september july american lawyer murdered kentucky legislator crime known sharp tragedy sharp accused kentucky illegitimate child sharp denied public opinion favored married sixteen years older asked kill sharp defend honor sharp campaigned seat opponents revived story alleged illegitimate child distributed campaign literature claiming child enraged renewed intention avenge wife honor early morning november tricked sharp open door home fatally stabbed convicted murder sentenced hang morning execution wife attempted double suicide stabbing knife smuggled prison successful rushed bleed death hanged july bodies arranged embrace buried single coffin requested inspired fictional works unfinished play world time early life born september area kentucky second son thomas parents devout christians named paternal uncle state senator educated academy kentucky age sixteen recognizing father sufficiently provide family found work earn money education saved money time pursue studies recommended school saving money returned school student later worked school usher age eighteen finished preparatory studies observing lawyers practicing glasgow decided pursue career legal profession particularly admired young lawyer hoped study sharp rumors surfaced fathered illegitimate child daughter lived sharp denied child courtship anna left live father plantation kentucky illness learned nearby mother plantation public disgrace having heard mutual friend beauty accomplishments decided meet rejected attention gradually received guise borrowing books library eventually friends began eighteen years old thirty proposed marriage year told marry condition kill sharp advice traveled immediately capital sharp recently appointed attorney general governor challenges according account found sharp challenged duel sharp refused armed wielding knife took second knife offered sharp declined challenge challenged time sharp tried flee caught collar sharp fell knees spare life kicked cursed threatened agreed duel day looked sharp streets told left went learn sharp finally returned home following failed attempt decided lure sharp house kill wanted action defend honor determined act began teaching shoot gun learning sharp sent letter condemning attempt life asking sharp suspected trap replied meet planned time hoping kill sharp meeting traveled found target left trap decided finish legal studies wait sharp return admitted bar april married june determined defend honor wife devised ruse lure sharp bowling green wrote letters sharp asking help sort legal matter sent different post office sharp failed respond decided confront murder solomon sharp sharp middle bitter political battle known controversy identified relief party promoted legislative agenda favorable opposition party worked secure rights creditors collect debts sharp served state attorney general governors term lasted august succeeded office party power beginning sharp resigned run seat heated campaign opponents raised issue alleged partisan distributed alleged sharp denied illegitimate child likely fathered family slave sharp won election defeating sharp claim uncertain believed planned murder flee anna missouri murder sharp early morning november new legislature convened session hoped suspicion fall sharp political enemies weeks prior date sold property telling friends planning missouri hired laborers help load wagons days planned murder plan complicated warrant sworn sued support illegitimate son born june claiming father later said ignored warrant dated october advice friend termed harassment said arranged warrant excuse kill sharp historian says likely added warrant story fact means damage control hardly looked good committed act ostensibly killed sharp preparation packed change clothes black mask knife poison tip murder weapon finding filled arrived took lodging residence warden state clock evening went sharp home dressed disguise carried usual clothes buried bank following murder discovering sharp home looked city finding local tavern returned sharp house wait saw return midnight clock morning thought household quiet confession described murder sharp mask drew dagger proceeded door knocked times loud quick colonel sharp said replied foot heard floor saw door approached light drew mask face immediately colonel sharp opened door advanced room left hand right wrist violence grasp spring trying wrist said replied don know said colonel sharp know sharp appeared partition door disappeared seeing disappear said tone voice come light colonel know pulling arm came readily door holding wrist left hand stripped hat forehead looked sharp face knew readily imagine long bush suit hair sprang tone horror despair great god said fell knees let wrist throat facing door face die villain said dagger heart sharp died moments fleeing scene went river retrieve clothes changed sank disguise river stone returned room house scott family morning emerged quarters surprise told murder apparently believed time told suspects called horse began return trip days arriving told wife anna sharp dead morning arrived told suspicion murder agreed return men face charge trial murder arrived november partisans talked sharp murder work party hoped suspect printed critical sharp known violent man political personal motivation crime cleared suspicion investigators learned time murder recovering unrelated injuries suspicion moved loyal known hate sharp political principles people knew sharp earlier alleged involvement marriage witnesses placed night killing host said heard leave house night presenting preliminary testimony commonwealth attorney asked additional time assemble witnesses request second delay pushed hearings mid december dagger taken arrest match wound sharp body confession claimed buried murder weapon bank river near murder took place knife found shoe match track found outside sharp house morning murder lost found scene crime believed belong murderer later claimed stolen burned gone sleep night witnesses testified widow testified voice killer distinct test devised allowing sharp hear voice immediately identified killer claimed disguised voice night murder thought sharp recognize partisan claimed chance encounter man knew said man stranger time asked help unspecified claim sharp man identified husband said intended kill sharp based evidence held trial term circuit court march uncle assembled legal team nephew included senator grand jury convened march returned indictment sharp murder giving time requested gather witnesses court scheduled special session specifically trial trial began change venue denied pleaded innocent charge jury testimony began recounted events night murder reiterated voice murderer magistrate testified heard threaten kill sharp said return saw waving red flag heard tell wife gained victory repeated testimony meeting said told sharp offered thousand dollars slave girl acres km2 land wife anna leave sharp sharp apparently promise told going kill man witnesses testified referred sharp friend murderer gain entry sharp house testimony trial concluded concluded days later despite lack physical evidence jury hour sharp murder sentenced death hanging june year requested stay execution write justification actions stay granted execution rescheduled july questioned charge crime dismissed execution hanging imprisoned awaiting execution wrote confession accused regard alleged meeting believed accusation meant favor governor considered political enemy secure pardon finished confession mid june uncle senator took state printer immediate publication supporter printer refused publish joined husband cell dungeon entry trap door room tried bribe guard allowing escape failed tried pass letter senator asking help escape attempt likewise failed senator younger asked pardon governor avail final request stay execution rejected july hope exhausted couple attempted double suicide drinking anna smuggled cell survived following morning anna suicide watch threatened separation night execution anna took second dose unable july morning scheduled execution anna asked guard privacy dress guard left anna revealed smuggled knife husband stabbed anna taken nearby house treated doctors weak stand walk loaded cart conveyed anna guards told seriously injured guards finally allowed anna angered critical condition stayed longer feel pulse guards took hanged died stab wounds asked assembled spectators offered hand declined gesture publicly denied involvement sharp murder accused having lied meeting denied death march accusation tried prisoner moved men supported neck asked drink water band play retreat moscow signal cart moved died brief struggle father requested body following earlier instructions bodies anna arranged embrace buried coffin poem written anna double senator eventually found publisher nephew confession printing ran august sharp brother attempted counter late col wrote book sharp claimed seen version confession implicated threatened sue sharp published threatened kill sharp release manuscript hid house completed printed version found sharp house popular culture play based events world time inspired
Jereboam O. Beauchamp