Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-25
A Deadly. Fspd Among The Hsd

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A Deadly, Fsud Among the 1sdleals.
From the Nashville Banner, July q 4.
Private information from feutress
county. in this State, reveals that fierce
warfare is raging 10 that county between
Browulow's "pets. A feud has existed
between Tinker Dawes men for some
time, and several desperate lights have
taken place, the war being confined all
il Que family. The feudis between the
Hatfelds. aud Beattys on the one side.
and the Piles and their nyrmldons on
the other. -
In the recent desperate. encounters
that have occurred between these out
laws FIVE or six have already been killed,
and the feud increases, with no proba-
bility, the peaceabe neighbors say, that
it win cease at any time in the near
future. ,mf,' t.p'i.tnf ; 81 edl
Governor Brownlow !. recently gave
Hatfield authority to raise a company TO
clean out the Piles clan. Abattle vas
fought between them the other day, in
the hills, as our informant states, in
which Il was believed that Piles aud his
clan we're the victors. Much bloodshed
is bound to sensue unless one or theother
of these belligerent clans leave that part
of the country, as each swears extermi-
nation 10 the other. uf.lL
The Conservative and decent portion
OF the neighborhood, we understand, are
not molested BY either one ofthe hostile
bands, and "a the feud is confined ex-
clusively TO the happy family we
trust the beauties win continue TO wade
in until. like the Kilkenny cats. there Is
nothing left but teeth and claws. - .es.ai.
The good people of Overton county,
also, are so suhdued and overawed BY
this ruflian band Of desperadoes that they
are afraid to open their mouths Some
time since we mentioned the killing Of
J. L. Frances, the commissioner of re-
gistration for 0verton county, but the
information we received concerning the
murder did not assign the cause Of the
tragic affair. A correspondent, whose
letter is dated July 10, furnishes the fol-
lowing additional particulars: -s-
Frances was fugitive from Justice,
having broksj Jail In Clinton county, Ken
lucky, for some crime, and came to Ten
nessee in the summer or fall of 1866, in
company with his brother and several
others, who banded together in Overton
county, aud we're committing all kinds Of
depredations in that locality. g Z, ~
His brother, some two years ago, sent
to clever, citizen named Howard an
order to bring him tFrances) wagon
load of corn. Howard refused, stating |
he had no corn to spare. This refusal
enraged Frances, who took squad of
his outlaws and went to Howard s. house,
with threat that if the corn was not |
taken immediately they would kill him.
Howard refused and retreated into his |
house. ...,.......
AT this Frances rushed on the house, |
and with fence rail battered its door |
down, swearing be would kill Howard; |
and as be entered the house Howard let
in Cd him with an ak, and literally cut
him up Frances comrades then re.
treated Howard Immediately fed to
Kentucky, knowing the desperate char
acter of the clan. Whereupon the brother
james S. Frances-with q balance of
the clan, forcibly elects Howard's family
from the house, and moves his ocn and
brothers families, and have been living
there in full possession until he met his
Just reward at the hands of the Ken
iuckians few days ago. For Frances
bad treatment to good citizens in Over
ton county Gov Brownlow appointed
him Commissioner of Registration.
Frances was desperate man and said
to be connected with large clan. One
of his can, certain ex- Federal captain,
from about Albany, Kentucky, passed
some FIVE hundred dollars of counterfeit
money in Smith county last spring for
cattle, and was made to disgorge only a
few days ago. The same captain passed
three hundred dollars in counterfeit
money upon an honest farmer OF Whit
county, who pursued him home nd
found his horses in possession ola friend
near old Monroe. The Captain re.r,rned
the horses and lifted his bogus. money.
We understand the grand jury in White
county will have this case before them.
Governor Brownlow, no doubt. will
curse the people of Overton with this
excellent Captain as successor of
Frances, as he needs raiders in that
county. The Captain alluded to is
named Thomas Wood, and lives at Mon
roe, Tennessee. His friend is named
Gilmore. Wood ia said to be as mean as
Frances, at whose death all good men
rejoice"