Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-09-07
Champ Ferguson.
The First Man lie Kiiled-A Thrilling
Narrative.

The editor of the Nashville Dispatch publishes
account of an interview with Champ Ferguson,
from which we take the following:
CHAMPS RELIGIOUS BELIEF.
We asked Champ if he had ever embraced any
religion, or whether he had any religious faith
He raised his head, and a smile twinkled in his
expressive eye. lie looked at us a moment, in
doubt and asked il We were only joking, or really
in earnest. In order to assure him not
joking, put the question in n more comprehen-
sive and broader light. We asked him if he be-
lievcd in God Almighty and future world, and if
he ever had an inclination or preference for one
religious denomination over another. Champ full
ly understood us now, but he could not refrain
from smiling at the novelty of our asking him il he
religious man. lie made the following
statement, which shows that he is at least believ
er in Ch: istianity. if he has not practiced it.
Well, believe that there is a Col, who gov
erns and rules the universe, and that We are all
held responsible for our acts in this world.
think, in fact, that the "Old Man" has been on
my side thus far in life end believe that he will
stay with me. and bring out OF this trouble all
right. have been mighty lucky through life, and
/ always thought that God favored me. | place
all nv hope in Him, aud don't believe the "Old
Man. will throw me now. You asked me about
nv religious choice. Well, | always thought that
the Campbelltes were just as good as any of them,
and little better.
FERGUsoS's PROPERTY.
We asked Champ how he stood i'm the world
and what means he had for the support of his
family. Also, if he had accumulated any none
or property during the war. He stated that he
had lost nearly all that he had by the war, and his
family had but little money. lie has several tracts
OF land which we added, and found that they foot
ed up four hundred and sixty-two acres This
/ land is i'm Clinton county, Kentucky. He said he
1 dol allh hofn tha richo
J there never had been any
THE FIRST MAN FERGUSON KILLED-THRrLLING
NARRATIVE.
We advcrted to the killing of Read. the consta
BILE, before the war commenced, and asked what
induced him to take up arms. To this que .ton he
made the following statement:
Some time before the war there were two broth
ers named Evans. who lived in Fentress county
| Tennessee. They came over to Clinton county
and purchased n large number of hogs from my
brothers, Ben, Jim, and myself, and, in fact. from
all in that neighborhood who had hogs to SELL
| FLOYD Evans gave his notes for the payment. A
the time appointed by him to meet at Albany, We
| went down to get our pay On the road we mel
| Alexander Evans, one of the brothers, and a mum
be, OF others, who appeared to be in big furry
about something. When rode up they told us
that FLOYD had run off with the money, and they
were hunting for him. Alexander Evans had done
this to mslead his brothers creditors, and Floyd
in the meantime had left on a boat. Mr.. Bitter
and proceeded to Livingston, and brought suit
against Floyd Evans, and got a judgment. WheT
we would catch Alexander Evans in kentucky We
invariably attached his horse, and this is the way
the horse was taken / have been charged with
stealing. After awhile Floyd Evans returned, and
sent to Bitter to have the suit drawn, giving Sc
curity for the payment Of the debt Some time af.
ter this my brother Jim and Bill Jones went ovel
to Fenton county and brought back mare to
Kentucky, and had her attached.
A few days after this l went to camp meeting ir
\ Fentress county, at Lick Creek, with friend, and
was entirely ignorant of the taking Of the By
into their heads that the author of il, and af
ter we were on the ground short time, : frient
came to me, and called my attention to a crowt
chief He advised me to leave the ground, for h,
had overheard them talking in groups, and they in
tended either to kill me give me sever
thrashing. told him that | did not fear them
and would not leave the ground until got goo,
ready. BY this time ! noticed them talking in lit
tie squads and looking toward me. Finally, con
cluded that rather than have any trouble will
them would leave Accordingly, started fo
, nv horse, when the mob commenced picking u
stones and shouting "kill him" at the same tim
sending a shower of rocks at me. There wer
about twenty of them, and had nothing but
small pocket knife about me. However. it wa
: bran new, aud sharp as q razor. | succeeded il
mounting my mare, and "let out,' with the Who'll
pack in pursuit, like so many wolves that had 60
taste Of blood. They took all the horses the
could find on the ground, and the race was for lif