Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1867-01-31
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A Feud of Twenty Years Ended.

/
TO Carter county, East Tennessee, and
settled down in the neighborhood OF anoth-
er family ramed Rogers. Johnstone,1
who appeared to be an energetic, indus
triGas man, Immediately went t" work at I
clearing up little farm. He felled trees,
erubbed up undergrowth, burned stumps,
and split rails to fence in the ground he
reclaimed from the wilderness, In this
labor he was assisted by two sons-both |
mere lads. While the three were engaged
in erecting fencing about their patch OF
land. Rogers rode up to where they were
at work, one dav aud laid claim to pile
of rails, about dozen In number. This
claim Johnstone disputed and finally, On
Rogers applying to him the epithets, oil
''liar" and 'stIief," the North Caroinian
pulled hlm from his horse, administered
to him severe clIastlse!nent with hls
fists. Rogers went off vowing vengeance,
and in the course OF an hour returned to
the spot armed with rife, the contents
ot which he discharged into the body Of
Johnstonc, producing fatal consequences.
Rogers, who was a man OF some wealth
for those primitive times, and was posses
scd OF considerable influence among his
rough. nnlettered neighbors, was acquit-
ted Of the charge of murder by an ex-
amining Justice This was the begin
ming of the terrible vendetta that has
run through the years that followed cut
ting down the males of the two families
IN the pride of their strength ana man
hood rt a3-.g- ao .e4,ts.f -ttt.s
Tie two Jnhnstone lads vowed ven
eeance npon the murderer Of their parent,
and one of them. James, worked night an
day, with but one object in view-to ac
cnm!ate the means to purchase a rifle
Atlength he became the owner OF one
and one Sabbath morning, with his gun
upon his shoulder tie approached the
house Of Rogers. Tie latter was sitting
upon his porch. and AS he saw young
Johnstone approaching, probably divirins
hs intention. arose hastily and started
towards the rack where his own gun wa.
sispended But the avenger Of blood wa'
upon his path and ere he conld reach hi
weapon he fell upon the floor corpse
his heart pierced by the bnlet of his foe
Rogers left behind him a young wife ant
three chidren-ene of whom was q boy
Among the ronah back kwondsmen Of Gar
ter county. Johnstene,s crime was lopket
n,,en will, satisfaction, if not tavor--th
indian law of retaliation being looNe
npon by them AS the very cream Of jus
tise. Afterward ,Johnstone married an
as SnG wears PttSSc'i<i' fIfC pC1fttIC Oi
rounded by an interesting and nnmero.
progeny. t1o.T SslH .I1 - .,t5s. -t.s "
:. The boy William Rogers in the mea'
time, had almost reached manhood s estaf
when one morning. without divul ging h
intention To his mother or sisters, he 1e
the house with his fathers rifle upon Ii
shoulder, as If he were going ont to hun
and in less than an hour a grief stricke
mother and children were weeping ov'
the corpse Of slain husband and fathe
Young Rogers, in his turn had become, &
avenger, and Thomas ;Johnstorie fell b
meath his hand. ,,..f3r go. -,
IA, time the memories Of these th:
murders died away and those who we
children then grew NJ, TO he men al
women William Rogers had taken tohil
self wife and become the head OF gro
oing. family. !, One morning, he rode in
Elizabethtown. and, as he did not retu3
that ,night--a circunistaiice that had nev
OCCURRED be.ore-his. wife became We
uneasy. and in the, morning ipdnced n
brother to- start. to :own in scared OF u
missing husband. About three Infles frc
he,hopse .he, came npon the body G
brother inTlsw, lying in the road, stfn u
icold in death. His brain had been pierc
by ride ball. Although lie 'murdel