Note: Edward "Ned" Callahan is one of the most famous of Breathitt County's feudal characters. He is best known for his part in the Marcum Affair, but he took part in other troubles. He was sheriff in 1903 when Marcum was murdered. An earlier attempt had been made on Callahan's life in 1910, but he survived. However, he wasn't to survive the shooting that took place on May 4, 1912 - nine years to the day after Marcum was shot. He lingered for a while at the hospital in Buckhorn, but died from his wounds described below. As far is known, nobody was ever brought to trial for his ambush shooting.

Noted Feudist Shot Twice

Louisville Courier-Journal

Jackson, Kentucky, May 4, 1912

Ed Callahan, one of the most noted leaders of the feudal wars of Breathitt County, was shot from ambush this morning about nine o'clock through the window of his store at Crocketsville; a little village in this county about 25 miles from Jackson. One steel bullet entered his leg just above the knee and another pierced his breast. The latter ball has been located and will be removed. Several physicians were at once called in to attend the wounded man, and at 11 o'clock he was removed to the hospital, which is being maintained in connection with the Buckhorn High School; about six miles from the scene of the shooting, where he was late this evening reported as resting well with some hope for his recovery.

Shot Through Window

Callahan was shot through the front window of his store, which is a short distance from his residence. He had just hung up the receiver of the telephone after talking to County Judge J. Wise Hagins, at Jackson, and when passing the window in going to the opposite side of the store a volley of shots came from the hillside across the creek. Ten or 12 shots were fired, but only two bullets took effect. The shots were fired from near the same spot form which Callahan was wounded severely about a year ago.

C. B. Gross, son-in-law of Callahan, at once notified the officers at Jackson, and telegraphed to Capt. V. G. Mullikin at Lexington to bring his man-trailing bloodhounds at once in the hope that the dogs could run down the assassins. Capt. Mullikin arrived at Elkatawa late this afternoon with two bloodhounds, Queen and Pearl, and at once set out across the country for the scene of the shooting. As, however, the dogs cannot be placed on trail before morning, nearly 24 hours since the shooting; and it threatens rain tonight it is feared that they will be of little service.

Three Persons Suspected

Three persons, it is said, are strongly suspected, but no attempts at arrests have been made as yet. While much interest is being manifested, no excitement prevails over the shooting and no further trouble is expected.

Callahan operates at Crockettsville one of the biggest stores in Breathitt County and has been an enterprising and prominent business man. he was a defendant with the late Judge James Hargis for the murders of James B. Marcum and James Cockrill, and Marcum's widow was given a verdict of $8,000 in a civil suit against him for her husband's death.

The fact that the bullets found in Callahan's body were of different sizes leads to the belief that he was shot by more than one person. The identity of the would-be assassins is a mystery.

Callahan was shot from a mountain side that overhangs his home and store. It is said that the hiding place of those who shot Callahan was discovered by his friends, who made a search, but no trace could be found of the men themselves.

Wilson Callahan, a son of the wounded man, is doing everything possible to make certain the capture of the men who attempted his father's life.

Widely-Known Man

Since the death of Judge Jim Hargis and the removal of B. Fult French to the Bluegrass section of Kentucky, Ed Callahan was the most widely-known man in Eastern Kentucky, and while remaining quietly in the precincts of his own home at Crockettsville, since he was fired upon from ambush two years ago, he was regarded as the leader of the old Hargis faction in the Hargis-Cockrill feud.

Five times did Callahan face juries in Lexington, Beattyville, and Sandy Hook on charges of murder growing out of the assassinations of James B. Marcum, Jim Cockrill, and Dr. B. D. Cox, he having been a co-defendant with Judge Hargis in all of the latter's trials. At the time he first became prominently identified with the feudal fights in Breathitt County, Callahan was high sheriff, while Hargis was the county judge; and it was over a contest of their election in November 1902 that resulted in the feud between the Hargis and Cockrill factions, and the assassination of James B. Marcum, May 4, 1903, as he was standing on the steps of the Breathitt County courthouse at Jackson talking to Capt. B. J. Ewen.

Let Assassins Escape

When the shots were fired Hargis and Callahan were sitting in the front door of the Hargis store, just across the street from the courthouse. Both were occupying rocking chairs and were on a direct line with the courthouse door,and were in a position to see the shots fired and the victim sink to the sidewalk; according to the testimony given by both on their several trials, but neither made any effort to locate or ascertain the identity of the assassins until after troops had been sent to Jackson by the governor.

