Editor's Note: In 1903 "Bad" Curt Jett was convicted for his part in the killing of J.B. Marcum in Jackson. He was found guilty at a trial held in Harrison County. After serving his sentence he became a noted mountain preacher. Below is an article from June, 1919 taken from the Cynthiana Democrat. The scene was the same courtroom where he had been convicted of murder years earlier.

Curt Jett

Delivers His Lecture/Sermon to

Large Crowd at Cynthiana

The Rev. Curtis Jett who stood before an audience that nearly crowded the circuit courtroom in the courthouse last Thursday evening, well-groomed, clean-cut, open countenance, kindly eyes, and whimsical smile, pleading the cause of religion and reciting the interesting story of his conviction of sin and conversion to right methods of living, warning young men and women against the dangers and pitfalls of a dissolute life, presented a striking contrast to the Curt Jett, hardened criminal, indicted assassin, low-browed, sneering, scoffing, swearing, reckless individual who abut 16 years ago sat in the same courtroom, the center of all the turmoil, excitement, and strain of a trial that claimed the attention of an entire nation.

Juryman/Doorkeeper

The incidents of the trial, a change of venue from Breathitt County where Jett had been indicted for the assassination of attorney J. B. Marcum, has been detailed so often in the press that repetition is unnecessary. It will be recalled, however, that after a thrilling trial and the most intense excitement, augmented by the presence in this city of a 100 or more witnesses on both sides and persons celebrated in the feud annals of the state, a big array of legal talent, sensational examinations and cross examinations of witnesses, lengthy arguments by attorneys, indictments for perjury, and the presence of a company of soldiers to preserve the peace, Jett was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment for life. The jury stood 11 to one for the death penalty, and the lone juryman who stood out against capital punishment was Mr. Jasper King, who on last Thursday night acted as doorkeeper and collected the money paid for admission to hear the man preach whose neck he had saved.

"Happy Day"

The proceedings Thursday night, were presided over by the Rev. F. T. Howard, pastor of the Mt. Hope Methodist Church, this county, who opened with a hymn, "Happy Day," in which the audience joined heartily. The Rev. J. P. Strother, pastor of the Cynthiana Methodist Church, offered a prayer, and then the speaker was introduced by Mr. Howard.

Jett's Life

Mr. Jett began by expressing the pleasure it gave him to address a Cynthiana audience, and referred briefly to the changed conditions under which he made his appearance at this time. He gave a short history of his life: born December 19, 1875, in Jackson, Kentucky, Breathitt County; good Anglo-Saxon blood in his veins; connected with Daniel Boone on his mother's side; removed to Winchester, then to Madison County with his mother after his father's death; led a wild and reckless life, without training or restraint; no education; inherited the feud ideas that prevailed in the mountains; and his mother's brother was killed by an assassin and his own house bombarded with rocks, until it was unsafe to remain and the family were forced to removed to another county. He felt that after his uncle's assassination that it was his business to avenge his death.

No Malice

Jett said the mountain people were misunderstood. He himself, he said, was afraid of no man on earth, nor are the mountaineers cowards who fire from ambush. It is their way, a habit instilled from infancy, to get the better of an enemy and expose one's own person as little as possible. He had loved a fight himself. He was steeped in sin and recklessness and did not realize the enormity of his crimes. He referred to his trials in the courtroom in which he was speaking, and said he had no doubt much falsehood was sworn to, as in all criminal trials. Most people are still uncivilized, in his opinion, so far as a knowledge of God is concerned, and not over one third of the people of Kentucky are civilized, religiously speaking. He said it would not have done the state of Kentucky any good to have taken his life, for he would have gone on to torment steeped in sin and would not have been lecturing before that audience. "You might have chopped off my head," he exclaimed, "You might have hanged me or tortured me, but it wouldn't have done any good. The state of Kentucky did with me just what should have been done; put me in a safe place. I have no malice against any juryman, any judge, any attorney, or anybody else. I can say 'Amen' to everything that was done to me. It was right. Chastening seems hard, but it is good."

