Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-06-27
rhs stost 81 = Mob


says the mountalneer OF this region is
very deceivlng man. The men who live
among the hills, in remote places inac.
cessible except on horseback, along
bride paths and lonely forest roads lcok
insignificant, but they are shrewd, ac-
tive and indomitable in determination
and courage. The old Scotch vindictIve-
ness in matters of family feud is ruling
characteristic, and when two families
take up their shot-guns and begin to 60
snipe-huntlng for each other it will not
end until one or the other Is extinct and
hslf the county has been drawn into the
feud through partisan feeling or interest.
John Barnett, the Menifee county man
who Is in Jail here on the charge OF
murder and theft, is fair specimen of
the class. He is a tall, grim, gaunt
man, with dark whiskers, hatchet-face
and sour. He is perhaps 80 years old.
Impressive and quiet, yet cool as an ice
berg, and as intrepid in fight as a
hero, quick to resent an affront, and
always ready to defend his opinion OF
his rights. He is quite well-to-do, own
ing about 1,200 acres of fine mountain
land, and it is said has two distinct
households. He is head and shoulders
above his immediate neighbors, and al
ways travels with feudal traln OF eight
OF ten followers, al armed and ready to
hight at his command OF for any purpose.
he is a terror, and as mild hammered
cut-throat as you could plow up.
The Barnett Helton feud, which has re-
H. -h,ah
brought HIM to jail, dates back several
years, and the Heltons are now nearly
exterminated. The father is an old man,
by no means match tor Barnett Vaughn
HeIton is dead, jim Messer Is dead, and
Hack Helton has fled to the bushes, or
gone West, so that there is really no one
of tie immediate Helton faction now who
can make the slightest stand against the
keen, wlry, alert and active aggressive
ness of Barnett. Under these cIrcum-
stances, even if Barnett is released, the
feud will end, unless it is renewed with
RIngo, the sheriff. who led the mob with
the intention of lynching Barnett.
The history of this old feud is interest
ing. Some time jD 1850 Vaughn Helton
began to negotiate for piece of land that
belonged to the widow Becraft: but,
through some misunderstanding and for
some double-dealing, real or pretended on
his part, Mrs. Becraft refused TO complete
the transfer and took the deed that had
been written for her TO sign ana tore it to
pieces This brought on a fight between
The Becraits and the Heltons, in which
John Helton, the cid man, was stabbed.
John Barnett had no connection with this,
whatever, only so far as can be maintained
by gossip, but 1t soon brought on an alter
cation between him and Vaughn Helton at
Cornwall, MenIfee county.
Helion was inside of the store armed
with gun, which be was carrying for the
benefit of Barnett. When he came out Of
the store Barnett accosted him, and as be
attempted to run drew knife and stabbed
him ID the back. The next step was thst
of the attack on Gil. Messer by unknown
persons at his house, of which they sus-
pected John Barnett. Then came coun-
ter attack on Barnett at his house by the
Helton faction, in which Jim Messer was
killed outright by the unerring aim of
Barnett's handy ufle. This occurred ID
1901 lCAu
for about eighteen months, when deprede-
tIons began on the horses and cattle of
Vaughn Helton, about two months ago,
of which John Barnett was accused, and
was indicted for, In fact. But tie case
fell through alter he gave himself up and
courted an examination.
Then old man Helton's house was
burned t was not a magnificent affair,
beng Only two-roomed log cabin, par
TALLY chlDked with mud and stone, so as
10 keep out the fi,rcest and most deter
nllned gusts OF wind and raIp. Soon after
that followed the murder Of Vaughn Hell
ion, by masked men, on the night of May
II, 1858, at his home IN this county.
This laiier Is the moving cause of the
present troubles. John Helton procured
an indictment for the murder of his son
Vaughn, which was filed by the grand
jury May 26, sgsinst John Barnett, john
Gibbs, Newton Yarber. Elliott Watkins,
William, aliss Boss Becraft, John Be-
craft, Nelson Watkins and Mark Miller.
But the people OF MeHitee, or many of
them, have moi much lope that the trlal
Will oevelop sufficient information against
the parties 10 punish them. Hence the
sentiment IN favor of lynch law became
80 strong that 4. j. Rinso gathered band
and came here for the purpose of taking
Barnett and several of his confederates
out to hang them, He was repulsed by
the guard of three men. The wounded
sheriff, Rrngo, who was At The head Of the
mob anc was seriously wounded, is now
in custody here. He says that Barnett
has manufactured evidence to acquit him.
self of all the crimes be has committed.
and can still do go, thus holding the coun,y
OF Menifee in a state of terror. Says
Rngo:
''He defied me to arrest him though
never had warrant for him but once
foI shooting Helton-and he would not
submit to arrest for that, and having tep
men with him l could not take him.
After shooting Gill Messer, at least eight
men, some of them now under arrest,
came TO court 10 swear that Barnett was
innocent of it. He was able to manu-
facture testimony and procure an sbun-
dance of Witnesses and thereby clear HIM
self. When | was here on Monday, one
week ago, was told that he expected to
do the same thing over again, and that he
did not think an indictment could be found
against him. Several coed men here ted
me that he had threatened to treat me as
Vaughn Heiton was treated. Several
prominent gentlemen and property owners
here told NE that he intended TO be re-
OnThursday, in Menifee county,
a good mana cItizeE Of this county-told
me that Barnett had said more men would
be killed, and that l was one of them.
From three distinct sources ! heard the
same story. l consulted with my friends
and with L any of the best men of Men
flee county, and We concluded that
thee was 10 prospect Of ;hIs lawless-
Dess ceasirg, ana that the best thing to
Go WIS to come here and take some of
these men cut and leave others.