The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-08-28
rwE LANCASTER DssTtRBsytEs,

More yiosc Than Bfoodsbcd.
While many Of the readers of the
JouRSAL are familiar with the gcner.
nj DETAILS Of the recent difficulty in
our neighboring town Of Lancaster,
many Of them have either heard moth
ing at all of the affair, or have heard
vague and conflicting rumors, more or
less exaggerated. Hence We will en-
deavor to give as fair statement Of
THE WHOLE DIFFICULTY
as possible under the circumstances.
In the first place, MIR. Il. ID. Ken
ne,ly, Democrat, and Mr.. j. n.
Faulkner, a Republican, had a
HoTLy CONTESTED RACE
at the last election for the circuit
clerksbip Of Garrard county. which
resulted in the election Of Faulkner
BY eleven votes. Kennedy gave no.
tice that he would contest the election
upon the grounds of alleged illegality,
with fair prospect of sustaining his
cause. The partizans on either side
became
uSDuLy EXCITED
during the progress of the canvass be-
tween these two men, and the excite
ment was intensified after the election
as the legal contest between them pro-
gressed.
Mr.. WILLIAM SELLERS,
the present Representative of Garrard
county in the Kentucky Legislature,
met Kennedy recently, and, without
provocation, as it is charged by Ken
nedy, shot and slightly wounded him.
In this difficulty Sellers states that he
was first attacked by Kennedy, and
ONLY SHOT IN sEIF-DErExsE!
This rcncounter, or, as the Kennedy
party style it, attempt to
AssAssISATE KENNEDY,
exasperatsd the friends Of both men,
and trouble was looked for between
the principals in the affair and their
friends though disintercsted persons
we're actively interesting themselves
in efIecting reconciliation, with fair
prospect Of success.
At this stage Of the affair desper-
ate character, named
COOLEY,
under the influence of whisky, and ac-
tuated by spirit of rufiianism and
lawlessness, now too common among
men of his class, appeared upon the
scene, and commenced abusing and
maltreating both whites and negroes
whom he met on the streets of Ian
caster. The constabulary force Of
Lancaster were absent from town, and
Cooley was not arrested, but suffered
to continue his rcprehensible conduct
until nearly dark on Wednesday eve
ming, when he was informed that the
negroes were arming themselves with
the intention of mobbing him. He
then gathered force Of three or four
companions and took possession of the
courthouse. About dark number of
negroes organized and made an attack
upon Cooley and his party, who re-
treated into the courthouse, and gen.
eral fire was kept up all night.
Our information is that neither
Kennedy nor Sellers participated in
this fight. The negroes who led the
attack were Luther Jack man aud Geo.
Cohen whether they were melted by
Sellers or any of his party we are una
bic to say. We do not believe they
were.
Mr.. VIM. +. Kennedy, who was not
engaged in the difficulty, and standing
in the office OF the Lancaster Hotel
was shot by the first gun fired; the
ball striking him in the right side,
passing through and lodging just under
the skin. lie was on the street next
day.
VIM. Smith, negro who waits up
on +. ID. Kennedy, was standing near
Cooley, when the first volley was hred'
and received a wound in the groin and
ran into the courthouse.
DIR. Steve Burdett was sent for to
dress the wound Of the negro smith,
and as he was approaching the entrance
to the courthouse he was hred upon
and received three ouck'ho' IN 'ne leg
from which he ie'i' ana as 'ne "''"g
was continued ai'er ms ia,' '0r so"''
time, lie took refuge Dtninu cOiuihL