Severe on Pool-Playing

He advised that "if a fellow gets bad, in this neighborhood, try to persuade him to do right, but if he cannot be reached, put him where he can stop to think, and let him stay there if he does not reform." Jett said when he first went to prison his Sundays were spent in playing pool, gambling, shooting craps, and other things. He never went to church and remained as hardened as before. The speaker was particularly severe in his condemnation of pool-playing, and told how through his efforts the tables had finally been removed from the Frankfort prison. He said he had little respect for a Y. M. C. A. where pool-playing was encouraged.

Christian Woman's Influence

The start toward his conversion was made by a Christian woman, an invalid of Lexington, whom he never saw and who died before he was released from prison. This woman, to whom he paid the highest tribute of praise, began writing to him, and urging him to read the testament which she sent him and turn from his evil ways. At first, he scoffed at her letters, but finally answered one, then a correspondence opened, and he became interested in her pleas, and finally was won to the side of right.

Keep On Keeping On

He detailed his work among prisoners in the reformatory, how he visited them and urged upon them the duty and hope and helpfulness of a better life. He studied the Bible, became head of the Sunday School class, and led in all good work in the prison. He was criticized in the prison and out. The prisoners did not believe in him, the guards and warden did not believe in him, the newspapers "cracked it to him," but he went on serene in the knowledge that he was on the right track and let all criticism and cruel remarks take their own course. "I just learned to keep on keeping on, I learned to stick and keep on sticking and that's all there is to it." "You've got to live your christianity. If you go back on God, he will hang you until the wind blows through you."

Wins Better Positions

Jett told of the severity of the work in the prison he was forced to perform for many years. His nose was constantly at the emery wheel, and he rebelled and swore and acted just like the rest, until his eyes were opened and he began the better life. After awhile he was put in charge of the greenhouse and flower gardens, of which he made a conspicuous success, although when he started he "knew nothing about flowers except a morning glory that used to run over his mother's mountain cottage." Then as he grew in the confidence of the authorities, he was given the responsible position of keeper of the rear gate through which passed all the traffic of the prison. The authorities showed great confidence in him, and he was proud to say that they never had the occasion to regret it.

Heart Set On Asbury

He had his heart set on getting to Asbury College, in Wilmore, Kentucky, if he were released from prison and getting an education to fit himself for the ministry. A great admiration for Rev. H. C. Morrison, obsessed him and he determined to place himself under that good man's tutelage. And so, when the parole finally came last December and he was released from prison, to Asbury College he immediately turned his eyes. He had only five cents in money coming to him at the prison; no chance to make any while there. Friends loaned him $20. His mother had died and left him an interest in a small piece of property in Jackson, which he sold for $250, and with that he entered the college in January. "I was determined to go through college," he said, "if I had to clean out-houses for my tuition." The money he had would not take him very far on his course and so he is lecturing now and selling the story of his life in book form to raise money to finish his schooling. He was licensed to preach by the Methodist District Conference at Stanford, Kentucky, recently, and so many have been the calls for his services that it has been difficult to comply with them all. He has preached in 11 counties, delivering at least 70 sermons or lectures, and has been heard by thousands of people. The people everywhere have been very kind to him, taking him into their homes, entertaining him and showing every evidence of confidence. Practically all denominations have opened their doors to him.

Sold Books

Nobody, he said, had offered to pay his expenses through school and he was selling his book to make the money. He had a grip full of books Thursday night and sold practically all of them at 50 cents each. Anyone who wants to help him to this extent can order a book from him at Winchester, Kentucky.

Impression Pleasing

It is not easy to listen to Jett's lecture and discredit his sincerity. He has a pleasing presence. His voice, while husky and untrained, is fairly good. He is earnest and enthusiastic. He drives home his points with vigorous gesture. It is perhaps too early to judge the man and his work on the outside of the prison; but there is no question that he did a wonderful work within the walls and his influence was al for good. Time alone can render the ultimate verdict.