The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-09-18
Kentucky Ldwfessness.

The Underwood war in Kentucky has again
been revived, several persons during thepast
two weeks falling victims as consequence of
this terrible family feud. On Saturday 13th
inst.) the following review of this lawlessness
was sent as a dispatch to a Cincinnati daily ::
While old George Underwood, the chief of the
Underwood party, was sitting in his door at an
early hour yesterday morning, he was literally
riddled with rifle balls. There were some six
teen or more shots fired at the same moment,
six of which passed through his body and one
through his head. The general expression of
opinion here is that there are some as bad men
arrayed against the Underwoods as they are.
The readers well remember that every one
killed has been shot through and through.
They are experts with the rifle, and there will
be more killing before this trouble is settled.
The Greenup Independent printed chapter
of Elliott county devlment lately, in which it
said: Seven armed and undisguised men went
to Widow Heuson's house near Martinsburg,
broke in the door, seized crippled daughter Of
Mrs. Heuson and threatened to hang her if they
did not give up some money they supposed she
had obtained as pensioner. She denied hav-
ing received any money, when they proceeded
to carry out their devilish threats by hanging
her several times, but got no money. They
left the poor girl more dead than alive.
Bill Rowe, an inhuman wretch, went home
in bad humor few days since, abused his
wife in the most CRUEL and brttal manner pos
sible and finally, to satisfy his yillainy, he
dragged her by the hair out into the woodward,
and with club dashed her brains out
"a young man named James White, awitness
against Rowe, was shot by one JEFF Adkins, a
friend Of Rowe, simply to get him out of the
way. Adkins had an examining trial, and his
bond was placed at $3.50. He objected to such
high bail, and while the officers were taking
him to Jail he made his escape.
"It is but short time since five armed and
disguised men went to the house of a widow
named Davis, and demanded money. She re-
fused to tell where her money was, and they
hung her for few minutes, let her down, and
still she refused to tell. They hung her again
and again, the third time almost strangling hel
to death. She finally told them where they
could find the money. They got near $500.
She identified them and had them arrested. Al
preliminary examination, she swore positively
against the whole party, but they were ac-
quilted for the simple reason, as offered by the
court, that they did not believe her. The
better citizens of the county have Joined to-
gether for the purpose of protecting themselves
and to rid the country of such villains as have
| been holding sway in the counties of Elliott
Rowan, Breathitt and Carter for several years
8" On Thursday night thirty masked men
riding masked horses, entered Martinsburg
went direct to the jailer's house, demanded
Rowe, the wife-murderer, to be turned over t
them. The Jailer stated that Rowe had jus
been admitted to bail the day previous, in tn
sum of only $500. be-
"The following notice was left at the Post
office: -=,a
Behold we come as thief in the night time
| We live in the wilds of these roughs, and hav
| been scandalized by the indecent and lawles
part of this country as long as we intend to be
| therefore, we are resolved, first, that when tn
murderers, house burners, robbers and game
sters of this county, any more than they hav
already done and that when they did not knoy
better, they may stand and tremble becaus
they are accountable for the present lawlessnes
of the county, and instead of protecting honest
| you are against us, and have proved yourselve
friends to villaipy, and for that reason ou
hand is against you, and we intend to punis
YOU in the flesh, as we think your favore
criminals should be, and any other man, lie
him be either lawyer or farmer, who may eithe
| plead out or bail out such trash, we will loo
upon them as enemies to honesty, and we vii
deal with them with little ceremony and n
mercy, because you are they.
| "JUDGE LYNCH"
"Elliott county has had war within he
borders for several years past of a similar ma
ture to the Underwood war in Carter an
Rowan, but on a smaller scale. Desperadoe
and hunters have frequently been engaged. i
battle, often killing or woundng some of thos
engaged. Parties engaged in that troubl
burned Martinsburg three years ago."