The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-26
A BLOODY AFFRAY
AT MT. STERLING, KENTUCKY.
lnSS Of On. Hundred Hes. Headed By Sheriff,
Attacks jail to LIueh D.spsradOss, bat is
R.psl.sd with Severe Lo,s-rhs shtrirs
Reasons for Ealing the Assault.

Mr.. STERLING, KY, May 25-There has
been confined in the county Jail Of this
tMontgomery county, for ten days John
Barrett and companions, known as the
Barrett gapg, charged with the murder OF
Vaughan Hilton on the night Of May 18th
on the edge Of this county, nearest to
the Manefae line. Rumors had reached
Judge James Il. Hszlegg, Of this city,
some days ago that a mob fran Manefee
county, composed Of friends Of the muir
dered man, were coming to take the pris-
oners at midnight and hang some Of them,
at least he had ordered guard to be on
duty at the jail every night
Last night Jailor J. .. Stevens, who is
quite old, had gotten the City Marshal,
Patrick Punch, to take his place. Marshal
Punch and Deputy Sheriff George McCor.
mick were keeping guard in the hallway
Of the Jail, Richard Farmer, James Thomas
and Jesse Aamlin, armed with shot guns,
Spencer rifles aud pistols, were stationed
in front room upstairs.
At one o'clockA, " 4, a mob OF hundred
or more on horseback entered Mt. Sterling
from the direction Of Manaiee, aud rode
rapidly to the jail, where they were rein.
forced by a small party on foot. When
they advanced to the gate Of the jIil yard,
Richard Farmer, from his window above
with his shot gun, well loaded with
buck shot In hand, commanded halt and
asked "who they were and what they
wanted" ave want blood and are going
to have il" was promptly responded, and
the further command OF Farmer TO "halt
there" rung out in the night air.
"Close up, they won't shoot" and the
same moment one oil the mob entered the
gateway. When Just within the gate an.
other message came from Farmer, but
this time it was leaden one, which felled
the leaders. With demon.like yells the
mob commenced firing. Three guards
from the upper windows meanwhile re-
turned the FIRE as rapidly as possible for
three or four minutes. when the mob re-
treated.
THE RESCUE.
The bells Of the court house and engine
house were promptly rung. The Cero
Gordo guards and many citizens soon
came to the rescue. A wounded man had
fallen forward upon the steps OF
the isil was carried in and there
recognized as A. J. Ripgo, the high Sheriff
OF Manefee county. Near the jail wounded
in the leg was found Thomas Clark, q
former citizen OF this couRty. Near him
lay his horse dead, killed by the bullet
ntA knh haI
wounded his rider. Shortly after
two or three stray saddle horses with no
riders were found. CLARK claimed that he
was only passing and was accidentally hit,
and was not member Of the mob,
hut the statement Is disbelieved. Sheriff
Ringo, when asked by Marshall Punch what
he meant by heading mob, said:
GREAT PRovocArloN.
"John Barrett and his gang have been
bushwhacking people for three years past,
and the good people Of my county are get
ting tired Of it. They have previously
been charged with the murder of Jim
Messer, the shooting Of Gil Messer, the
stabbing Of Vaughan Hilton, two years
ago, and were acquitted by the
courts Three months sgo there
were charged with firing into old man
Hilton's house, poisoning his cattle, stabb.
ing and killing his horses and shoot.
ing old man Hilton, and our
courts were powerless to convict.
Therefore after advising with the best men
in my county, l came here 10 get Barrett
and others"
A bunch OF rope with hapgnan's knot
carefully made was found near Ringo's
body. Ringo is dangerously wounded,
five balls penetrating his right leg ten
inches above the knee, neGessita.
ting amputation, and probably will
result fatally. Although the ceiling
OF the room above Is riddIed with bullet
holes, none Of the guards were wounded.