The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-01
THE KENTUCKY CLANS.
THE BLOODY GROUND.

PULL PARTICULARS OF THE DISTURB
ANcEs-rHE SPIRIT OF REVENGE BECOMES
RAMPANT.
The Cincinnati Gazette of the 9th inst
contains a succinct account of the late
feudal scenes of bloodshed and riot in Car
rsrd county, KY. Although told by one OF
the implicated parties, it seems to be fair
statement: Our readers have heard for sew
eral DAYS of the lawlessness and bloodshed
in Lancaster, Garrard county, but they have
not had much light on the motives and
causes that have been at the bottom OF IL.
We are glad to be able to tell something OF
its history from the testimony of one OF the
leading actors in the late war, or rather
from the man whose politis have made him
so obnoxious to the Ku-Klux that these as
graceful proceedings have been instituted to
remove him from their presence. We refer
to the Hon. VIM. Sellers, member of the
legislature from Garrard county. Mr..
Sellers is now a fugitive from his
desolated home; since last week
his Whereabouts have not been
definitely known. 1t was said that be had
hasfened to Washington, but he only came
TO Cincinnati, having been all the time not
very far from his pursuers. He tells his
story with ghtforwardness, aud free
dom from passion of resentful feeling, that
is remarkable in one that has passed through
such an experience. He is a man about
thirtv-five or forty years of age, tall, slim,
dark complexion, and black hair. He wears
heavy mOustache, beneath which smile
may be seen playing even while recounting
his troubles and losses. He has an air of
GOODNESS and determination that betokens
man who cannot be swerved from his pur
nose by any kind of intimidation. Meeting
a Gazette reporter last night, the following
narrative of the late war in Lancaster was
given by Mr.. Sellers:
THE BEGINNING.
On the night of August was walking
home from my store, about 9 o'clock, when
/ met E. D. Kennedy, circuit county clerk,
with drawn pistol in his hands. He said:
"who are you,'' or "what are yon," and
replied, 81 am Sellers. Don't shoot" But
he was drunk, and made demonstrations as
If he was going to shoot me. tried to pur-
suade him to put up his pistol, and then
tried to take it away from him. In the
scuffie my pistol was discharged. Kennedy
then jumped away and tried to shoot me.
He was too drunk to handle his fingers MINI
bly,, aud before he could pull the trigger
shot him, and he fell. thought he was
dead and / at once fled to avoid mObbiug
by Kennedy's friends, several OF whom were
in town drunk. have since heard that my
shot did not even wound him, the
ball striking him on the side and knocking
him down, without penetrating the body.
/ had seen him that day; had seen him
drinking; and he and other Ku-Klux friends
had been on the streets drunk, and seeking
some one to kill. Kennedy had been for
some time before met him walking about
with a drawn revolver looking for somebody
to shoot His special eumity against me
arose from the fact that he was defeated by
four votes for the Office of Circuit Court
clerk, and ne blamed me for working against
him. This happened on Friday night.
returned on Sunday morning and found thai
Kennedy had called together force, and hsC
kept constant watch over the approaches tC
nv store having armed men stationed so al
to command the store and the street, render
ing it impossible for me to get to nay place o
business. This continued until Tuesday
of the next week, which was the frs
time 1 ventured to go up town. When / go
nearly to the store, saw Kennedy's men
get to their positions in the court house anC
take their guns. / turned back and went
home. l then heard that Kennedy sen
word to his son-in-law, Ben. Slavin, that
had appeared on the public square, and Ia,
wanted more men; that they must be in
structed to kill me on sight. On the mex
day, Wednesday, 10 desperadoes, armed will
shot guns and pistols, regular Ku-Klux
came into town and began indiscriminat
attacks on negroes, beating them over tn
head with pistols and stones, and threaten
negroes, and this accounts for all they hav
done. On that night some of the negroe
discovered their Ku-Klux prosecutors goinj
with Kennedy's men into the court hous
and arming themselves.
THE FIRST BATTLE.
That night the negroes fired on Ker
nedy's men in the court house, about ga
O'Clock. The fire was returned, and it wa
kept up nearly all night, but not muc
harm was done. knew the negroes wer
going to make this attack, but it was nc
done at my request or suggestion, and wa
not present. l was at home. The whole a
fair arose out OF the treatment, during til
day, of the negroes. by the Ku-Klux, VIII
afterward joined Kennedy's party. Thel
were about twenty negroes in the figh
against Is on Kennedy's side. Kennedy
men used the court house for their arseni
and fort. The next day, Thursday, Kennel
gathered more men. L renamed at hom
and deemed it my duty to place about m
house some guards, because / had bee
told that would be attacked. i special
instructed the men gathered about me 70
this purpose TO not bring on an attack, bu
only to act in defense. That night som
parties. supposed TO be negroes, fired o
Kennedy's house. They were in no wis
morning after some of the negroes had lie
my house, they fired on Fred. Yeaky,
brother-in- law of Kennedy, wounding hil
in both legs. That, however, was dor
without my knowledge. and against m
direction, which was to not provoke or begi
an attack. During that day the civil author
ties, aided by the United States troops, SON
forty or fifty in number, stationed at La
caster, interfered to stop further proceedin,
by both sides. They placed guard about N
house and kept me prisoner. / am informt
they did the same with Kennedy. Tn
Ior ot,o ,f FL T,,;t.
siternoon WINE unasr en sn OF .ne nl.s
I believe Kennedy himself caused it to
burned, in hops of enllsting sympathy.
was not at home all that day. That mig
the town marshal notified me that / mu
defend myself. The United States troo
linfo