Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-14
MONDAY.
SEPTEMBER II, 1885
LIFE In KENTUCKY.
Z Fac Notorious Vendetta 81 bloody
Green CoInty--'Ehc Feud OF the
EdNRrdses and Bowels.

N.S@hhy
EdNVRrdses and Bowels.
GREENsBCRG, Ky. Sept 5.-'rhis coun-
~, Green, has long been noted for the
deeds done in its borders 1t il one of the
Oldest counties in the state, having been
formed before the beginning oi the pre-
sent century. Ii one had The genius for
narrative possessed by the Wizard of
the North" the Green County vendetta,
i'm which the Edwards and Dowcll and
the Wallace and Lise factions are and
were participants, would afford material
out OF which as interesting story as the
Legend OF MontroSe" might be written.
George \. Edwards is grandson OF
John Edwards, who resided in the eX-
treme southern border OF the county. He
the grandfather-was Il very Ignorant
man, but full OF energy and unceaslng in
dustry. He was IN extensive farmer and
tobacco ireighter. Every year he navi-
gated one or more fat-boats, freighted
with that staple, to New Orleans, footing
it back with the proceeds upon his person.
There are vast fields of WORKOUT territory
III IIlG NIClIltN vi lllS llOlliC, uDOll
he and his negroes cultivated immense
crops of tobacco. One day he cut his
throat from ear to ear, and his admins
traitor took possession of several bushels
of gold and silver coin which he had ac-
cumulated. His grandson is about thirty
five years of age, tall and slender, with a
sinewy frame and a countenance that
would be called handsome but for the
sinister glitter in the steel gray eyes. He
is man of dauntless courage, who would
dare look on that
Which might appall the devil.
His courage is constitutional, and his
judgment in danger and in action is as
calm as when in safe repose.
Dode Dowell and his brother Tom are
sons of the late Thomas Dowell of Met
calfe county. The father was reckless,
whisky-drinking stock-trading, horse
racing, cock-fghting, card-playing dare
devil, who had had a hundred fights and
was never vanquished in one. He had
sold mules in New Orleans, dealt in dry
goods in Philadelphia and specialized in
lands in the far West He was a born
trader and snapper. At a glance he
could tell the weight of COW, hog,
a Du1h vi OODdSCOJ VI Dlll vi NIlCdl.
Like many spectators he had contempt
for money, and was rich one day and poor
the next. His sons inherited his COM
batiyeness, and are first-class players in
Il free fight. Allied with the Dowells are
the Mike Rodgers, two of the Owenses,
two of the Pendletons, and their we'll
Wishers are numbered 10y scores. The
most potent supporter OF Edwards is his
l2-year-oId motherless boy, who carries
shot gun, and has buckled around his
waist an ordinary navy pistol, which, SO
short is his stature, comes down to his
knees.
Before George Edwards was twenty
years of age he became involved in
difficulty with Porterfield Yates, himself
a mighty man of valor, and married to
cousin OF Edwards. Yates was giant
in size and strength, and would have
torn Edwards limb from limb if that
worthy had not placed him hors de com
bat with three bullets in his breast Yates
recovered from his wounds after being
confined TO his bed for months.
Edwards was participant in numer-
Gus combats.several years afterward, and
finally killed Alexander Martin, very
desperate man. He was indicted in the
Green Circuit Court, and by change OF
venue the prosecution was transferred TO
Adair County He was defended by old
Frank Wolford who conducted it with
great skill. There were several mistrials,
the major portion of two different juries
being for conviction, but finally the elo-
quence of the cold Warhorse" prevailed
and Edwards went forth free man. Be
fore his acquittal he had an alteration
with Dode Dowell, which resulted in the
latter plunging a knife into the throat OF
Edwards and partly seVering the wind
pipe. 1t was most serious wound, and
came near closing the career OF Edwards
The difficulty occurred in 1879, and since
that time there has been constant war be-
tween the parties, with perhaps a score of
encounters in which firearms were used.
About two years ago Edwards had some
property stolen. He swore out a search
warrant against the Owenses, who were
friends of the Dowells. The accused
fortified themselves after first mastering
their whole force, and Edwards with the
constable and one or two others made an
attack at night. The constable and one
of his aids were killedaoutright, and it is
said one of the Owens met like fate.
He has never been seen since in that
vicinity, though his friends say he is in
Indiana, but it is generally thought his
body was secretly buried somewhere in
the woods.
Some time after the killing of the
officer, Edwards was quietly at home,
and one afternoon, hearing the rattle of a
cow-bell in his cornfield, he startei TO
drive ont what he thought was cattle, and
repair his fences. His son accompanied
him and suggested that they had better
take arms along, which they did. The
corn was in roasting ear, and the stalks
very tall They had not gone far until
they were convinced that the bell was
not attached to COW. They proceeded
cautiously, and in few moments saw
Mike Rogers and several others lying by
the side of the trunk of fallen tree in
the edge of the field shaking the bell
Edwards is capital shot, and at
once opened fire. He or the boy
shattered Rodgers jaw at the first
discharge, and after the exchange of forty
or fifty shots, the Dowells rctreated.
Shortly afterward, Edward purchased a
Winchester rifle and pair OF pistols, at
4 cost OF 500. He also bought Il suit OF
green clothing, in order to render 1T diff
cult to see him travelling through the
woods. The combatants perambulated
The country every day seeking each other.
Edwards sent them word that he and his
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