitted of the charge of murder.

Charles Hammond who had languished......

• Many other similar articles on this event can be found. Some of the farthest cities that carried the initial story were. ^[9]

The Pittsburg Press - Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; The Buffalo Enquirer - Buffalo, New York

Sources

1. ↑ "A Kentucky Tragedy." The Evening Bulletin, 12 Sep 1903.https://www.newspapers.com/image/71063762/?terms=Jasper%20McComas&match=1
2. ↑ "Shooting Affray." The Lexington Leader, 12 Sep 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/682323770/?terms=Jasper%20McComas&match=1
3. ↑ "Father Killed; Son Hurt." News-Democrat, 12 Sep 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/501420270/?terms=Jasper%20McComas
4. ↑ "Jasper McComas Taken To Williamstown." The Courier-Journal, 13 Sep 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/119014102/?terms=Jasper%20McComas&match=1
5. ↑ "Mob Formed to Lynch McComas." The Twice a Week Messenger, 15 Sep 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/375580010/?terms=Jasper%20McComas&match=2
6. ↑ "Jasper McComas." The Interior Journal, 15 Sep 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/71249788/?terms=Jasper%20McComas&match=1
7. ↑ "Must Answer Murder Charge." The Courier Journal, 20 Sep 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/119016386/?terms=Jasper%20McComas&match=1
8. ↑ "Important Case Tried." The Courier Journal, 7 Feb 1904. https://www.newspapers.com/image/119280459/?terms=Jasper%20McComas&match=1
9. ↑ Jasper McComas, Newspapers.com.https://www.newspapers.com/search/?query=Jasper%20McComas&ym=1903-09