The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-06-24
The War Of Two Families.
STORY OF THE BLOODY LIDDELL.
JONES FEUD IN LOUISIANA.

STORY OF THE BLOODY LIDDELL.
JONES FEUD IN LOUISIANA.
A WOman's Anger Leads to q Vendetta
that Recalls the War Of the Mouta.
gues and Capulets-Escape Of Cuth.
bert Jones, Recently Spoken OF for
Consul Mt Callao.
From tho New York Sunl
NEW ORLEANS, June 13.-The an
nounccmcnt that the President had de-
cided to appoint Mr.. Cuthbcrt B. Jones'
of Louisiana, to the Callao Consulate,
the most important on the Pacific Coast
Of America, has brought out the warm
est discussion yet had over any Of these
consular appointments. No sooner was
the news telegraphed here, and before
the appointment could be made, than
formal protest was entered against it
on the ground that Mr.. Jones was under
indictmet for murder in this State and
a fugitive from justice, and one New
Orleans journal insisted that it was the
duty Of the Governor to demand his ex-
tradition and have him brought here for
trial.
The discussion that grew out Of this
disclosure has found its way into most
Of the Northern papers. There have
been quite extensive notices Of Mr..
Jones, and some references to the terri
bic tragedy in which he took part. 1t
was asserted that this family feud or
vendetta started fifty years ago, long
before he was born, and that tw Give per-
sons, including his entire family, had
lost their lives in it. There was enough
told to arouse curiosity in this matter,
yet the chief features and in. fences
that made the Liddcll-J ones feud one of
the most remarkable episodes in South
ern social history were left untold. The
story was rapidly bcing forgotten when
Mr.. Jones' proposed appointment re-
called it.
The parish Of Catahoula, just north Of
Red River, is what in Louisiana par
lance, would be termed "a piney woods"
otherwise a poor parish. The greater
portion is covered by long leaf pine for
ests, which indicate barren soil, and
the population Of this district is com
posed mainly Of poor whites. Through
Catahoula, however, runs the Black
River, und along its banks were located,
in ante-bellum days, and remain to this
day, some of the finest cotton plnnta-
tions in the South. The population of
this .alluvial district was composed.
thirty years ago, Of rich planters and
their slaves. The most prominent
among these planters were Major St.
John Liddell and Mr.. Charles Jones,
who were, indeed, two of the largest
and richest cotton producers in the State.
They were both Southern men. Liddell
hississippian, Jones Kentuckian,
but types Of two varieties Of Southern
character. Liddcll was most elegant
gentleman, q graduate of West Point
with the best family connections, splen-
didly educated, suave and hospitable in
his manner, known to possess great
courage, and yet gentle and unwilling to
engage in difficulties. He was natur-
ally proud. hewever, and jealous of his
rights and dignity. Jones, on the other
hand, was rather Of the boisterous type,
patron of the turf, aggressive and
staggering, but equally without fear.
He had married a wealthy lady Of
CINCINNATI, Miss Stewart, and settled
in louisiana, where he bought cotton
plantation aud prospcred exceedingly.
The different temperamcnts of the two
men precludcd their being very warm
friends, but they were on ncighborly
terms, as became tho two leading citi-
zens Of the parish. AS from the days Of
Eden down, this peace WAS broken on
account of woman. There was visit.
ing the family of Major Liddcll a Nat
chez lady Of the namo of Nichols, of
excellent family and connections. or
this lady Jones, at masculine gather
ing, while somewhat too convivial, spoke
slightngly and disparagingly. Liddcll,
who was present. objected to the Ian
guase used, and even told the lady's
husband oft. 1t finally reached Mrs.
Nichols ear, and aroused her indigna-
ton. She insisted upon an apology.
Her husband advised her to pay no at
tention to the idle talk of man under
the influence of liquor. She said no
more to him about the matter, but call
ing OH Major Liddell, insisted that he,
as gentleman and Mississippian,
shonld accompany her to Jones' resi-
dencc. They rode there together on
horseback, and Jones came ont to, meet
thclh at the gate. Liddoll stood short
distance of, ont of hearing, while the
other two conversed, IT was a short,
angry conversation. Jones refused an