Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-12
An OUTLAWS STORY.

Craig ToI yer Tells About Some Startling
Events thai Took Place in AeutaciY.
Interview in the Cincinnati Enquirerl
The war around Morehead first com
menced last August over bet on an
election. / was then residing in Nor
gan county, about thirty miles from
Morchead. had a brother, Floyd,
who kept drugstore and hotel at
Farmers, eight miles from Morehead.
lie was highly respected, and game to
the backbone. On election-day one
Price and William Trumb0, who were
both full of fighting whiskey, offered to
wager $50 on the result Of the county
election, but, being unable to
agree upon stakeholder, COM
menced lighting, and friends Of both
sides, 10 the number of twenty, joined
IN the aflray. John Day, then sheriff
Of the county, appointed my brother
Floyd as a deputy to assist him in
putting down the fight. The sheriff
and Floyd rushed into the crowd and
demanded peace. Howard Logan and
others cried to the fighters to " kill Day
and Tolliver.' Day was knocked
down with a rock. John Martin shot
at Floyd and several other, drew their
knives and pistols and rushed at him.
Floyd then drew his pistol, knocking
Martin down with it. This was the
cause Of a general shooting match,
in which Sol. Brady was shot
dead, and two or three others wounded,
the sheriff being among the number. The
sheriff and my brother, however, finally
dispersed the mob. Circuit Court CON
yeued next day. and my brother and
John Martin were jointly indicted for
killing Sol. Brady. Martins reputa-
ton was Of the worst. and he feared
conviction. He had the reputation Of
being a horse.thief and murderer, hav-
ing been several times arrested and
tried for both crimes and acquitted.
Money and influence often accomplished
his release. He was one Of the leaders
in the Observation-Disclosures war, join
ing the Underwood fiction. This war
lasted about two years, and scores Of
people on both sides were killed
What was the cause Of that war
The Martins had been stealth
horses from the Ilolbrooks and their
friend, in Carter county and diSposing
Of them to the Underwools. One Of
the llolbrooks discovered horse be-
longing to him hidden in the woods
ard in the attempt to take the horse
away he was fired upon and killed by
the Underwoods and Martins. The
HOlbrooks then organized, and war be
gan in earnest The members of each
faction were determined, and no matter
where they met they commenced shoot
ing. BuShwhacking, ambushinc, and
everything else was resorted TO.
Finally all Of the Underwoods were
killed, and Martin, one Of their leaders
and The last Of that faction, left the
country.
"What did they do with your bro
ther when the case came up" inquired
the reporter.
Upon hearing that he had been in
dicted Floyd went to the courthouse
and gave bond. Martin was arrested
and also released on bail. Neither
were ever tried, as both were killed
before the day Of the trial. After the
August election Martin swore vengeance
against Floyd, and three months later
they met at the Gait House, in More
head. Martin was inclined to be
troublesome, but after talking the mat
ter over thir shook hands and made up.
Some friends Of Martin, to Floyd'S left,
called Floyd, and when his head was
turned Martin shot him through the
heart. Martin was Immediately ar
rested by the sheriff and S. P. Good
man, one Of the sheriil's deputies, and
lodged in Morehead Jail. | was thirty
miles away in Morgan county, and on
receiving information of my brothers
death that night | mounted my horse
and rode to Morehcad in one hour and
three quarters. On arriving there
went to the Jail alone and asked per
mission of he sheriff to see Martin
but was refused admittance. Mar
tins friends feared he would b.
lynched, and the sheriff placed a strong
guard around him. On the fol-
lowing day he was removed t
the Jail at Winchester, Clarke coun
ty, some fifty miles distant, remain
ing there about one week. The Cour
issued an order to bring him back fol
trial. The sheriff summoned his guarC
and went after him. With a strong
guard about him, Martin was placed Oh
the midnight express Of the Lexington