Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-11-07

Cumberland he assured me that
Quantrell, the notorious guerrilla
clieftain of Missouri, at one time
lived in this town, Quantrel, for over
year before the close of the war,
was repudiated by the Confederate
Government. lie then raised the
black flag and he took no prisoners.
He perpetrated the most fiendish act
in the history of the war-the massa-
ere at Lawrence, Kas. On this occa-
sion he took the town by surprise
and actually murdered every map in
the city that could be found. Think
the number was $50. When a South
ern lady upbraided him with this act
he coolly said "he wanted to kill Jim
Lane, who lived there, and as ho
hadn't the honor of his acquaintance
and no time to make new acquaint-
ances, he killed all the men he could
catch" He pursued General Blunt
and bodyguard across the prairies
for over fifty miles and killed 80 out
of l03 men at that time. At Sedalia
he captured train loaded with
wounded soldiers and ordered them
all to be shot, which was done, the
late Jesse James taking an active
interest in the horrible affair, killing,
it is said, with his own hands cigh-
teen men. | met a man some years
ago in Ohio who told me privately
he belonged TO Quantrell's gang. lie
said he was a finely-tOrmed, hand
some man, with pleasant, soft voice.
lie was, sin truth, as soft hammered
man as ever cut throat or scuttled a
ship"
l have traced this mans history
carefully. AS TO the place Of his birth
it is uncertain. When very young
hc came to Washington county,
Maryland, and there married lady
of beauty and excellent family. At
this time he read and studied much,
taking a deep interest in literature,
especially poetry and novels. After
living happily over year with his
wife, becoming embarrassed, lie took
the benefit of the bankrupt act, was
arrested on charge of fraudulent In.
solvency, aud placed in Jail. His de-
voted wife shared his confinement
during the six months in which he
remained in Jail awaiting trial. Up
on final trial he was acquitted.
But after this there began TO appear
on the surface some of the tigerish
element which lurked in his system.
He went to st. Louis, was arrested
there; his wife, still loving and
cleavimg to him, effected a compro-
mise by which he was released.
Then he went TO Cincinnati, but got
into trouble, and taking his wife with
him he repaired TO New Orleans.
Here, for the first time, it appears, he
began to abuse his faithful wife. lie
became desperate, too, and shameful
ly neglected her. Her illness called
him back apparently 10 old-time
Kindness and tenderness; he aban-
doned the use of liquor and started to
take her back 10 her home in Mary
land.
She revived in spirit, and with re.
newed happiness was looking for the
return to the home of her childhood
But while on the Mississippi river oil
their way homo he committed for.
gerry on Cincinnati bank. He was
again put in jail-this time i'll Cincin.
natl. After seven anxious months
his devoted wife secured his release
on bail, which he forfeited. lie thei
deserted her and she returned home
But she soon heard of him near Ha.
gerstown, Nd, where he managed tC
commit another forgery, but escaped
conviction. Not long after he was
convicted offorgery in Pennsylvania
at the earnest solicitation of her rela
tives and friends, procured divorce
When Quantrell heard this he mad,
furious threats against her. Upol
his release from prison he quickly
married Philadelphia woman, bu
in few weeks was arrested for for
gerry and was sentenced for som,
years.
Mrs. Quantrell then married Mr.. A
Cowlon. She was still young, fo
Quantrell had managed to commi
all these crimes in less than twelv
: years, and she married when she wa
$ only eighteen. She took up her resi-
) dence with her second husband il
f Cumberland, in 1S4S, and they wer
Q both highly esteemed. The 9th da.
of March, lS49, she was sitting alon
} in her sitting.room in the hotel, o
4 which her husband was proprietor
. just as the evening train came in. 1
servant soon after showed a pleasant
G looking gentleman UP to her room
who had just arrived on the train
l AS soon as with smile he dismissed
D the servant he entered the room ant
0 Immediately locked the door, and t.
5 her horror and despair Mrs. Cowlol
s saw that it was her first husband
1 Quantrell. She Immediately scream
: cd as loud as she could for help, 70
/ there was murder in his eye and h
e told her her hour had come. Ii
c caught her by the throat, threw he
d down on the floor, placed his kne
nn l,n, lraoot oIl oftnnnfnfa1 T.