The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-25
LYNCH LAW IN KENTUCKY.

A despatch to tho Cincinnati Enquirer Of the 23d
inst. from Grayson KY. gives horrible picture Of
the state OF society in the northeastern portion Of
that State 1t says:-
Murder. incendiarism. thevery. bushwhacking.
general devilment-and such u farce as most Of the
kentucky courts prove to DO when criminals
brought before them-have at last melted the better
citizens OF Northeastern Kentucky to rise In their
might and enforce their will as best they can
In my dispatches some weeks since mention was
made of organized band of outlaws in this part
OF Kentucky, and that body of masked men had
visited Martinsburg, the county seat OF Elliott
county, and served notices officers lawyers, cti-
murderers and known criminals TO override and dis
grace their county. and that officers and lawyers who
gave them encouragement by defending and permit
ting such persons to unpublished would be served
In the same way as criminals.
On Monday near midnight, about two hundred
men rode into the town of Martinsburg and SUR
rounded the entire court yard. in which the ia
stands where John W. Kendall William Mcmillan
and J. w. Ownsby were confined, charged with
rious crimes and known to belong to the organize
ton holding sway In this part OF the State. In the
meantime part of the regulators surrounded tho
Jailer's house. from which he attempted to escape
by back door. but In the darkness ran into tho
arms of one of the party. They made him deliver
the keys to the jail. When they surrounded tho
court yard there several men about the yard
with the guards. Among them was John Cohn.
whom they caught and tried to secure but he broke
away from them. They fired two shots ut him, both
OF which took effect. one in the left shoulder tho
other in the left hip He finally escaped. They In
tended to hang him.
The party having the Jail keys arrived by this
time. when about twenty-five proceeded to the Jail.
Unlocking 1t they were met by William Mcmillan.
who began praying for mercy. Kendall was stolid
and made appeals Ownsby talked but little but
he badly frightened, no had been hanged sew.
eral times some weeks since by the Regulators to
make him tell what he knew OF the band that he be-
longed to. Only one man spoke to him. They soon
produced ropes and pinioncd the arms OF Kendall
and Mcmillan, and, leading Thorn to the door placed
the ropes around their necks. They left Ownsby
praying for mercy, closed and locked the door, laid
the keys by tho side the door, and. without word
being spoken by the whole party OF men, hlcd out OF
the court yard and proceeded to walnut tree about
ono hundred yards from the Court House, where
they formed hollow square about their prisoners
and instituted trial bench.
After nearly hour the sentence OF death was pro-
nounccd by Judge Lynch. Mcmillan begged Tor
little time to pray, which was granted. small ropo
that had evidently been used rs plough line was
used to hang Mcmillan. When all was ready four
strong men caught him and held him up some dis
lance so that the party who climbed the tree could
tie the rope to limb. They let him down gradually
80 as not to break the rope. Ho was strangled to
Until this time Kendall had kept quiet. Whom he
saw his partner in tho trocs OF death no began call
inc on his God for mercy. His prayers were cut
short. He died hard. Both were hanged tho
same tree. The Regulators remained about half an
hour and quietly lett town by another road.
Mcmillan leaves wife aud Ave children. Kendall
also leaves wife and hve children. They both
lived near Crackers Neck, Elliott county. As soon
AZ they left the men cut down aud taken to tho
verdict OF the jury was Taken from Jail and
hanged by unknown parties" The mon hanged
told the names OF many others who belonged to the
organization. George Whit aud George McClana-
ham, residing In Devils Fork of Sandy were visited Ny
Regulators and whipped nearly to death for stealing
a horse When any of the band are arraigned before
q court they prove albi by others of their gang.
The Underwood district may yet be visited by these
out all Northeastern Kentucky Of SUCH gangs %
mako this country 80 bad a reputation.