The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-08-21
BuIldozing a Court.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, August l0-Gen.
Henry Darnell, of Lake county, Tenn,
was indicted two years ago for the muir
der of Albert Nall, who was running a
steam ferry boat alongside of one run
by Darnell. Darnell sought to run Nall
out of business, but Nall was not to be
bull-dozed. Subsequently Darntll, with
five armed ruffians, went down to Nails
boat. Finding him alone, they opened
fire upon him instantly, and Nail return
ed it. Every ball did its work, killing
one of Darnel's outlaws and wounding
several others, among them Darnell him
self. Nall was killed after he had emp
tied his last barrel at the assassins Since
that time Darnell has been hiding out,
or rather has fenced himself in by call
ing about him set of outlaws or desper
ADDE'S, but he recently surrendered
himself to the sheriff of Lake county,
but refused to be lodged in Jail or to be
guarded save by men of his own selec.
ton, vowing that he would die first. He
was accordingly placed in charge of a
man of his own choosing. The court
was convened at Upton on Wednesday,
Judge j. A, Hawkins presiding Upon
the examination Of two witnesses in
Darnell's case, just previous to adjourn
meet, the attorney general presented
atfidavits for the prosecution, showing
that Darnell was only nominally in Gus.
tody, and that he had squad of fifteen
friends, with arms buckled about them,
ready to resist the officers At this time
Darnell's force was reinforced by ten
other ruffians, all of them swearing that
they would protect Darnell if they
had to whip the whole county, The
court instructed the sheriff that it was
his duty to lodge Darnell in Jail, but
instead the sheriff hastily made his exit
through rear door. After the adjourn
ment of the court Darnell made speech
denouncing the court to large assem-
blage ef citizens, Darnell and his friends
swearing there were not men enough nj
Lake county to put him in Jail, and open
ly boosted that, if convicted, the judg-
ment OF the court could not be enforced.
Thursday morning the court ordered
the deputy sheriff to order a posse of
fifty men or more, which order he
refused to obey, thercupon the judge
telcgraphed Gov. Porter to send the
Chickasaw guards of Memphis to his
assistance. About this time, 10 q. IN
the sheriff arrived, and tardily commenc-
ed summoning aposse. Darnell up to
this time had sworn he would fight ii
out if it took all day, hut soon after left
for Kentucky. The jury was discharged,
the court adjourned, and the order for
troops countermanded. The citizens
generally are indignant at the lawlcss
proceedings of Darnell, and denounce
the inef1icisncy Of the sheriff and his
deputies.
Darnell is So yeas old, he is worth
$500, 900, mixes with the lowest class OF
people, and is boastful of his exploits
and Graves the reputation ola fighting
man He and his crowd of outlaws are
greatly feared by the community. The
title General seems tc have been given
him bv common consent four years ago.
Darnell son and nephew killed the two
Lane brothers and nan named Ed
wards Darnell was indicted as an
accessory before the fact, but was
acquitted The acquittal was signaized
by Darnell's having fight in the court
room with his lawyer over the fees.