At the time of the assassination of Jim Cockrill, who was the town marshal of Jackson and the leader of the Cockrill faction, from the windows on the second floor of the courthouse, Hargis and Callahan were standing at the window on the second floor of the Hargis store; this fact also being brought out in the testimony of the two men on their trials for the Cockrill murder. Also, when Dr. B. D. Cox was assassinated, directly opposite the Hargis yard, Hargis and Callahan were standing in the yard in the rear of a shed from which the shots were fired. This fact was also brought out in the testimony of the two men and other witnesses on their for the Cox murder.

Marcum and Cockrill were both assassinated in the daytime, and Dr. Cox, at night. Curt Jett, Mose Feltner, John Abner, and John Smith, who later confessed to participating in all three assassinations, implicated Hargis and Callahan, swearing they had planned the murders and selected the time in which they should be carried out.

Although escaping conviction for the assassinations, Hargis and Callahan were charged by a petit jury in Clark County with being conspirators against the life of Marcum and awarded the latter's widow a judgement of $8,000 against the two men, which amount with interest was subsequently paid to Mrs. Marcum after it had been carried through the higher courts.

Attempt to Kill Callahan

Following the confession of John Smith and his later dismissal by the prosecution, he and his relatives became the bitter enemies of the Hargis-Callahan factions, and several of the Smith faction were arrested and charged with the attempt on Callahan's life two years ago. Shortly after the arrest of the men, a truce was reached between the two factions at the instance of County Judge Taulbee; and an agreement was drawn up and signed by Callahan and the leaders of the other faction, in which both sides pledged themselves not again to indulge in feudal warfare.

Since the signing of that agreement, almost two years ago, both sides have apparently been at peace, although numerous killings, as an indirect result of the old feud, have occurred. Following his recovery two years ago, Callahan had a stockade built around his home and yard at Crocketsville so arranged that he could pass from his residence to his store and back without being seen by anyone who might be in the neighborhood. He took this precaution, he said, as he had a premonition that it was only a matter of time until his enemies would "get him," and that it was his purpose to stave off the climax as long as possible.

Ed Callahan has several children. One of these is Wilson Callahan, who several years ago killed his uncle, John Deaton, when the latter attacked the elder Callahan and almost cut his arm off with a butcher knife.

Callahan was in Louisville last week. He visited J. M. Robinson, Norton and Company's establishment and the Swann-Abram Hat Company. He was accompanied by his son. He left the city Friday morning for his home.

Callahan May Recover Surgeons Think Noted Feudist Has Fighting Chance

Lexington, Kentucky, May 4.

Capt. J. L. McCoy, Deputy United States revenue collector, who arrived from Jackson on the L. & E. train this evening, states that Callahan is not in Jackson, but is till at his home near Crocketsville, with physicians in attendance and it is believed has a chance to get well. He was shot through the left lung and the right knee; the wounds are from steel bullets, fired from a rifle. Capt. McCoy was within five or six miles of Callahan's home. Callahan's family said they believed he was fatally wounded, but might possibly recover.

Capt. McCoy said that Callahan had risen as usual early this morning and soon after was standing in front of his store when several shots were fired from the brushwood on the mountain side which he was facing, and two bullets struck Callahan, one penetrating the left lung and the other crashing into his right knee. Callahan fell, but with the assistance of his family was able to seek shelter in the house. No further shots being fired, the assassins evidently, being so sure of their aim, believed further shooting was unnecessary.

The persons who did the shooting, it was said, were not seen, but Callahan, it is stated, believes that he knows who they are. The circumstances of the shooting are almost identical with those of the attempted assassination of Callahan on May 3, 1910, just two years and one day ago. Capt. McCoy says that he was told that Callahan was this morning standing in almost the identical spot and the bullets were fired from near the same place on the hillside as in the previous attempt at assassination. It was also about the same time of the day.

It was understood that Callahan received prompt attention from several Breathitt County physicians, but as Crockettsville is fully 15 minutes from Jackson over rough mountain roads, it was considered injudicious to attempt to take him to Jackson; although, Callahan's wounds are so severe that there would be practically no hope for an ordinary man. Callahan is a man of powerful physique and iron constitution and it is believed that is is not unlikely that he will recover, his injuries being no worse than those from which he got well two years ago. No direct information has been received here from Jackson as to whether officers have gone to the scene to search for the assassins or not, but it is reported that the Callahan clan has rallied from far and near and not only will guard their chieftain, but attempt to run down the assassins.

Callahan passed through here last Thursday on his way home from Louisville, where he had been to buy goods for his store.

Ed Callhan is buried in the old cemetery near his home at Crocketsville, Kentucky.