Mother Takes Him To Her Arms

Lewis Y. Johnson

Jackson, Kentucky, February 8th

No chieftain struck in the height of his career was ever followed to his grave by a more faithful band than marched through the muddy streets of Jackson today and journeyed out to the old homestead to attend the funeral of James Hargis. While some may have been actuated by curiosity, the majority were drawn by admiration and affection for the man, and a more sincere tribute to the forceful personality of the former boss of Breathitt County could not have been paid.

Of the 1,500 men, women, and children who formed the great party of mourners many were relatives. The mountaineers keep track of their "kin" with unerring memory and cousins many degrees removed are regarded almost as belonging to the immediate family. From all over the surrounding county, the Hargises, the Brittons, the Days, the Crawfords, and the Jetts, all of them either closely or distantly related to the dead leader, came to gather about his bier and offer their sympathy to the bereaved women of the family.

Many friends of Judge Hargis from Lexington and other points were present. The floral offerings were many and handsome, between ten and 20 designs being sent from Lexington this morning.

Patricide Looks On The Dead

Before the funeral this morning Beech Hargis, under guard of the jailer and one of his deputies, was taken to his mother's home and into the room where the body of this father lay. It was is mother's desire that the boy look again on the face of the father that he had killed, and Judge S. S. Taulbee consented for the jailer to take him home. His mother's suggestion that he might be handcuffed, if necessary, was not carried out, and Beech walked freely along between his two guards.

When he was seen on the street a great crowd gathered and followed the party into the Hargis home. The boy walked up to the coffin and looked steadily at his father for a moment, showing no sign of emotion. He then turned and suddenly knelt down with his head in an armchair, giving way to remorse and grief.

Mother's Arms About The Boy

Instantly his mother's arms were about him, and the crowd, as if by common impulse, withdrew from the room, leaving mother and son alone together. In a few minutes Beech Hargis reappeared and signified his readiness to be taken back to jail.

As the time for the funeral approached 100 members of the Masonic Lodge, to which Judge Hargis belonged, drew up in front of the house.

The handsome, hand-carved, mahogany casket was lifted by the pallbearers and borne from the house and deposited in an ordinary "jolt" wagon which was driven toward the Lexington and Eastern station, followed by the mourners. As Judge Hargis made his last trip through the streets of Jackson, where he ruled as king in everything, but name for many years, the entire population, friends and enemies alike, gathered along the sidewalk to watch his final passing.

The station was reached shortly before the morning train from Lexington arrived. No time was lost and as soon as the train had discharged its passengers the casket was lifted into the baggage car and the mourners entered the coaches. The train backed down the track for a quarter of a miles to the junction of the little narrow gauge road of the Kentucky Lumber and Veneer Company, which runs out the "Pan Bowl" and near the Hargis homestead.

Eight Flat Cars Funeral Train

Eight flat cars and an engine had been provided, and the crowd scrambled aboard, the casket being placed on the last car, which was reserved for the pallbearers and immediate family. Then over the rough tracks the little engine puffed and pulled, everybody holding on to the person nearest to keep from being jolted off the car which for a part of the journey ran over the neck of the "Pan Bowl" where a fall on either side would have meant to roll down many feet into the Kentucky River.

The Hargis homestead was reached just at noon and the casket was placed in the center room of the little log house. The top was lifted and the people walked through in one door and out another stopping an instant for a last look at the well-known features.

Family Left Alone With Dead

When all had passed through, the room was cleared of all but the immediate family and the officiating ministers; and the women were given a brief final moment with their dead. Their grief was pitiable. Mrs. Hogg, Judge Hargis' only daughter and always his favorite child, bowed her head over the casket and remained in that posture throughout the services. Her cries finally became quieter, but her body shook with the force of her emotion until her father had been lowered into the grave.

The Funeral Services

The services were conducted by the Rev. A. C. Cooper and the Rev. J. H. Hudson, both "hardshell" Baptists, and both intimate friends of Judge Hargis for years. Mr. Hudson opened the services, saying at the outset that he came to speak a few words at the grave of his friend, who, only a few weeks ago had asked him to preach at this funeral.

"I don't know whether Brother Hargis had any idea or premonition that death was near," said the preacher, "but two weeks ago, as we came back from burying a good woman in another part of the county, he said to me as we rode along together, that if I should outlive him he wanted me and Uncle Cal Cooper to preach at his funeral. It was only recently, also, that as we sat in the store together one night discussing many things, that the subject finally drifted to religion, and he said that he had always preached the Christian religion as he believed it, and that his faith was strong."

Mr. Hudson spike but briefly, and then knelt in prayer, asking the Lord to guard and guide the bereaved mother, wife, and daughter, to look after the remaining brothers, Alex and Elbert, and to visit the son locked in his cell. He prayed that the tragedy might be a warning to all young men who were inclined to disobey their fathers.

"And Must THis Body Die?"

After the prayer he gave out Judge Hargis' favorite hymn, and the crowd joined in singing. "And must this body die, this mortal name decay, and these active bones of mines lie moldering in the clay?"

The Rev. Mr. Cooper followed, making but few direct references to the man or the tragedy, but devoting himself for the most part to pointing out that at some time or another death must come to every man, and that the important thing was to be ready when the call came. He said he was glad to learn that Brother Hargis, whom he had loved for so many years, had professed faith before his death, and he urged every hearer before him to do likewise.

At the close of his address the Masonic fraternity took charge and held brief services after which the coffin was conveyed through the field back to the burying ground where the body of Judge Hargis was laid to rest next to his brothers who went before him.

Judge Hargis left a will, which, it is understood, will not be offered for probate for several days.

Though the provisions of the will are not known, it is reliably reported that it was made but recently, and that his brother-in-law, Floyd Day, was made executor. It is expected that the bulk, if not all, the estate is left to the widow.

Friends Will Push Prosecution

That friends of Judge Hargis will push the prosecution of his son for the killing is said to be an assured fact. The examining trial is set for Monday, but it is understood that O. H. Patton, who will represent the young man, will waive examination, and consent to his being held to the grand jury without bail. Already the whispers have been started that Beech Hargis was urged to his wild deed by enemies. This talk is little more than idle gossip at present, and, so far, there is nothing to indicate any attempt will be made to implicate anyone but the boy.