Sigman had then become a private in the
Fourteenth Kentucky cavalry, and in some
way the case was finally stricken off the
docket. He was discharged from tlio army in
18GG, but he did not]
RISK HIS SAFETY
by a return to his old residence. In the mean
time, however, the Higginbothams had like
wise removed from the state. It was not until
1879 that at the instance of S. M. Higgin
botham, a brother of the deceased, the case was
taken up again. The Rockcastle grand jury
found an indictment against Sigman iu Octo
ber of that year, and this was tiled away with
leave to reinstate. It was restored to the circuit
court docket in January, 18811, and in the fol
lowing month the slayer of young Higgin
botham was brought back to answer for his
early crime. The case was continued, however,
from time to time, and finally resulted in a
hung jury. The prisoner was released on bail,
and now resides in Kansas. His caso was
again set for trial on January 10th last, but
was once more continued until the March
term.
The killing was witnessed by several per
sons, but of these only Godfrey Isaacs is now
living. He is an ex-union soldier and a pau
per, and is tlie defense's main witness. Ho is
a tall, gaunt mountaineer, six feet four inches
in height, and has long claimed to be an inva
lid, though lie says his memory- of the occur
rence is not in the slightest impaired. Natu
rally his sympathies are with tlie prisoner, as
they were neighbors before the war, and after
ward served in the ranks together.
