Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-05-31
THE MURDER or FRANK COMBS.
A ToucHINs NARRATIVE.

Journal. The General states that about two
years since, he purchased place for his son,
j,st below the mouth of Red River, to which
young Combs moved and commenced work. a
few months after, near neighbor died, and
man named o 'Blennis, purchased the place and
put some hands on it, but not his family. The
day before young Combs visited Kentucky, in
July last he bought small strip OF land, ly-
ing between him end O'Bennis, at public sale.
O'Blennis desired this land, and each had en-
dcavored to buy il from the claimant. who rrfi-
scd to sell it to o O'Blennis, because he had first |
promised to young Combs.
Gen. Combs continues
"Aiter my son started home last November, |
received letter from his agent, DR.. Jachs, ed |
dressed to him, advising him ofthe bad conduct
OF y Blennis during his absence, in destroying
his stock, and especially of his cruelty towards
his riding horse, in forcing him with the aid Of
one of his negroes, over the river bank back
uardS into bog from which he could not ex-
,ricate himself, and when found and pried out,
he died. Shocked as was by such nhunani-
ty to dumb brute, | became seriously alarmed
for the safety ofmy son, and wrote to him to be
on his ouard-to have nothing personally todo
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 adopted, although soon after his re-
turn to his place, he was informed by man in
the employ OF o Blennis, that the latter indvd
ual had offered TO pay him if he would kill my
kon, and that O'Benns himself was repeatedly
absent till late hour in the night with a dou-
be barrel gun loaded with buck.shot. My son
hpprised me of these alarming circumstances.
and that some Of his neighbors advised him to
leave his place, but he said that he ''had rather
die than be thus driven off," in the meantime,
however, he was preparing, under my instruc.
tons, to wind up his business as soon as posi-
ble and come of temporarily at any rate, until
something could be done to render his residence
safe, and but for his murder, he would have left
early in January.
Things remained in this situation till the 30h
of December, my son never having met O'Blen-
mis- but once, on which occasion he told hin of
his intention to seek legal redress for the inlu-
ries he had done him, and expressly discamed
all intention OF any personal injury to him
From this circumstance, and that nearly two
months had elapsed since his return, and o.
Blennis had not executed his threats, my son
began to think he was only boasting and at any
rate he would not venture to attempt any open
act of frioience upon him. On that day nv sor
was visiting friend in the neighborhood, wher
OBlennls rode up to the front fence, few steps
from the house, and, seeing my in the por
tlco, dismounted and came in without being in
vted by the proprietor. Soon afterwards, din
ner announced, and my son, seeing tha
O'BIennls had seated himself at the table, de
clined eating briet alteration ensued, whel
the host inlertered and ordered or desired o.
Benns to leave his house, telling him that h
would not allow him thus to insult his guests
My son remained all night and until one or tw
o'clock the next day In the meantime, O'Ben
mis- had sent one of his slaves to neighborn
grocery for gallon of whiskey, with a write
order very strangely worded, showing that h
had some desperate deed in contemplation. Th
next morning, and during the forenoon, o
Blennis was seen by several persons walking i
the public road, or sitting on log by its sid
armed with n double barrelled gun. Alon
this road my would be compelled to travt
in returning home. Although aware of tn
difficulty between them, they did not suppose h
was contemplating an attack. and therefore. d
rot take the trouble t. notify my son ofhis da,
ger; so that about one or two O'Clock, when h
started home, accompanied by young gentl,
man, named Johnson, so far from intending ,
eIpecting an attack, he put his pistol "a sna
sIx-barreed revolver) in his saddle bags, n,
loaded. and took neither powder nor ball vii
him.
When they arrived at O'Blennis' plunfatio
they saw him in the field near the road and
the time they had come opposite to the house, !
was in the yard--Without speaking to hin
or halling him, If he spoke, they passed on at
slow pace. When they had gone a few hu
dred yards aud were in sight of Frank Com
house, they heard horse approaching them
the rear at rapid gate, and looking back, sa
O'Bennis with double barreled gun on |
shoulder, riding at tall speed Johr son mm
di1teIy said to my son :-"O'Blennis is com
after you to shoot you,' and he replied; a c
pect he ls.'
OBlennis rode past as fast as he could, /
SAID nothing and when he had gone some twen
ar tbirtv Yards iumpsd down from his horse a