The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-12-06

Rival M0bs Get POsxession OF
County Seat. Dbsperee the
s;Ourt. Killed the County
Judge ana FrIghten
the Citizens.
Jackson, BREATHITT Co., Nov. 81.
Jackson, the county seat of Breathitt
county. is located on the north fork of
the Kentucky river. Owing to tends
rowing out of the late war this county
has suffered from an inieruecine war
with Jackson as headquar ters, where
many bloody aud dreadful tragedies
have been enacted.
Among the MANY causes of defec-
lion that are infaencin the people to
laws a feeling OF bitterness aud hatred
that sprung up last August between
the friends of the two contestants for
County Judge. This race resulted in
the election of Judge j w. Burnett
promising youpg lawyer of this town
defeating ex>Judge Ned Strong, OF
the Lost Creek precinct.
Following this was the hotlv bitterly
eontested election for School Commiss-
idner, in which principally. the same
partes-that is the mutual friends of
the candidates for Judge-were the
contestants.
THE CHIEF CAUSE.
Chief among the causes however.
that added fuel TO the hime that ha-
gradually consumed the morals, the
industry. the business and prosperity
of the country, is the action of Cap
tain Bill Strong. of home>guard fame,
WIN has been sustained aud supper.
ted BY the Freemans and others, com
prising a elan Of twelve or fifteen men
who are notorious in their defiance of
cisf law, aud mixed with all these are
The actions aud Conduct OF the Littles
A Hens and others. who, each in turn
sought, revenge, and never resorted
10 the strong arm of the law for pro
lection. All Of these different infuen-
ces aud forces have finally eliminated
ia one of the bloodiest dramas thar
any civilized community ever " illness
ed.
THE MOB.
The town to day is under control
ct mob Good citizens are feeding
for their lives Women aud children
are seeking shelter from any who will
protect them The officers of the
law are deded, aud wild havoc and
desolation prevail in all quarters
Meu drunk and wild fren zy. armed %
the teeth, with pistols and guns. are
walking the streets. yelling at the top
ct their voices. proclaimiug who they
intend to kill La fact il Is as much
rs your life is worth to appear upon
the streets, for you are liable to be
attacked by either or both parties a
any moment This is The third day
of this dreadful regime, aud while
gloomy aud dirk days like a great in
cubus have settled down in the past on
This people of lawles>ne,s. outrageous
aud blood thirsty acts and designs,
meme will compare with the terrible
crimes of this week.
TOWN MEN KILLED.
As usual, his Honor Judge VIM,
Randall convened the Breathitt Circuit
Court GU Monday morning. instructed
the grand jury and adjourned until
afternoon During the AFTERNOON John
Aikmau leading about a dozen men
dashed into town on horseback. armed
with pistols aud gnus. dismounted
and furiously attacked Captain Bill
Str0ng's clan who were standing on
The street in trout OF Breediug's store
Thirty or forty shots were discharged
two taking effect on WIN. aud Daniel
freeman; the former shot through the
BODY. the latter through the head
They were removed late in the evening
tJtheir homes several miles up the /
lFver, aud it is reported to day thar /
Daniel Freeman Is recovering, but |
William is dead Strong aud his
followers received no injuries. but bar.
iricaded themselves in IA little log cabin |
about one hundred yards from the
court house, where they had previou>4
.ly stacked their arms. Altman aud
his party sought shelter in the court-
house, aud u regular interchange of
,hots was kept. up during the whole
afternoon.
NIGHT OF TERROR.
One Of the Freemans, who fell in
the middle of the street when shot.
was fnrced to lie there for two hours.
hi, friends fearing to attempt his remu>
val. During this strife hideous wells
and shouts of deilnce could be heard
from both parties The court was
paralyzed: the officers Of the law dumb~
founded; the citizens watched from
Z
made to queli the bloody riot AT last
with night, came hope, and all was
quiet, save the bedIam whoop of the
drunken rabble There was no sleep.
nor rest; everybody lived 10 dreadiug
expectancy of the morrow; aud slowly
next morning (fuesday) as light was
thrown upon the scene, it was diScov
eed that Altman and party had with
drawn from the court house and quar-
tered themselves near the river bank,
while Strong aud his clan held their
fort ntaken.
THE SECOND DAY.
One by one. cifizens made their APP
pearence on the streets, c0ugratul ating
themselves that the war was over
About 10. o'clock Strong retired, aud
soon thereafter Struggling. drunken
men. well armed begun to parade the
he streets, in defiance of all law or or
der 1t i soon whispered that the guard
which had been to Lexington under
charge of The Sheriff to bring back
Jason Little. charged with wife mur
der. would soon return and an effnr,
would be made to release the prisoner
To the credit. however. of John AK
man. be ia said he refuse 10 partiei
pave IN this crime, and left for home
\ silIing leader was soon found in
Justice OF the peace. named g. B
Allen. supported by the Littes, Craw
fords aud others, numbering about
forty who loitered about the streets i'm
patiently waiting for the guard to ap
pear Judge Randall, to defeat the
aim of this mob. had the Deput' Sher.
/ # and County Judge to detail an extra
guard of fifteen men. under the |
leadership of the County in dge. John /