The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-05-26
TF7LEGR.APaIC
Serious ARRAY.

MOUNT Sl6rlHgS ny, 70 II mere
has been confined in the county Jail.
Montgomery County, for ten days
past John Barnett and ten COM
panions, known as Barnet gang,
charged with the murder of Vaughn
Hilton on the night of Saturday.
May 18th, ON the edge of this county
nearest to the Manefee line. Rumors
reached Judge Jas d. Hazebrigg.
of this county, some days ago, that
a mob from Manefee County, com
posed of friends of the murdered
man were coming to take
the prisoners at mig t, ard
hang some of them at least. He
had ordered an extra guard to be on
duty at the jail. Jailor J. o. Ste
vens, who is quite an old man, had
gotten City Marshal Put Punch to
take his place. Marshal Punch and
Deputy Sheriff George Mccormick
were keeping quad IN the hallway
of the jail, Richard Farmer, james
Thomas and Jesse Hamlln, armed
with shot guns and Spenner rifles
and pistols, were stationed in the
front room upstairs. About l
o'clock a mob Of 100 or more on horse
back entered Mount Sterling from
the direction of Menefee County,
and rode rapidly TO the Jail, where
they were reinforced by a small
party on foot. When they advanced
to the gate of the jail yard. Richard
Farmerfrom his window above with
his shot gun well loaded with buck
shoe in hand, commanded halt
and asked who they were and what
they wanted, I'VE want blood and
we are going to have it" was the
prompt response; and to the further
command of the former to halt there
rung out on the night air ''clOse up
this, they won't shoot" and at the
same moment one Of the mob entered
the gangWay. WheE just within
the gate another message came from
Farmer, but this time il was a
leaden one of buckshot, which felled
the leader. With demon-like yells
the mob commenced firing The
three guards from the upper win
dows, meanwhile. retur ae3 the fire
as rapidly as possible for three or
four minutes, which the mob re-
turned. The bells of the court
house and engine house were
promptly rung The Cerro GordO
guards and many citizens soon came
to the rescue. Upon opening the Jail
door. A wounded man, who had
fallen forward on the steps, WAS
carried into the jail and there re-
cogniZed as A. G. Rings, high
sheriff of Manefee County Near the
jail, wounded in the leg, was found
Thomas Cla k, wealthy farmer of
this county, and near him lay his
horse dead, killed by bullet from
Spencer rifle. which had wounded
his rider. Shortly afterWard two
or three stray saddle horses with no
riders were found. Clark claimed
that he was only passing, aud
was accidentally hit, and was not q
member of the mob; but his state
ment is generally disbelieved. Sher
if Rings, when asked by Marshal
Punch what he meant by heading
the mob, said John Barnett auC
his gang have been bush whacki1g
people for three years past and the
good people of my county are tired
This gang have previously beer
charged with the murder of jim
Messer, the shooting of Gil. Mes
ser, and stabbing of Vaughan
Hilton two years ago, and were
acquitted by the courts
Therefore after advising with the
best men in my county l came here
to hang Barnett and others. 4
bunch of rope with two hangman'
knots carefully made were found
near Rings body. Rings is danger
ously wounded, five balls pene-
trating his right leg ten inches
above the knee, necessitating ampu
tation and will probably result
fatally. Although the ceiling of tht
room above is riddled with bulle
holes, none of the guards wer'
wounded. The general sentimen
of the public here is that it wa
very unfortunate that the mol
| did not succeed in hanging
the Barnett gang, as they are con
sidered desperate and most dan
gerous type. This affair seems t
be the result of family feud, ex
isting for long term of years pas
aud viii b has from the first to tn
last, est many lives and will onl.
close with the death Of all partie
concerned Rings, the WOUNDED
leader of the mob, has three cousin
and one brother-in-law in the out
aW gang, whom he was attemptin!
| t. hang, and which will doubles
cost him his life. He has since lS6
been an officer in this county, an
has always enjoyed an excellen
reputation in his community as
fine officer and law abiding either