Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-06-02
MurderouS Bell County.
HOW THE NOTED JOHNSON
HoSKINs TEUD oRTGTNA-
TED DEspERAD0Es WHO
SHOOT MEN AND
WOMEN In COLD
BLOOD.
louisville Commercial.

Louisville Commercial
The recent murders in Bell county
and the war between the johnson
and lloskins factions have been ;
topic Of discussion all over the State
and many conflicting stories have
been told. A Commercial reporter
met gentleman from Pinrville, til,
county seat of Bell, last night, and
obtained from him Il correct state.
ment of the difficulty.
'The feud dates back several years,
he said, "but no one seems 10 know
the true origin Of it. The general
belief is that IL was the result OF
political differences, as Andrew
johnson, the chief murderer, is a
Republican, and all his victims have
been Democrats. Nearly all the fights
have occurred on election day or du-
ring II campaign. On the day before
the Congressional election Of 1889,
when John ID. White and George Nj.
Adams were the cOntending men, a
dispute arose in The Courthouse
yard at Pincville between Il white
man aud negro. The former claimed
that the latter owed him dollar and
demanded the money. While they
were quarrclling DR.. S. NJ. Roberts, a
highly esteemed and learned physi-
clan, who was also peaceatlc gen
tlenan, aud several Others came NJ.
A p1rn,y Ini,nL ~, ,,,op ~, tl,n ntI,..
side Of the street. and walked over to
where the crowd was standing.
When the difficulty had been adjust
ed aud the men started away, john
son cool y stepped back few PAGES
and drew his revolver. lie shot DR.
Roberts, killing him Instantly, scnt II
ball through Josiah lIoskins body
and another in toMount Purs fulI',
leg, breaking the bone. johnson ran
after firing, and lloskius, who fell
when shot, managed 10 regain his feet
aud discharge his pistol, hut without
effect johnson proceeded to hi,
house and number of his friends
assembled there and armed them
selves. No attempt was made at the
time 10 arrest him, and he appeared
at the poles the next day armed To
the teeth and backed by crowd Of
his followers.
"Il. f. Finley, who is Circuit
Judge of flhat district. was at his home
in Williamsburg and did not come
to Pineville to hold court. The bar
elected William II. Randcll to pre-
side in his place. An indictment was
returned against johnson for killing
DR.. Roberts, but nothing was ever
said about his having shot lloskins
and Pursitull. Johnson came into
court and gave bond for his appear
amce at the next term of The court.
lie was never placed in Jail.
TIE SECOND FIGHT.
"On the morning of the November
election In 1884 the second fight Oc-
cured. About IL o'clock in the
morning Andrew Jackson and John
&. lIargis organized a band of about
fifty men in the formers grocery and
marched to the polls, every man be-
ing armed to the teeth. Johnson aud
a part of the gang entered the Court
house, while Hargis walked over
near the Jail and got into scuflle
with some one there. lloskims was
present, and some say he took a hand
in the row and fired a shot at lIargis,
while others say the case was Just
the reverse. While the fight was
going on a man named Lewis Hol-
lingsworth ran into the Courthouse
and told johnson. The latter at
once drew his pistol and rushed out.
As he got to the Court house door he
fired a shot at Thomas Napier, and
the latter fired back with u shotgun,
hitting Johnson in the face and
shoulder. A man named Carson
lIoskins, who in no way concern
ed in the difficulty, was standing be.
side a post in front of the Jail, when
he was shot through the heart and
instantly killed. No one knew who
fired the fatal bullet, but lIoskins
and Napier were both arrested on
the charge and narrowly escaped be-
ing mobbed. Hiram lloskins, the
father of Josiah lloskins, was on the
grand jury at the time, but was re-
lieved from service. Lewis IIollings-
worth, the man who had gone into
the Courthouse and told johnson to
come out, was placed on the jury in
IIoskins' place and made its foreman
TO illustrate what manner of man
this Hollingsworth is, | will mention
one incident. On the night previous
| met him on the street, he being
very much intoxicated, and he told
me that his party intended to run
things the next day if they had to
kill or bulldoze every man in Pine
vile to do so. This practically ended
all notice Of the murder on that
day.