Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-13
KENTUCKY'S VENDETTA.
HOW THE FEUD IN ROWAN COUN-
TY ORIGINATED.
"A Charge of Horse Stealing Leads to
Many Murders-A 1irnid Judge and "A
CuIpabio County Attorney.

LEXINGTON, II Y, July O.--'hentUCky
men are the brayestin the world, and Ken
,ucky politicians The biggest towards, -
is remark ] have often heard made by
eN-District Attorney II. c. Wharton, OF
that State. To the cowardice Of the poll
ticiaus in power, and 20 the bravery OF
the participants involved, may be as
cribed the long ana bitter continuation Of
the vendetta now in progress in several
sections OF Kentucky. To understand
the origin Of the terrible trouble in
Rowan county, an account OF
whose horrible condition since Au-
gust last, when the present
feud began, it s necessary to go back n
dozen Years or more. This county was
i'm that section Of the State that contrib
uted largely to the Union army, three
fourtbs OF the male inhabitants OF which
wore Federal cDlOrs. The war over, the
Democrats soon obtained political con
troll of the State, although the quota OF
white Kentucky soldiers who enlisted in
the Union army was quite double that of
the other, or Confederate, side. This Is n
remarkable fnct for which no acceptable
reason has ever been advanced in the
presence or within the reading Of the
writer. IL occurred, however, as
early dH A'UNs NNeU bilt HitlA WIN
fought Tor their country found their
opponents in full political power. As a
consequence the oX-iOyalists were more
or less sore, and in some sections where
bright lights lived considerable comment
cropped out IN the nature Of severe
criticisms. Persons OF this class who
before the war possessed the right 10 eX-
pect, by reason of their talents and posi-
TONS political pretorment now naturally
grew restless, then critically talkatlNe,
finally deuunciatury. They were frozen
out politically while the other side got
everything Bu the section in which
Rowan county, is situated lives an editor
Thomas h. 'Green, OF the MayBWile
Eagle. He is IN brave man. whose IN
tegriiy, culture and ability should have
entitled him to high recognition lie
failed to receive it, THIS editor was "a
strong Uni0nlst. and lives in Mason
county. Close by is Rowan county,
where young man named Hnr-
gs resided. Alter the war, into
which he had gone a. "a boy, choosing the
gray for his umiform, Thomas +. Hargis
studied law. Ale rose RAPIDLY IN politics,
and became The possessOr of several local
offices, the State Senatorship among
Others. Al bast when vacancy occurred
in the Court Of Appeals by reason Of the
assassination Of Justice John NJ. Elliott,
1.-THE idol Of Eastern Kentucky" at the
hands ot Tom Buiord, Ilargis became the
Democratic candidate to succeed the dead
Jpdge. The Court OF Appeals is Ken
: 1uehg's highest judicial tribunal. Its
members are elected from four separate
districts, and not from the State at large.
In the canvass to elect Judge ElliOtt's
successor contest of extraordinary bit
terness was waged, with furious person
atty. Mr.. Green assailed the character
ofAir. Hargis, who it had been previously
that he had not served as an attorney
for the length of time required by the
State constitution to be eligible TO a posi-
ton on the bench of the highest court. Ii
had been declared in previous political
cisntest OF Judge Hargis that the records
OF the Rowan County Court would prove
this, but they had been mutilated at hls
suggestion or with his knowledge. Here
tQhre all OF this had been mere local
Iaatter, but now it spread throughout the
state instead OF being confined 10 the dis
trlct. The EDITORS attacks were ferOciOus,
but Notwithstanding hIs efforts and all
other opposition, Hargis was elected.
Green now went further than ever, but
hargis refused 10 sue for libel. At last
GTsen's denunciati0n evoked reply
nom Hargis in which the epithet liar was
used. This gave Green the chance he de- /
slred-that of forcing the matter into |
the courts. He brought suit against
Hargis, and the case came up in due |
time at Louisville, where, after the most re- |
markable trial in the history of the State, |
lasting continuously for four months, the |
jury declared that Hargis was not guilty, |
thereby deciding that he was eligible TO |
the office ne had sought, and innot having |
been concerned in the mutilation of the |
records. Every distinguished lawyer Of |
Kentucky was engaged pro or con in this /
trial, and the jury consisted of ~ Louis |
Vile men OF unquestiOnable integrity.
Green had been given every fair OppOrtIl- |
nifty 70 prove bis charges and had failed /
Pending all OF this the entire eastern sec
zion OF Kentucky became divided INTO iac. |
tOns-lt was Green OF IL WAS Hargis, and !
the feeling thus aroused is only now dying |
out, largis having removed 10 Louisville, !
where his ability and excellent social ma
ture are commanding a good law practice |
Among those persons accused of mutt !
lating the Rowan county records was
John Martin, young man addicted to
drink on account OF business failure. lie
was County Clerk, but failed Of re.elec.
ton because he was suspected of having
initiated the records in the manner already
Indicated. This was about four years
previous TO the trial at Louisville and al
a period when much bad blood had been
aroused over the accusations against
Martin in connection with the record
mutation and a charge OF horse stealing,
the latter ohense occurring in Mason
county. Martin fed 20 Carter county, adj.
Joining Rowan. With his young wife ne
lived in the house of sold man George
Underwood" next TO whom resided rs
quire Elijah HobroOk. The last named
man awOke one morning 10 find his two
faVorite horses stolen. Now, Of all Dor.
der ofenses nothing 50 quickly enrages
as equine theft.
''JOhn Martin and your boy Jesse did
it, cried Old HOlbrOOk.
''Y0u lie,o said old Underwood.
"rhat settles it," said the neighhors
but oh, no; they were wrong; that be-
gan it.
Notice 70 leave was served on the I'm
derwOOds, but the delicate condition OF
young Mrs. Martin was given as an ex-
cuse for not going. War was now on,
and this began strife that has not yet
ceased save at intervals. | believe some
thirty were "pioked of" in the Under.
wood-HOlbrook feud. 10 lasted over two
years, aud eliminated in the most inhu.
man aud treacherous affair OF all sold
Underwo0d's gang" had lived in a log
house, ''iort like,n for two years in a state
OF siege almost constantly. Now an tout
slider" would be picked on, aud then ana
insidcr would bite the dust. / mean By
insider an Underwood, and by outsider a
Hoihrook. One night q shot or two hit
Jesse Underwood. He died. Thus was