The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-12-04

middle of the street when shot, was forced
to lie there for two hours, his friends fearing
TO attempt his removal. During this strife,
hideous wells and shouts of defiance could
be heard from both parties. The next morn
ing-Tuesday-it was discovered that Ak
man and his party had withdrawn from the
court house and quartered themselves near
the river bank, while Strong and his clan
held their fort untaken. About 10 O'clock
Strong retired, and soon thereafter, stray
Cling, drunken men, all we'll armed, began
to parade the streets IN defiance of all law
and order. 1t was soon whispered that the
guard which had been sent to Lexington.
under charge of the sheriff, to bring back
Jason Little, charged with wife murder,
would soon return, and an effort would be
made to release the prisoner. A willing
leader was found in a justice of the peace
named J. G. B. Allen, supported by the Lit
ties, Crawfords and others, numbering about
40, who loitered about the streets impa-
tiently waiting for the guard TO appear.
had the deputy sheriff and county judge to
detail an extra guard OF 10 men, who went
down under the leadership of the county
judge, John w. Burnett. About 3 O'Clock
they returned with the prisoner and safely
confined him in Jail, the guard numbering
about % well armed men, No
effort at a release was made, bat imme-
diately after the guard returned from the
Jail to. the street and began to disperse,
thinking the danger was over, era ~ford
and the Titles began an attack on Judge
Burnett, threatening TO take his life. The
excitement began to run high, yell after
yell rent the air, and suddenly a vOlley was
poured In on the guard, who, taken by sur
prise, sought shelter at every quarter Dur.
ing the discharge of this volley Judge
Burnett was shot through the heart and in.
stantly killed. A constant tre was then
begun, and was kept up during toe whole
afternoon, and diabolical yells were kept
up by the victorious mob as it gained a
vantage point. Allen and his men
being in the court house yard sought
shelter behind the clerks office and in the
court room, while the guard retreated up
the street to the point where Strong and mis-
clan were FABRICATED. The forces now num-
bered some 80 or 40 on each side; the men
were all we'll armed with the latest i'm
proved Colts navy repeaters Spencer and
Ballard rifles, and being good shots could
kill their man from 100 to 200 yards,
wherever he might appear During the
picket shooting. a posse of Aliens clan with
axes attempted TO burst open the Jail door
and rescue the prisoner. At this point Tom
Little, of Compton, a brother of Jason Little,
appeared upon the scene of the conflict and
made an effort to quell the riot, but was
suddenly shot through the body, which
party deserted the court house last night,
and the sheriff and posse took possession,
bus commanding the door to the Jail. No
court has been held in the circuit court.
The judge suddenly disappeared this morn
ing before o'clock, leaving no orders as to
the disposition of the prisoner.
Little, under guard, was detailed to
dig the grave for the interment of
Judge Burnett, and the spot selected
was by the side of his sweetheart, who died
one year ago. The ladies and citizens who
anne to town 10 day to attend the funeral
have beaten a hasty retreat. The latest news
from Breathitt is in a special to the ,Laxing-
ton Press, dated Mount Sterling, November
80, which states that Jackson is still in the
possession of the mob, but that the cham
piOns of the law! are in possession OF the
court house and Jail. Picket firing lie kept
up and many citizens have been killed and
wounded. No action has yet been taken by
the governor.