Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-11
DEsPERADoDUM.
The Latest Advices from the Breathttt Coua-
tai (KH.l Wur


The Latest Advices from, the Breathttt Coun-
tn {Ky.j Var.
Louisville special of date of Dec. 8, saws:
Affairs in Breathitt county are in far worse
condition than reported heretofore. The only
two newspaper men who have made their way
into that county arrived in Louisville to-day.
and describe deplorable state of affairs To
reach Breathitt they were obliged to make
horseback journey of $50 miles over the noun
tains. The law of Kentucky is SO framed that
the Governor can only interfere in such affairs
on receipt OF request for aid from the county
judge has been killed. Gov. NcCreary's mes
senger accompanied the two correspondents to
the scene, and has laid his report before the
Executive, who will now, it is thought. act
| promptly.
| Ever since the close of the war Breathitt
county has been cursed by bitter and relentless
strife between q number OF men who regard
| the civil law almost in the light of Joke
1t is hard to tell what originated the present
feud. Your correspondent talked with several
persons, and each told different story. One
version is that at the close of the war num-
Der OF men resolved to go through the county
and seize the animals, guns, pistols, saddles,
| etc.. that had United States brands upon them,
and represented themselves as United States
officers; that they collected a large quantity of
plumber, and quarrelled about the division of
the spoils. Another account is that a boy set
afoat slanderous story about Miss Coclril,
and that her friends took the matter in hand
| resolved to punish her traducer.
The trouble first broke out between Capt
BILL Strong's party and some men named
Amy. They fought until Strong exterminated
his enemies Then the Jets and Cockrells
took up the quarrel and the war ragged with
| more fury than ever. Jerry Little shot and
killed Curtlce Jett, and in turn shot by
Jett's brother in 1874. Fights occurred at not
very long intervals, and several men were killed
and many wounded.
Last summer there was a hotly-contested race
| for county judge. E1-Judge Edward Strong,
Ex-Judge Butler, and j. NJ. Burnett attorney
at law, in Jackson, were candidates. The
Littles, Ackmans, Gambrels, and Aliens favored
| Edward Strong. while "Bill'' Strong, the two
| Freemans, and other persons favored Burnett.
All the candidates were Democrats except
Burnett, who was supported by the Republic
| cans. The election resulted in the triumph of
Burnett by majority of eight. The Little
party claim that Burnett was not legally elect
! ed. They swore that Burnett should never
! take his seat, and sent him word that they in
tended to kill him. Burnett was fearless, and
| sent word that he intended to hold court at the
regular time, in spite of their threats. When
| the day for holding court came Burnett sum
moned number of resolute men and proceed
ed to open court. The bold stand seemed to
| oyerawe his enemies and he was not disturbed
| A few months ago Jason Little, one of the ia
| nous Little brothers, arrested for the
murder Of this wife. He went home drunk,
and the evidence iS strong that he shot his wife
| in order to marry another woman. He was
taken TO Richmond jail for safe keeping, and
was to have been tried at the fall term. The
| Littles, Arckmans, Aliens and Gambrels
threatened to release Jason Little, when he was
| brought back, and this caused Judge Randall
to issue an order that a sufficient guard be sent
| to bring Little to Jackson for trial.
| Judge Burnett appeared at Jackson, and open
ed court Monday, Nov. %, at the usual hour.
The belligerents had agreed to stack arms when
| they came to court. About / o'clock in the
morning Capt. Bill Strong, accompanied by
the Freemans and a dozen persons dashed into
| town, armed to the teeth, and most of them
| under the influence of whisky. Instead of
! stacking arms, agreed they went about the
streets, some with two or three revolvers
! strapped to their belts, and some with Sharp
| and Ballard rifles. Shortly before noon the
Little party came in, all well armed. They saw
Strong's party armed and, regarding them in
an unfriendly attitude, opened fire at once
killing one of the Freemans and wounding the
other, the fight ending without further blood
| shed that day. Tuesday Jason Little and
guard were to arrive. Threats were made by
| tended to rescue Jason, and Judge Bur
| nett agreed to head party of fifteen men de-
| tailed to reinforce the Sherlf1s guard. Bur.
| nett acted with great imprudence. He should
| have known that his action would only add to
! the hatred. His friends tried to persuade him
! to give up his intention, but could not do So
| and as he placed himself at the head of
the posse it was evident a fight was inevitable
Burnett marched his guard out and stood in
front of them. Gambrel, OF the Little party,
| who was about forty yards distant, remarked,
There's that - Burnett again Bur
onft low H., i. II
wise. Some cried, ''Look out, they are
| going to shootr' Burnett turned around to
see what the trouble was, and received car
bine ball in the side. He walked few PAGES
fell and expired.
jerry Little and others started to jail to re-
| lease Jason Little. Tom Little, cousin of the
| prisoner, joined and tried to persuade them to
| let the prisoner alone, when volley was fred
| by the guard, resulting in the death OF Tom
Little. The prisoner told them from window
| that they need not try to release him, for he
would give himself up to the iailer again. A
| regular battle was begun at this time and bull
! let's flew like hailstones around the court
| house. "Bill' Strong took position in a log
| house, the Littles got in the court house, and
the sheriff g guard in front of the JAIL When
night came the parties left their barracks, and
to some extent dispersed.
Wednesday morning Judge Randall, without
waiting to adjourn court, Jumped upon a horse
claims remained unaudited, and the sudden
adjournment will cause much suffering, as the
people needed their money.
1.-The scene on Tuesday in Jackson says an
eye witness, ''was awful. Men crazed with
whiskey charged through the streets afoot and
on horseback, brandishing revolvers and car
bines, and threatening to kill every person who
! came in their path. Women and children ran
through the yards and gardens screaming with
| fear, and many tainted. Blood flowed freely.
1t is not known how many persons were wound
| ed, but it is thought great many"
ssBill'' Strong's party swear they will be re-
venged for the death of Burnett and Freeman,
while the Littles say they will kill Strong and
his whole posse if they can. Strong informed
ex-Judge Ned Strong, John Hargis, an old
man, and William Combs, jailor, that he in
| tended to kill them to avenge the death of
Burnett. William Day, citizen living seven
miles from Jackson, has also been threatened,
| and is now at his fathers house at Hazel Green.
Ned strong has gathered about twenty-five
men and is watching 'Bill'' Strong The Lit
ties are together in force, and there is no tell
ing how soon another collision will occur,