Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-08-26
a. Kentucky Duel.

2 AtiauCKy Uuel. 80,
t.. On Monday, August Z, the day of the cleo
ton, an old feud, originating from childish
quarrels, broke out in East Kentucky, and
the result was the killing of one man in self.
defence and the coId-blooded murder of
three others. The scene was at the polls at
the mouth of Blackberry and Pike county,
about twenty-five miles from Pikevillc. In
that section are two families, the Chatliclds
and the McLoys, with numerous relations
The Chattields are the most numerous, and
physically are the larger, the McLoys being
small in stature. On the day of election one
OF the Chattield clan approached young
man OF the McLoy family, and, staggering
up to him, said: Jim McLoy, you don't vote
here to-day; unless you vote as l do The
young man answered that he did not want
amy trouble and would not vote ut all.
Yes you wil,' responded the bully.
We've made you grind apples for us on
your knees before this, and you don't vote
as do to-day III make YOU
With this warning the bully swaygcrctl oir
Young McLoy, went away and took Il drink
or SO to arouse his courage. After Il while
Chatticl'l returned, looking for McLoy, and
foundtho young man in a place where escapc
was not easy. "McLoy,' he said 'havc YOU
voted yct?"
NO." answered McLoy.
You'd better 20 and vote quick, then.
and vote us tell you"
Young McLoy, straightcncd himself up.
and, in Il voice trembling with rage, probab-
ly mingled with fear said: 'Chatlcld.
you've made inc so down Oh my knees and
grind apples for you. as you said, and hoe
corn Tor you, but you can't make me vote
but Just us please to-day Chatiield re-
spondcd to this with fierce oath, and Il
motion as though to draw pistol.
IF I've got to die Pm going to die like IL
man." With these words McI.oy drew a
clasp knife with Il ive-inch bl &c and open
ed it. His adversary fired, the ball grazing
McLoy's head. The latter sprangat his tor
mentor with Il cry of rage and made II slash
which dcnuded the bone of one arm of lis
flesh from the shoulder to the elbow. Then
with powerful blows he slashed Chatlield
across the breast from shculderto waist and
again in the other direction. He must have
driven the keen, long blade hilt-deep through
clothing and flesh ut least twenty times be-
fore Chaticd fell.
McLoy fled short distance, flsilladc of
bullets following him, but he escaped un-
hurt. Turning and facing the Chattields,
who had emptied their pistols, he said Gen
tlemen believe was in the right. ] de-
fended myself. give mysclfup'
1t was Il terrible crowd to surrender him
self TO. Nearly all around him were Of tho
Chatiield clan-hardly afriend within sight
a younger brother was present, but was
powerless, except to lay down his own life to
satisfy the savage thirst for blood No re-
preventative of law was there. and if he had
been his Office would have-been mockcry.
The man to whom he surrendered himself
was an uncle of the slain man, and when
McLoy gave up his knife this man took it
and said, I've u great mind to chug it into
YOU" .n
In an instant. five men jumped ut the dis
armed prisoner and grabbed him By the
throat, Or shoulder, or wherever they could
lay their hands, and five pistol balls whizzcd
past his head. These men were crowded to
gether too closely, or were uns eady from
liquor, for none Of the balls struck McIoy.
Others took him from his infuriatcd assal-
ants, but with no intention Of preserving his
life, not even for the farce ola trial as the
sequel showed.
McLoy's captors took him across Tug river
into West Virginia. Afraid that the authori-
ties of that State would be better enforcers
of the law than those of their own, they re-
TUNED with him on that or the next day. |
They had apparently made up their minds
to policy of determination. They sent out
parties and broughtin McLoy two brothers.
aged respectively 20 and 1Syears. The Sec
ond brother had been guilty of, no other Of
fence than being present when the killing
occurred, while the boy Of IS was not only !
not present, but had never taken any part
in the feud between the two sets Of men,
either by word OF deed
Having captured the three boys the par
ty struck for the woods. Nothing more was
time for vengeance to be Wreaked, the citi
some search the bodies were found in thick
ct. The boys had been made to stand in Il
row, their arms tied, each ones right arm to
his neighbor's left, by green withes, and the
free arms Of the two on the outside tied in
the same Kramer to two saplings Strung
in this fantastic manner, they could not have
resisted a woman. Their captors were de-
termined to make themselves safe from the
desperation of unarmed men. AS they stood
there looking down steep hillside, they
were shot dead by oneshot each in the back
of the head, the bullets coming out at the
forehead or near it. A shallow trench was
dug, the three bodies laid in it, feet to head,
and mound heaped over them sufficiently
to give them four inches of earth.
That or the next day the father of the boys
came into town. Heinquired of the success
full candidate what he should do, the tears
streaming down his cheeks as bespoke. He
received no sympathy. Then hewent about
and sold his team, and WITH the proceeds
bought Spencer rife and ammunition. TO
some one he said, his voice checked with
emotion. .
''Tve bid goodbye to the old woman and