Sharp County record., 1877-09-28
A KENTUCKY TRAGEDY.
An Unpopular Family Warned to Leave
the County-Arson and Murder.

lily are not unknown in Louisville. The
father, William Anderson lived here
from 1869 to 1873. With the exception
of three years, the AnderSons have lived
continuously in Carroll County for near
ly a quarter Of century, and are con-
nected with excellent citizens of the re-
gion. The father owns some land
mostly hillside-upon the northern bank
of the Kentucky River. The locality is
called Coon Skin. Up to a few weeks
ago he also owned the ferry privileges
and two-story tavern, besides the cot
tage in which the family resides. The
tavern was not in very good fame in
the community. Vague rumorS of
queer proceedings had for long time
shadowed the place. Men are said to have
remained over night, and to come away
at dawn with the positive impression
that the atmosphere of the place was
decidedly unhealthy.
In the latter part of June it became
the duty of the Sheriff to sell the tavern
and ferry privileges, in order to satisfy
Anderson'S creditors. The sale raised
5000, the purchaser being the Sheriff.
Being deprived of their tavern, the An
dersons are said to have contemplated
starting another in their present resi-
dence, which is about one hundred
yards removed from the site of the old
one. Shortly after the sale it was re-
ported that the business would be con-
tinued at the old stand under the new
management. This proposed opposition
is said to have angered the Andersons.
On the night of the Fourth of July the
tavern was burned to the ground with
all its effects. The AnderSOnS were ac-
cuSed of arson. Five days later the fol-
/ lowing notice reached the Anderson
family through the local PoSt-ollice:
July 9.-The community, having become
| tired of and worn out with the numerous
and objectionable depredatiOns you have
committed during the last twenty years, have
determined to put up no longer. You will
therefore take notice that we demand you
leave the country, never more to return,
within three days from the date of this, or
suffer the consequences, which will be as Sc
we're as you can possibly imagine. If you
will certainly come.
CITIZENS OF CARROLL COUNTY.
To the above warning the AndersOns
replied the next day by posting the fol-
lowing challenge:
Worthwhile, KY, .,July10, 1S77,-The par
ty or parties who address letter to William
| Anderson over the signature of "CitiZen of
Carroll Comfy" had better be on their
guard. We have sworn readiness and re-
yenge. WILLIAM ANDERSON,
w. E. ANDERSON,
j. B. ANDERSON,
d. ALVAH ANDERSON
NOTICE.
To all Whom IL may Concern: We have
received this morning a communication with
"The Citizens of Carroll County" as a sig
nature. Those who are concerned in this
matter are notified that we are not to be
"bulldozed" and are ready to meet any
emergency that may occur, and those who
participate in this affair may expect nothing
else but death; and whoever have had any
thing to do with this must make their ap-
pointments prompt, or we shall consider
them base wretches and towards (Which
they are), and the author of the letter re-
ceived of the most degraded and lowest class
of infamy. "Come prepared" We will
have plenty of friends on the ground Try
us whirl.
WILLIAM ANDERSON,
w. +. ANDERSON,
JOHN C. BRECKENRIDGE ANDERSON,
d. ALvAH ANDERSON.
WORTHWHILE, KY, July 10, 1877.-Don't
let your hearts fail you. The writer of the
letter, if found out, and has family, had
better have his life insured.-SiC Semper
tyrdnntS.
These seemed to have hurried the trag-
edy to its bloody close. On Tuesday
night last one of the family, unable to
rest on account of illness, heard a
strange roaring sound. Happening to
90 to the window he saw that corner
of the house was on fire. He gave the
alarm, and the family was aroused in an
instant. Carrie, a bright girl of 16,
was told to open door facing the road
side and get bucket that was in the
ward, and within easy reach. Just as
She did so a volley from, it is said, five
or six shot-guns, crashed through the
doorway, and Carrie, screaming, fell
mortally wounded. The perpetrators
VI Guc Clllue uleH hou, anu w Ullo houl
they are not known. When the fire was
extinguished, but little damage having
been done the building, it was found
that a ball of candle-wick, saturated
with turpentine, had been placed be-
tween the Notwithstanding and the
logs, and then ignited. The work
showed that the attacking party intend
ed driving the inmates from the house
by fire, and then shooting them down
as they came into the open air. The
perpetrators of the outrage were doubt
less very nervous, as their aim was not
accurate, the marks of buckshot, duck
shot, and slugs, being observable all
over the front of the house and on the
stones in the road. The authorities
have as yet done little in the way of in