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The Fitch Brothers: Susie Grant movingly relates their story One of the saddest stories in Adair County history. In a way, a story of redemption and salvation. A must read story by Adair County's best-known columnist, the author of the two-volume autobiography, "The True Story of a German War Bride." Two photos with The Fitch Brothers story. By Susie Grant Copyright Susie Grant Submitted for her by her daughter Hilda Smith I was asked to repeat the sad story of Rudolph "Rude" and Champ Fitzpatrick, "the Fitch Brothers," as they were known. When I originally wrote the story, I took it from an old newspaper The Spectator which was given to me by Mrs. C. O. Moss. The Hanging We see movies or read stories in which the villain ends up hung for a crime he has committed. When we think of something like that, usually it is happening at a far away place. But this happened right here in Adair County. The hangman's noose claimed not just one life on March 21, 1884 but two. The ones that were tried and convicted for murder were brothers Rudolph Rude and Champ Fitzpatrick, "The Fitch Brothers," as they were known for short. It seems that neither of them had any formal schooling. They could not read nor write and were known to be dangerous and ruthless trouble makers. Rude, the older of the brothers was 33 years old, married and had 3 children. Champ was only 23 years old and single. It all started election day, August 6, 1883, in Neatsville It all started on election day, August 6, 1883. The brothers continued a quarrel, right at the voting place in Neatsville, with Miller Brewster, who had just arrived with his small son to vote. The quarrel had started a few days before over a plow. The younger brother, Champ, accused Brewster of telling lies on him and cursed like a wild man. Brewster denied the charge, and leading his small son, continued on toward the building. Enraged, Champ knocked off Brewster's hat. As Brewster stopped to pick it up, Champ pulled him up and started cutting him with a knife. Bystanders tried to pull Champ off Brewster, but he drew a pistol.The older brother stepped in at that point firing a shot into Brewster's side. Not enough men in Neatsville to take them, brothers said Not content on having wounded an unarmed man, they fired one more shot, fatally wounding Brewster in the head. Addressing the stunned voters, the pair stated that there were not enough men at Neatsville to take them. But a posse from the Neatsville neighborhood, Sheriff Wolford and his deputies caught and arrested them the following Wednesday. They were tried and convicted of murder. The sentence was hanging by the neck on December 7, 1883. Case appealed to Governor Knott Their case was appealed to Governor Knott who changed the date for hanging to March 21, 1884. The scaffold was erected at the public square in Columbia, Kentucky, only 75 yards from the jail. Many preachers visited with Rude and Champ that last day of their life. Every effort was made by the spiritual men to let the brothes make peace with God. Both brothers professed faith in Savior, right at jail Both professed faith in their Savior right there at the jail. They seemed very nervous as time for execution drew near. It is not known exactly what time they died, but it is believed to be late afternoon. Champ gets on knees, praying for his defender, Rudolph After they were prepared for the gallows, Champ got on his knees praying for his brother, Rudolph, who was going to die for defending his Champ's life. While he was praying, Rude knelt in front of him sobbing pitifully, groaning and saying he had nothing against the man they killed and begged for mercy. After this scene, many prayers were offered on their behalf After this scene, many prayers were offered on their behalf. Rev. D. S. Campbell delivered a touching prayer just before they left the jail for the short walk to the gallows. Just before they arrived at the gallows, Rudolph was handed a bottle containing about 6 ounces of brandy, which he drank to the disgust of his spiritual advisors. Brothers seemed pleased such a large crowd had gathered Both brothers, though very unlearned and ignorant, made speeches from the gallows. They seemed pleased that such a large crowd had gathered in their behalf. It was estimated that at least 7000 people were present, one thousand of them women. The Neatsville mentioned used to be a village north of Green River The Neatsville mentioned used to be a village on the north side of Green River, located between the river and highway 206. There used to be a hotel, several stores, one or two doctors offices and many homes. Neatsville once considered as county seat of Adair County It was large enough that at one time it was even considered as the county seat for Adair County, with Columbia winning out. A large flood between 1900 and 1910 damaged or destroyed most of the buildings and Neatsville ceased to exist as the town incorporated February 23, 1847 recorded in chapter 278 of Laws of Kentucky. The boys are brought home The late Mrs. Mirt Hardwick remembered her father, Alanco Neat, telling how he and Rudolph "Rude" Neat brought the bodies of the hanged brothers home. It was a very dark, bad night. All during the ride both men shivered, not just from the cold night air, but from the awful thing they had witnessed earlier. Rudolph Neat was the one to tell the mother that her sons had expired. He was shocked when the woman calmly inquired on how to cure one of her animals of lice. Apparently the mother was in such deep shock and her grief would not allow her to live in the present. She must have hoped since there was a stay of execution once that it would happen again. Rude and Champ were buried at the Tabernacle Cemetery ude and Champ were buried at the Tabernacle Cemetery, about 100 ft. from the old church building. The grave was marked with a homemade stone. Inscribed were the initials of the Fitzpatrick brothers. New, flat ground level grave markers have been installed by relatives of the Fitzpatrick brothers. This makes it easier to identify the graves. See E.H. Lepiarczyk comment related to the tragedy: In Loving Memory of My Relatives, the Fitzpatrick Brothers See Frank Dickerson comment related to the tragedy: Hard to Imagine This story was posted on 2006-06-04 08:19:32
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