Don't Meet Someone to settle a score!

[inyati13]

The killer was never identified. A man was found shot to death in his vehicle on a remote road along Carr Creek Lake east of Hazard, KY in the 1960s. When I lived in Hazard, it was called Carr Fork Reservoir, that was in 1974. Cleon Begley was 68 and I was 24. He had been Police Chief of Hazard, KY and a Railroad Detective for the Louisville-Nashville Railroad during the violent period when the UMW were unionizing the Eastern Kentucky coalfields. Cleon told me this story. All I can testify to is that I heard it from the man who said he pulled the trigger.

Cleon Begley was a friend. I spent many evenings with he and his wife in their home. His trademark was a Smith & Wesson Nickel Plated Airweight Bodyguard that I never saw him without. One day I ask Cleon why he carried his Bodyguard. He replied that after spending a lifetime as a policeman, railroad detective and Police Chief, that you never know when someone will seek vengeance. He said not many people who threaten you will ever do anything because a man who is going to do something will never show his hand. Cleon told me the story of a guy he had sent to the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville. When the convict had done his time and was released, he called Cleon. He told Cleon if he ever got the chance, he would settle with Cleon. Cleon said, “Let me make it easy, I’ll be glad to meet you. Just you and I. That way you can settle whatever you want.” Cleon said a fool can never turns down a challenge. They agree to meet on the west side of Carr Fork Reservoir, the first road on the right off US 80 after you cross the Perry-Knott County line. The time of the meeting was set for 5:00 pm. Cleon said he got in his car with a double barreled shotgun loaded with double 00 buckshot. Cleon got there about 4 hours early and waited. When the guy pulled up, Cleon never waited for him to step out of his car. The guy never opened the door. Cleon likewise never stepped out of his. He just drove off. The only thing he left were tire tracks.

This is one of the cases Cleon worked when he was a Railroad detective.
https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-hensley-3
This is his Tombstone.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... d=83240624

 

[greybeard]

When the guy pulled up, Cleon never waited for him to step out of his car. The guy never opened the door. Cleon likewise never stepped out of his. He just drove off. The only thing he left were tire tracks.

Are you saying Cleon shot him or just drove off and left?

 

[Bigfoot]

I read it three times. I'm not sure what happened.

 

[highgrit]

The other guy didn't drive off. Just like if someone tells you their going to whip you, you sure don't let him throw the first punch.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

My take is that Cleon put that scatter gun to good use.

 

[greybeard]

In that case, I take it Cleon is a cold blooded murderer.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

In that case, I take it Cleon is a cold blooded murderer.

Well I reckon I'd rather be a cold blooded murderer than a cold blooded corpse which is what the other fella had in mind.

 

[kenny thomas]

I was on the east side ofCarr Creek lake last weekend. Coming from Whitesburg toward Hazard we turned right at the lake and went through Hindman. Seen some Elk between Hindman and Prestonsburg at the Knott Co. Sportsplex. Hundreds of guns there at a gun show and Elk walking within 200 yards of the building.

 

[Caustic Burno]

My take is Cleon handled the situation properly.
Had an old Uncle was a deputy sheriff back in the 1920's until he retired in the 1950's.
Those were rough times in our country and the law handled the lawless a lot differently. Heard a many a rough story
of some his encounters. I always wanted his Colt Peacemaker in 45 Long Colt.
Those were some rough men. He did nothing different than the Texas Prison System GB as they hired
two hit men to hunt down Bonnie and Clyde. They crossed state lines all across the south and mid west as hit men.

 

[inyati13]

Cleon told me he killed him. Like CB said, Hazard was rough. Lawman operated by a code of protecting their own.

 

[Ryder]

Cleon told me he killed him

What else could he have done? Live never knowing when he was going to be bushwhacked?

 

[Tim/South]

I have never been one with a desire to spend any time looking over my shoulder. When people make threats they need to understand the door swings both ways.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

I guess he did right and about the only thing he could. But what would you do if that happened and later you found out that the other guy came un armed and was just showing up to say he was sorry. I know that's not likely and it's really a dumb thought on my part, but it did cross my mind.

 

[kenny thomas]

I guess he did right and about the only thing he could. But what would you do if that happened and later you found out that the other guy came un armed and was just showing up to say he was sorry. I know that's not likely and it's really a dumb thought on my part, but it did cross my mind.

Here in the mountains and expecially in the coal country it was pretty well known that if they came what would happen, someone would die. I seen a man shot in the chest with a 12ga shotgun on election day in 1974. They were arguing about the election. He waited till the guy went and got his shotgun from the car. Nothing was done about the shooting.

 

[kenny thomas]

I would maybe do the same even today. I have gotten to beat up and old to fight and argue. Many of us old guys are like that. And carry something all the time to do it with.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

I guess he did right and about the only thing he could. But what would you do if that happened and later you found out that the other guy came un armed and was just showing up to say he was sorry. I know that's not likely and it's really a dumb thought on my part, but it did cross my mind.

Here in the mountains and expecially in the coal country it was pretty well known that if they came what would happen, someone would die. I seen a man shot in the chest with a 12ga shotgun on election day in 1974. They were arguing about the election. He waited till the guy went and got his shotgun from the car. Nothing was done about the shooting.

Seeing someone else with a shotgun changes everything, and I'm not saying this guy didn't do the right thing, waiting for the other guy to make a move could have been deadly. Just think how shooting a unarmed person in there car today would go over, things sure change alot in a short time don't they.

 

[kenny thomas]

The coalfields in the 70's were a very dangerous place to be. I have loaded coal on a train after dark and had an armed guard watching over us. He ask me one night if I seen the guy sneaking up on me and said he had shot him with a shotgun but was too far away to do a lot of damage. Never knew who it was. That was during coal strikes with the union. We were non union and they tried to make us stop working because they were on strike.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I didn't live in coal country.
There was a time men were fighting each other with machine guns.
This was when the unions were organizing. Lot of people were dying for what they thought was right.
Some real interesting history of the Scott-Irish that settled the Appalachians.
This is well worth the read. Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America

 

[3waycross]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre

Check this out if you want to see some bloodshed. My uncle Mike was one of the miners on strike. He had played cards in that camp a day or two before the masacre and knew on of the Rockefeller goons who killed all those people.

This happened within 15 miles as the crow flies from my families farms.

 

[inyati13]

The coalfields in the 70's were a very dangerous place to be. I have loaded coal on a train after dark and had an armed guard watching over us. He ask me one night if I seen the guy sneaking up on me and said he had shot him with a shotgun but was too far away to do a lot of damage. Never knew who it was. That was during coal strikes with the union. We were non union and they tried to make us stop working because they were on strike.

I was there Kenny. Some on here may think we are blowing smoke. Fine. But those in KY, Virginia, West Virginia and parts of TN know how it was. When Tesoro Coal where I worked was being organized they blew up the office where I had a desk. It occurred on a weekend and killed a young accountant who went in to get some papers while his wife and baby sat in the car outside.

Cleon was a cold individual. He lived a life that involved dealing with hard people. I knew some of the officers of the Hazard Police force who worked under him at the end of his career. They looked at him as a legend in Hazard law enforcement.