Chester Howard
Harlan, Enterprise
April 14.1922
Succumbs to Pistol Wound Inflicted By Deputy Clem
At Baxter
Chester Howard died in a local hospital, Monday at one
O'clock, from the
pistol shot wound he received Saturday night while in an effort to
escape
from deputy Frank Clem at the residence of Esquire H.B. Davis at Baxter.
The
bullets from Clems pistol entered the back of Howard's head and came
out near
the temple and with his brains oozing out, the wounded man yet survived
almost 50 hours. The tragedy was enacted upon the lawn of Esquire Davis
at
his Baxter home and about eight O'clock in the night while Davis was
preparing warrants against Howard for alleged resistance of arrest
and for
alleged carrying a concealed deadly weapon and when the warrants were
finished Clem and another deputy meant to take Howard to Harlan and
commit
him to jail to wait a hearing Monday.
Clem and his brother and Howard were together on
the front porch of the
Davis home. Another deputy was inside waiting issuance of the warrants.
Howard was handcuffed, his pistol had been surrendered to Davis and
he
therefore was unarmed. Raising his shackled hands he is said to have
given
Clem a blow that staggered the officer and he started to escape, when
Clem
drew his pistol and fired with deadly aim. Soon after the tragedy a
warrant
was sworn out before Judge Howard charging malicious shooting and wounding
against Clem who was arrested by a Harlan officer and was held in the
sum of
$300 to await action by the grand jury. Howard was a young man about
22 years
old. He was the son of John Howard of Leslie County.Clem is perhaps
50 years
old. Howard was closely related to the Howard's of Harlan and Harlan
County.
The regular grand jury just before their final adjournment returned
an
indictment against Clem with murder and refused to recommend bond,
but in
court Thursday the defendant was allowed bond in the sum of $6000 by
Judge
Forester.
Submitted By: Elva Nolan Morgan
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