Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-03-06
The Murder Of Frank COmbs--.A
Touching Narrative.


years since, he purchased place for his son,
jus, below the mouth Of Red River to which
young Combs removed and commenced work.
A few months after, near neighbor died, and
man named O'Bennis, purchased the place
Of the deceased, and pu. some hands on it, but
not his family The day before young Combs
visited Kentucky in July last. he bought small
strip of land, lying between him and O'Blennis,
at public sale O'Blennis desired this land,
and each had endeavoured 10 buy it from the
claimant, who refused 10 sell i, TO O'Blennis,
because he had first promised il to young
Combs
Gen. Combs continues:
"Af:er my son started home last November,
received letter from his agent, DR.. Jacks,
addressed TO him, advising him of The bad con-
duct of O'Blennis during his absence, in de
slroying his stock, and especially Of his cruel
,y towards his riding horse, in forcing him,
with The aid of one Of his negroes, over the
river bank backwards INTO bog, from which he
could not exlricate himself, and when found
and pried out he died. Shocked as was by
such inhumaniiy TO dumb brute, became
riously alarmed for the safety of my son, and
wrote 10 him TO be on his guard-,o have moth
ing, personally, to do with O'Blennis, but TO
seek legal redress for any injuries he had
sustained, if, on consultation with his friends,
it was deemed advisable. This course he adop-
ted, although soon after his return TO his place,
| he was informed, by a man in the employ Of
O'Blennis that the latter individual had offered
10 pay him if he would kill my son, and that
O'Blennis himself was repeatedly absen, ill a
late hour in the nigh. with double barrel gun,
loaded with bucksho,. My son apprized me Of
these alarming circumstances, and that some Of
his neighbors advised him to leave his place,
but said that he chad rather die than be thus
driUen off," in the meantime, however, he was
preparing, under my instructions, to wind up
his business as soon as possible and come off,
temporarily a. any rate, until something could
be dono to render his residence safe, and but
for his murder he would have left early in jan
uary.
Things remained in this situation until the
30lh of December: my son never having mel
OBlennis but once, on which occasion he told
him Of his intention to seek legal redress for the
injuries he had done him, and expressly dis
claimed all intention Of any personal injury 10
him. From this circumstance, and thai Two
months had nearly elapsed since his return and
O'Benns had no. executed his threats my son
began 10 think he was merely boasIing, and, al
any rate, that he would not venture TO attempt
any open act of violence upon him. On ,ha, day
my son was visiting friend in the neighbor.
hood, when O. Blennis rode up to the front fence
few steps from the house, and seeing my son
in the porco, dismounsed and came in without
being invited so TO do by the proprietor. Soon
afterwards, dinner was announced, and my son
seeing iha, O'Blennis had seated himself at the
table, declined eating; brief alteration en-
sued, when the host in,erfered and ordered OF
desired O'Blennis 10 leave his house, telling hin
he would not allow him thus 10 nsul, his guest
My son remained all night and until one o.
Two o'clock the next day. In the mean time
O'BIenns had sent one of his slaves late a
: night to a neighboring grocery for gallon o
whiskey, with written order very strangely
worded, showing ,ha, he had some desperai,
deed in contemplation. The mex, morning. ant
during The forenoon, O'Blennis was seen b,
several persons walking in the public road, o
sitting on log by its side, armed with double
barreled gun. Along this road my son woult
be compelled 10 travel in returning home. AL
though aware Of the difficulty between them
they did not suppose he was contemplating al
attack, and, therefore, did not take The troubl
to notify my son Of his danger; so ihar at abou
one or Two o'clock, when he started home, &C
:, companied by young gentleman, named John
. son, SO far from intending or expecting an al
tack, he pat his pistol IA small six-barrei re
:, volver) in his saddIe-bags, unloaded, and too
neither powder nor bali with him.
- When they arrived a, O'Blennis plantation