SOUTHARD
FLOYD "ROWDY" SOUTHARD
FLOYD "ROWDY"
SOUTHARD
Floyd "Rowdy" SOUTHARD widely known in western Kentucky as one of Butler
High School's all time greats of the gridiron
was shot and killed by Raleigh Young in the kitchen of the Young home
in Princeton at 1:30 o'clock Wednesday morning.
He died almost instantly.
"He broke into the house and forced me to do what I did,: Mr Young
said Wednesday. Only witness to the shooting was Lucy Ann YOUNG, daughter
of Mr Young. Gene YOUNG, the son, was asleep in the house and did not awaken
until after the incident, Mr Young said. No warrant was issued for Mr Young's
arrest but Harry Randolph, a neighbor, was deputized by Mrs Mitchell Clift,
Sheriff, to guard him. Mrs Rawleigh Young said "Rowdy" had been warned
by Mr Young not to come to the house but that he telephoned Tuesday night,
saying he was coming. She said Southard appeared at the front door and
demanded admittance. Mr Young then fired several shots into the floor in
front of the door, hoping to frighten "Rowdy" away, but he broke the lock
off the door and entered, going into Mr Young's downstairs bedroom, Mrs
Young said. In a subsequent 'tussle' "Rowdy" grabbed "Chickie", Mr Young's
16-year old daughter, and held her between himself and the father. He later
loosed his hold on the girl and grabbed Mr Young. They went through the
house into the kitchen, where the shooting occurred. Mr Young said he telephoned
for the police when "Rowdy" appeared and Office Kirby Thomas went to the
house, after first telephoning in an effort to get another officer to accompany
him but arrived after the
shooting had occurred.
A coroner's jury at an inquest held by Coroner John Morgan at Princeton
Wednesday afternoon returned the following verdict. " We find that Floyd
Southard came to his death as a result of a gunshot wound inflicted by
the hand of R.E. Young; and we further find that said R.E. Young at the
time of inflicting said wound, was acting in his own defense and in the
defense of his home.
"Rowdy's body was at the Brown Funeral Home in Princeton where, it
was said no funeral arrangements had been made pending arrival of his father
and mother, Mr and Mrs Floyd Southard, from Columbus, Ohio.
He also is survived by his wife Mrs. Jane Southard, Jameston, New York.
Cadiz Record May 1944
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