On the evening of May 2, 1915, Stella Kinney was severely beaten while traveling with her uncle, Robert S. Frasure, on a rural road near Olive Hill, Kentucky. The two were traveling to the home of her parents when the incident occurred. Frasure claimed they were attacked by robbers who assaulted him, stole money, and struck Kinney with a club (actually a hatchet). Kinney was taken to the home of her parents where she died shortly afterwards. She was seventeen years old. Following the autopsy, it was found that she was four months pregnant.

Frasure was arrested soon after her death and a series of six trials ensued between 1915 and 1918. It was believed he murdered Kinney to hide the shame and disgrace of impregnating her. There were two hung juries and three guilty verdicts with life imprisonment. The final appeal was decided in April of 1918.

Robert S. Frasure Murder Trials Collection consists of research materials acquired by Lydia Justice Edwards during the process of writing a series of articles on the murder trials titled "Beautyville: Murder in my Family" for the Eastern Kentucky Voice in 2016.

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Submissions from 1916

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1916-06-23 County Clerk, M. A. Hay., Big Sandy News

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1916-09-04 The Commonwealth of Kentucky Subpoena, Commonwealth of Kentucky

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1916-09-30 Summon by The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1916-10-06 Two Murder Trial Moved to Lawrence, Big Sandy News

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1916-10-12 - 10-19 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1916-10-13 Circuit Court in Session at Louisa, Big Sandy News

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1916-10-20 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1916-10-20 The Frasure Case Takes Entire Week, Big Sandy News

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1916-10-27 Jury Disagrees in Frasure Case, Big Sandy News

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1916-12-12 Robert Frasure vs The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Calhoon B. Wilhoit and Kentucky Court of Appeals

Submissions from 1917

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Index Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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Summon of Jurors, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-02-09 Leg Broken, But He Will Attend Trial, Big Sandy News

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1917-02-14 Lawrence County Clerk Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-02-16 Circuit Court Now in Session, Big Sandy News

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1917-02-28 Commonwealth Rebuttal, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony C. W. Henderson, C. W. Henderson and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Aaron L. Linville, Aaron L. Linville and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Albert J. Kountz, Albert J. Kountz and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Allie and Lothe Caywood, Allie Caywood, Lothe Caywood, and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Annie, Georgie, Walter McClain, Annie McClain, Georgie McClain, Walter McClain, and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Annie Stumbo, Annie Stumbo and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Basel Hatfield Kinney, Bazil Hatfield Kinney and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Booten Hall, Booten Hall and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of C. F. Hysong, C. F. Hysong and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Clay Hatfield Tabor, Clay Hatfield Tabor and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Clint Dean, Clint W. Dean and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Earl James, Earl James and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of E. S. Parker, E. S. Parker and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of E. T. Runyon, E. T. Runyon and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Everett Frasure, Everett Frasure and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Frank and George Runyon, Frank Runyon, George Runyon, and Lawrence County ( Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Fred Newsome, Fred Newsome and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of G. B. O'Roark, G. B. O'Roark and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of G. W. Powell, G. W. Powell and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Harlan Ramey, Harlan Ramey and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Harry Sandidge, Harry Sandidge and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Henry B. Nolan, Henry B. Nolan and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Henry Hobson (Affidavit), Henry Hobson and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of J. A. Porter, J. A. Porter and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of J. M. Rose, J. M. Rose and Lawrence Country (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Joe and Vergie Williams, Joe T. Williams, Vergie Williams, and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of John H. Graves, John H. Graves and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of John Kinney, John B. Kinney and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of John Olmstead, John Olmstead and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of John W. Case, John W. Case and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of J. T. Binion, J. T. Binion and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Logan Davis, Logan Davis and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of L. P. Damron, L. P. Damron and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Martin Coin Jr., Martin Coin Jr. and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Mary Mahala Kinney, Mary Mahala Kinney and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Myrtle Crawford, Myrtle Crawford and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Nancy Binion, Nancy Binion and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of P. M. Melvin, P. M. Melvin and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Robert S. Frasure, Robert Silas Frasure and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Russel Ryan, Russel Ryan and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of S. W. Jackson, S. W. Jackson and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of T. H. Taulbert, T. H. Taulbert and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Walker L. Stumbo, Walker L. Stumbo and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of William T. Evans, William T. Evans and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of Willie Hall (Affidavit), Willie Hall and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Testimony of W. J. Roberts, W. J. Roberts and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-02-28 Witnesses Recalled John Case and A.J. May, John Case, A. J. May, and Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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197-02-28 Arrest Warrant for Grace Reed, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-03-01 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-03-02 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-03-02 The Frasure Case Again Being Tried, Big Sandy News

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1917-03-03 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-03-05 Command to arrest by The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Lawerence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-03-05 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-03-06 - 03-07 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-03-07 Jury Instructions, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-03-09 Life Sentence for Robt. Frasure, Big Sandy News

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1917-03-09 R. S. Frasure was Found Guilty, Big Sandy News

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1917-03-15 Robert Frazure gets Life Sentence, Carter County Herald

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1917-06-08 Appeal from Lawrence Circuit Court - Kentucky Reports, Court of Appeals of Kentucky and Kentucky Reports

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1917-06-08 Court of Appeals of Kentucky - Southwestern Reporter, Court of Appeals of Kentucky and Southwestern Reporter

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1917-06-15 Robert Frasure Case is Reversed, Big Sandy News

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1917-09-21 Circuit Court Convenes Oct. 8, Big Sandy News

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1917-10-12 Carter County summons, Carter County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-10-12 Circuit Court is Grinding, Big Sandy News

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1917-10-12 Citizen and Resident sworn in, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court.

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1917-10-12 Commonwealth of Kentucky, Plaintiff. vs. Affidavit, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-10-12 Request Change of Venue, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-10-12 Robert Frasure request of a New Venue, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-10-12 Robert S. Frasure request New Venue, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-10-13 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-10-13 Records of Public Sentiment, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-10-15 -10-16 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-10-17 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-10-18 - 10-19 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-10-19 Frasure Case is Nearing to Close, Big Sandy News

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1917-10-20 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-10-23 Another Hung Jury, Maysville Public Ledger

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1917-10-26 Jury Disagree in Frasure Case, Big Sandy News

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1917-11 Motion and Grounds for Continuance, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-12-01 Summons by The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-12-01 Summons Command by The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-12-03 - 12-06 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court

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1917-12-03 Lawrence County Clerk's Records, Lawrence County (Ky.) Circuit Court