The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-12-02
BLooDY PI1zr ar yAcKsoN,
a Number Killed.

LEXINGTON, Ky, Nov. 80, Jackson,
the county seat of Brenthill county, dis
tant ninety miles from Mt. Sterling, has
been the scene Of serious outbreaks and
bloodshed during the past week. The
place has reputation for lawlessness, and
il is not great while since a detachment
of the State Gvard was required to pre-
serve order The present trouble results
from a collision between two rival bands of
outIaws-oue under Capt. Bill Strong, of
home guard fame, and the other under
Jack Aikman. The Strong party took
possession of the town Monday, commit
ting many acts OF iawlessness anu getting
reckless from drink During the afternoon
the Aiknan party, twelve or fifteen
strong, rode into town and made an attack
on StroDg's party. Thirty or forty shots
were discharged, two taking effect, one on
William and one on Daniel Freeman. The
former was shot through the body aud the
latter through the head. They were re-
moved late in the evening to their homes,
several miles up the river Daniel Free
man is recovering but William is dead.
Strong and his followers received no in
juries, but barrlcaded themselves in a
little log cabin about 100 yards from the
court house, where they had previously
stacked their arms. Aikman and his par
ty sought shelter in the court house and a
regular interchange of shots was kept up
during the whole afternoon. One of the
Freemans, who fell IN the middle of the
street. when shot, was forced to lie there
for two hours, bis friends fearing 20 at
tempt his removal, During the strife
hideous yells and shouts Of defiance could
be heard from both parties Next morning
| Tuesday, it was discovered that AikmaD
and party had withdrawn from the court
house and quartered themselves near the
river bank. while Strong and his
clan held the fort untakeD.
| About 10 o'clock Strong retired and soon
thereafter struggling drunken mob, well
armed, began to parade the streets in de-
fauce 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 Jackson Little,
charged with wife murder, would soon
return and an effort would be made to re-
lease the prisoner. A willing leader was
| found in a justice Of the peace named j.
| G, Ballen. supported by the Littles. Craw,
| fords and others nun Dering about forty,
| who loitered about the streets impatiently
waiting for the guard TO appear. Judge
| Randall, to defeat the aim of the mob had
4 the deputy sheriff and county judge de
1 tail an extra guard eff fifteen men, who
went under the leadership of county judge
John w. Burnett About 8 o'clack, p NJ
they returned with the prisoner aud safely
tconfned him in Jail, the guard numbering
about twenty-five we'll armed men. N
IaH Il but an1ia FOL,
after the guard returned from the Jail t
1.-The street and began to disperse. thinking
the danger over, Crawford and Little be
gan an attack on Judge Burnett, threat
eniDg to take his life. The excitemen
began, run high, yell after yell rent the air
and suddenly a volley was poured in ol
the guard, who, taken by surprise, sough
shelter at every quarter, During the dis
charge Of this voley Judge Burnett wa
shot through the heart aud instantly killed
Then a constant fire was begun and KEEP
iup during the whole evening witt
diabolicalsm. Allen and his men being i
the court house yard sought shelter be
Ihind the clerks offioe in the court room
lghile the guard retreated up the street I
: the point where barricaded The force
n now numbered thirty or forty on each,sid'
The men we're all we'll armed with th
latest improved Colts navy revolvers
= Spencer aud Ballard rifles, and being goo
shots could kill their man from 100 to 20
yards wherever he might appear. Durin
R the picket shooting posse of Allen ella
with axes attempted to burst open th
Jail door and rescue the prisoner. At tn
- point Tom Little, oil Compton, brother
Jason Little, appeared upon the scene c
confiet and made an attempt TO quell tn
& riot, but he was suddenly shot throug
3 the body. which caused jail breakers to d
r sist. Aliens .party deserted the eou
E house last night aud the sheriff and pos
took possession, thus CON mandiBg Il
door to the joil. No court has been hel
: and the Circuit Court Judge sudden
disappeared this morning before o'cloc
leaving no orders as to the disposition
! the prisoner, Little. 4 guard was d
= tailed to dig grave for the intermeut
/ Judge Burnett. The ladies and eitize
who came to town to-day to attend d
n. funeral have beaten hasiy retreat. IL
n, latest news from Brenthill is in speci
E: 10 the Lexington Press, dated Mt. Ste
= ling, Nov. 80, which states that JacksC
20 is still 10 possession of the mob, but th
the champions of law are in possession
of the Court House and jail Picket fri
is kept up and many citizens have be
killed and wounded No action has J
been taken By the Governor.