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Subject: [KYHARLAN-L] RE: One Dead Another Wounded. Harlan American-1925
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 02:16:43 EDT

Harlan American
December 2, 1925
Harlan, KY

One Dead Another Wounded

As a Result of Shooting In Pool Room At Black Mountain

Corbett Farley is hovering between life and death, Frank Monhollen is
dead and Bill Farley is nursing a slight flesh wound as the result of a
shooting affray at Black Mountain last Wednesday night, in which Virgil
Gurley was the chief actor. Monhollen, it is claimed was accidentally killed
when he stepped in the range of the bullets as Gurley was firing at Farley.
According to the difficulty as told by persons who claimed to have been
present, Gurley entered the pool room at Black Mountain, which was crowded,
and claiming that Corbett Farley made a move as if to draw a pistol, started
firing. No one it is claimed except the Gurley boy, fired any shots.
Immediately after the shooting, Charles Gurley, who is a deputy sheriff at
Black Mountain arrested his brother, Virgil, and held him until Sheriff Blair
and his posse arrived and brought them to Harlan and lodged Virgil in jail.
Immediately after the shooting Sheriff Blair, accompanied by Deputies Tobe
Rutherford and Robert Crabtree and Deputy Constable Green Thomas, left in an
automobile for Black Mountain and returned about 10: 30 with Virgil Gurley,
accompanied by Charles Gurley.
Corbett Farley who is about twenty five years old, shot and killed, Otha
Gurley in the store of Joe Cawood at Black Mountain last March. He was
indicted at the March term of court and his trial continued to last August
term when it was continued to the eight day of the present term.
Farley was struck over the heart and has been paralyzed since the
shooting. At first it was reported that he would not recover but there is now
slight hope of him surviving the wound.
Lennie Gurley, a sister of Virgil and Charley Gurley, was killed by John
Wyatt outside the city limits of Harlan about two years ago. Wyatt escaped
and was later captured in Maryland and was tried at the last March term of
Harlan Circuit Court and sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary, and is
now serving his sentence.
The Grand Jury, which was in session at the time of the trouble at Black
Mountain
is investigating the tragedy, but has not yet returned an indictment. Virgil
Gurley has made no motion for bail, waiting their action of the Grand Jury.

Researcher: Elva Nolan Morgan

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