Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-11-06

onger enter tain him.
George Lewis Underwood then invited
Martin to come to his house which til,
latter did. A few days after the remova
similar notice was served upon Georg,
Lewis Underwood, which he disre
garded. And shortly he was shot from
an ambush by concealed murderer
the ball passing through his bowels ant
making hole in his side through which
all his food passed until his death las
August. Then commenced the " Car
ter war; Edwin Underwood and JOIN
Martin " took to the bush, = and two o
the Stamper party were killed. One O
the Underwood brothers and one o
their partisans were also fired at from
the bushes and killed. Armed bodie.
rode up and down the country or skulkeC
among the hills and mountains, anC
that whole section was tcrrOrized. The
civil authorities were powerless to quel
the tumult and Gov. McCreary ordered
some militia to the spot to preserve
order. The presence of the military
seemed to intimidate the rioters anc
matters became quieter.
During all this blood-letting Jess,
Underwood was in Iowa, but on learn.
ing the condition of affairs, he returned
home to share the fate of his kindred
After matters mad become quieted h
determined to return to Iowa, and wa
passing through Lewis county on hi
way out of the State when he was pu-
sued by Hiram Worder, the sheriff, ad
a large body of citizens. Coming %
with the erring man, they called upo
him to surrender, but his reply was
defiant yell, and by the orders of th
sheriff he was fired upon and severl
times wounded. Jesse returned the fin
and killed a young man named Ruggle.
He was finally secured and taken befoH
a magistrate on the charge of murde.
The examining court acquitted him m
on the ground that the -pursuers had 10
warrant and the killing was done II
self-defence. He was then taken b
Bath county to be tried for killing
young Trumbo years before. After an
Incarceration of several months in
Owingsville Jail he made his escape.
1t was often reported that he had left
the State, but he has ever since been
skulking among the hills of Carter and
Rowan counties, patiently awaiting an
opportunity for revenge. sir
Some time in June last. Elvin Under
wood, while at work in his cornfield,
was fired upon by concealed assassin
and instantly killed. Jesse swore at the
time that when his brother, George
Lewis, should die. he would begin a war
of extermi nation, and would not desist
until his enemies were all killed or
driven from the State On Sunday,
August Oath, George Lewis Underwood
was brought to the lit lie cemetery about
half a mile from MOrehead, Rowan
county, to be laid to rest. having never
left his bed of pain since the cruel bullet
struck him down in his manhood two
years ago. All the clan came to see him
laid away, and kneeling beside the
grave swore with voices that trembled
to avenge his death.
On Sunday, September 5th, Squire v.
Holbrook, who led the party which shot
George Lewis Underwood, went to a
field near his house to catch some horses.
He was accompanied by his son. The
path to the field led through dense un-
dergrowth. Before he reached the field
a rifle ball whistled through the air and
he fell dead. The son turned to face the
assassin and saw the handsome face of
Jesse Underwood peering through the
bushes. It quickly disappeared and
the young man could find no further
traces of his father's murderer. TIE
news spread among the Holbrook fac
tion and the next morning William I'm
derwocd, another of the brothers, and
one who had never taken any part in
the feud, was bushwhacked short dis
tance from his home and instantly
killed.
was in Grayson, the county seat of
Ns,,.f .frx. H. 4l,n e =
reached me, and being
provided with good horse determined
to ride over to g Fort Underwood and
learn if the report was true>one. /
was provided with a letter of introduc-
tion to old George Underwood, and
when near the fort came upon a
body OF armed men under tree short
distance from the road examining the
corpse of the murdered William Under
wood. / dismounted and approaching
the group inquired for George Under
wood. An old gray-haired man, with
but a single eye, limped toward me and
| showed him the letter. He spelled out
tile contents and extended his hand.
"This is bad business, SIR" he said,
looking toward the spot where lay his
murdered son.
"To shoot an innocent man, who
never harmed man, woman or child in
his life" interposed young man. we'll
dressed and heavily armed. who stepped
toward us. BILLY never had anything
to do with the trouble, and always tried
to keep peace" The newcomer paused
a moment, and then slapping the stock
Of his rifle with his clenched Land cried
fiercely: But, by God, they shall pay
dearly for his death"
This is my son jesse" said the old
man, and the young man grasped my
hand heartily.
A pen picture of this noted outlaw, as
/ saw him that crisp autumn morning,
bending over the body Of his murdered
brother and swearing vengeance on his
murderers. may not prove uninteresting
to the readers of the Free Press. Imagine
then a man about thirty five years of
age, slender, not above medium height,
a little stopped in his shoulders, keen
eyed, with face smoothly shaved, ex-
cept heavy dark mustache, and hair
worn long. Clothe this parsonage in a
black Prince Albert coat, dark blue
pantaloons tucked in his boot tops, a
smoothly starched white shirt, standing
collar and neat black tie. Place on his
head soft slouch hat with the front rim
turned down to shield the eyes. Buckle
about his waist a stout belt, and hang
from it two heavy Colts navy" re-
volvers. Put in his hands a Sharp's
rifle at half-cock, his finger upon the
hammer, and the likeness is complete.
He xuac q yloacapf a,,x,oroI ,,,.x, x-1x-xv