The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 92

The richest cnM is Poor witpiit Musical Traning EwerrthlmM in AZnJc BfMwar REMOVED PERMANENTLY From Yam 1 FAO, AIMS The first school building in the Hender- son Settlement was a "haunted" log cabin. A story, end photographs of the school ore to be found elsewhere in this section. M4t(it Cm free CeiwriteH HE FOUNDED A MOUNTAIN SCHOOL Bill Henderson, at one time known as the bad man of "South PGQCTQ-Gcn 244 F'Mcts IMc. WA 2521 Kite S(t(IHr. t.D, CaasallMl America." the rugged section of Bell County near Linda, was slain in his barn lot on April 16.

1932. by Marion Overton, his stepson. With more than a dozen indictments against him for moonshining and various other infractions of the law. Bill was persuaded to reform by the Rev. Hiram Frakes.

a Methodist minister, several years before his death. Mr. Frakes got all the indictments against him quashed and Bill became a model man. Bill gave his farm of about a hundred acres for the purpose of founding a mountain settlement school. Others became interested and additional land was given.

This project has now grown to a full high and graded school, accommodating several hundred students; pit it is called the Henderson Settlement School. 1 OQ On April 16. 1932. Henderson was working in his barn lot with his son-in-law. Otis Ellis.

Marion Overton, his stepson, approached and. according to testimony at the trial, shot Ellis in the abdomen and then turned his gun on Henderson and shot him to death. Mortally wounded and begging for his life. Henderson slumped to the ground, rested his head on his hat. folded his hands across his breast and died "with his boots on." as had been his expressed wish.

The case aligned a mother and her son against her eight children through her marriage to Henderson. The motive for the slaying was said to have been the desire of Overton to obtain 40 acres of Henderson land. Mrs. Henderson wanted to deed this tract to Overton, but her husband objected, as he wanted to divide the property among all of the children. lisp Spectators at the trial of Overton wept when Edward Henderson.

12-year-old son of the slain man. told his story of the shooting. Edward testified that he clung to his father's arm as Overton fired first at Ellis, wounding him -seriously, and then turned his pistol on Henderson, firing at close range as Henderson stepped behind a post. "I grabbed Marion and begged him not to fire." the boy said. "He flung me down and then pulled Pappy from behind the post and shot him twice.

Pappy kept saying 'Don't shoot me any more, honey, you have killed me." but Marion shot anyhow." Edward then told of getting a rifle and going into the mountains in search of his father's slayer. He fired once at what he thought was Overton and the gun kicked him down. Rmsmrv Thmsm famous WATCHES 75 $24 UP irn E9L0VA IttRUS RUFJ EUII CAWUM PARKER KELRXQS EASY CREDIT TERMS Mrs. Louella Henderson, wife of Bill, was jointly indicted with her son Marion. Witnesses testified that she signaled him to come and kill Henderson and Ellis, and stood watching the slaying.

Others testified that she had told Henderson to lock his guns in the corn crib the day of the killing. Overton testified in his defense that Ellis drew a gun on him a few days before the tragedy and made him beg for his life. He said that Ellis lunged at him with a knife at the time of the killing and that Henderson threatened him with a shovel. He denied that Edward was present at the shooting. Numerous prosecution witnesses testified that he was.

On November 19. 1932. a jury in Bell Circuit Court found Marion Overton guilty and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. COuRIER-JOuRNAl FILES for personal experience it can use cr true stories, with references if available. Address Edwin Finch.

Kentucky All Ovtr" will pay $2 ond op 70 THE COURIER JOURNAL MAGAZINE 1.