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The Independent 1892 . BY L. E. TUPPER. |
| IN 1887 one Nick Howard shot
and killed
Bob Turner in the Court House of
Harlan County, in a quarrel over a game of cards. A few days later Will
Turner brother of Bob Turner
broke into Howard's house in the night, and in the fight which ensued was
shot in the arm. He declared that he might have shot Howard through
the cracks between the logs of the house, but would not. He left
for Texas but came back at the end of a year and was shot from the loft
of the Court House by Wilts Howard, cousin
to Nick. Why he took up the quarrel
is not known; but from that time on he and a man named Jennings were the
leaders of the Howard faction in the feud. Nick Howard,
who had been tried for murder and acquitted on the ground of self defense,
withdrew, and has lived peaceably in Harlan County ever since. So
far as I can learn Wilts Howard and Jennings
had
an ambition to be “bad men," after the pattern of Frank and Jesse James,
whose life they had read, or heard read, and whom they desired to
imitate. A short time after this a party of men in ambush shot into the
house of the father of the Turner boys and killed a man named
Bailey
and wounded Boney Turner in the arm. There
was a heavy fog, and it was never. known for a certainty who fired these
Shots. Mr. Bailey had had nothing to
do with the feud, and it is supposed that he was shot by mistake, tho some
claim that he was shot because he had dared to comment upon the lawless
acts of, Howard and Jennings.
Boney Turner started that day for Virginia, where he now lives, his brother accompanying him. The first night they stopped at the house of a Mr. Middleton, about eight miles from Harlan Court House. John Bailey a brother of the Bailey who had been killed, started from home that same day to bury his brother, but was stopped by Mr. Middleton and told that his brother was already buried. He also stayed all night at Mr. Middleton’s house. He came out about daylight and was shot on the porch by Jennings and others from ambush. This time the assassins were recognized and pursued by the Turner boys and others, but managed to escape. Jennings and Howard then went to Missouri where they engaged in murder and robbery in emulation of the of the James brothers. Among other crimes they killed and robbed a deaf-mute. The crime was traced to them and they left the State and returned to Harlan County. Here they were joined by their friends and they resisted the officers sent to arrest them. They fortified themselves in the mountains between Harlan County and Virginia and were able to defy all authority. Two of the sheriffs pose were killed in an attack made upon the outlaws' stronghold. After this there seemed to be less effort made to arrest these men; for they always went on the defensive. About this time Howard got hungry for blood," as one of my informants said, and started out one Sunday morning with the avowed intention of killing George Turner, who had returned from Virginia. Turner had left home, and Howard, finding the direction he had taken, started after him on foot. Being overtaken by the pastor of the Presbyterian Mission Church at Harlan Court House, Howard compelled him to dismount and taking his horse rode on until he overtook Turner when he shot him in the back, killing him instantly. The pastor commented on Howard's act, and the latter sent him word that he would kill him if dared to preach again. He did preach, however, surrounded by an armed guard of boys and men. At this time two men named Keywood incurred the wrath of the outlaws, and an an attack was made upon them. In which several men were killed. A son of one of the Keywoods went to the Court House for warrants and a pose was raised. The sheriff's posse consisted of forty men, while the outlaws had thirty. A battle was fought in which the outlaws were dispersed. Howard and Jennings left the country again and went to California. There they were arrested for robbing a stage. Jennings was brought back to Kentucky on a requisition and was tried for murder of John Bailey and sentenced to imprisonment for life. Howard was taken to Missouri , and is now on trial for the murder of the deaf mute. If he is not hanged for that he will be brought back to Kentucky and tried for the murder of George Turner and others. There are many side issues to the feud that have resulted in blood, and the condition of the county with so much killing going on, is such that a very little thing has frequently resulted in homicide. Quite recently a man might be seen plowing out his corn with pistols in his belt and a Winchester rifle strapped across his shoulders. He had killed a man, and while waiting trial had to go armed to protect himself from the kindred of the man whom he shot. A little over a year ago Judge Lewis was shot and killed by his own son, and James Middleton was shot from ambush while on the way to testify in one of the homicide cases. In spite of all this the people are not ruffians, but are kind and hospitable to strangers, true to their friends and in appearance as mild and peaceable as the inhabitants of any rural community in New England. The religious comparatively little is being done for the people. A school and church with earnest Christian workers would make a wonderful change in Harlan in a few years. The people are sick of bloodshed and are longing for better things. WILLIAMSBURG, KY. Back
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