The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1883-06-09
4 Fight With a Web OF LyHchers.


There has been confined in the
county Jail Of this montgomery
county for ten days past Jno. Bar.
nett and ten companions, known
as the Barnett gang, charged with
the murder of Vaughn Hilton on
the night of Saturday, May 10, on
the edge of this county nearest to
the Menefee line.
RumOrs had reached Judge Jas.
ii. Hazelesigg, of this city, some
days ago, that a mob from Menefee
county, composed of friends of the
murdered man, were coming to
take the prisoners at night and
hang some Of them; at least he
had ordered an extra guard to be
on duty at the Jail every night.
Last night Jailor J. o. Stevens,
who is quite old, had gotten the
city marshal, Pat Punch, to take
his place. Marshal Punch and
Deputy Sheriff George Mccormick
were keeping guard in the hallway
Of the Jail. Richard Farmer, Jas.
Thomas and Jesse Hainlin. armed
with shotguns, Spencer rifles and
pistols, were stationed in % front
room mp stairs. About l o'clock
in the morning mob of q hundred
or more on horseback entered Mt.
Sterling from the direction of
Menefee, and rode rapidly to the
Jail, where they were reinforced
by small party on foot. When
they advanced to the gate Of tho
Jail yard, Richard Farmer, from his
window above, with his shotgun
well loaded with buckshot in hand,
commanded halt and asked who
they were and what they wanted.
"We want blood, and are going
to have it, was promptly respond.
cd; and to the further command
of Farmer to halt. there rang out
in the night air: "Close up, they
won't shoot" and at the same mo.
ment one of the mob entered the
gateway. When just within the
gate, another MESSAGE came from
Farmer, but this time il was a lead.
en- one of buckshot, which fcllcd
the leader. With dcmOn.like yells
the mob commenced firing. The
three guards, from upper windows,
meanwhile returned the fire as
rapidly as possible for three or four
minutes, when the mob retreated.
The bells of the courthouse and
engine-house were promptly rung.
The Cerro Gorda guards and many
citizens came to the rescue. Upon
! opening the jaii door the wounded
man, who had fallen forward upon
the steps, was carried into the .jai
and there recognized as A. j. Rim
go, tho high sheriff of Mencfe,
county. Near the Jail, wounded IN
the leg, was found Thomas Clark
a wealthy farmer Of this county
Near him lay his horse dead, killed
by the bullet from the Spencer
rifle, which had wounded his rider
Shortly afterward two or three
stray saddled horses with no riders
were found. Clark claimed that
he was only passing end was acci
dentally struck. and was not q
member of the mob, but his state
ment is generally disbelicvod
Sheriff Ringo, when asked by
Marshal Punch what he meant by
heading a mob, SAID: "John Bar
nett and his gang have been bush
whacking people for three years
past, and the good people Of my
county are getting tired. This
gang had previously been charged
with the murder of Jim Messer
the shooting of Gil Messer, stab
bing of Vaughn Hilton two years
ago, and were acquitted by the
courts. Three months ago they
were charged with burning old
man Hilton's house, poisoning his
cattle and stabbing and killing his
horses, and shooting old man Hi.
ton, and onr courts were power.
less to convict them, therefore,
after advising with the best men OF
my county, came here to hang
Barnett and the Others"
A bunch of rope with two hang.
mans knots carefully made were
found near Ringo's body. Rlngo
is dangerously wounded, five balls
penetrating his right leg ten inches
above the knee, necessitating am
putation, which will probably re-
sult fatally. Although the ceiling
of the room is riddled with bullet
holes. none of the guards were
wounded. The general sentiment
of the public here is that it was
very unfortunate that the mob did
not succeed in hanging the Barnett
gang, as they are considered des.
peradoes of the most dangerous
type. This affair seems to be the
result of a family fcud existing for
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