Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-03-03
AN ILLINOIS VENDETTA.
\ Family Quarrel Starts two Family
Graveyards-

The recent arrest of Tom Russell in
Carbondale, Jackson county, Ills, has
revived interest in the most bloody VEN
detta ever fought in that country, which
resulted in the almost complete exter-
mination of four powerful families.
Russell is held on two Indictments for
murder in tie first degree, which have
been pending ten years.
Among the prominent families OF
farmers Lir;ilg In the western portion OF
Williamson county, Illinois, i'll 1877,
were the RusSellS, Bulliners, Hender-
sons, Cranes and Sisneys, There were
several grown sons and daughters IN
each family, and one of the Bulllnef
boys kept company with one of the
Misses Russell. The latter was betrayed
in the earlier part of 1878, and the Bull
liners and RuSsells ceased to be friends.
Election-day, in 1873, they had pitched
battle at a small pOlling-place called
Craneville, in which two Bulllners and
one Russell were wounded. Then the
friends of the cOmbatants espOused their
cause until a half-dozen families were
involved on each side. Dec. Il, 1873,
"Old man" George Bulliner was shos
from ambush and killed just inside
the Jackson county line while on his
way to Carbondale, He died cursing
his unseen foes, and calling on his boys
to revenge his death. March 2S, 1874,
while David Bulliner, one of the boys,
was returning from church with a
woman named Mrs. Stansil in buggy,
he WAS shot from a hedge and killed,
and his companion dangerously woun-
.dci.
The families were opposed in this
wise: the Russells, Sisneys, and Hender-
sons against the Bulliners, Hinchcliffes,
and Rudds. The score at this point
stood two to nothing in favor Of the Rus
sells. The night of the 18th of May,
while Joseph Henderson was standing
or his own doorstep, he was shot and
killed and a man named Jacob DitmOre
wounded. Two days later DitmOre was
ambushed and killed with a load Of
buckshot, thus tielng the score. Oct.
9th DIR. Vincent Hinchcliffe. while on
his way to CarbOndale on horseback,
was shot from behind and killed. One
month later Levidus Rudd received L
load of buckshOt while plOwing, but re-
covered. In January, 1874, e.. W. Sis
ney was shot, but recovered. Aug. 9th
he was shot with a rifle, the ball passing
through his body, but he again Tecoy-
cred. Dec. y, 1874, just one year after
the death of 'old man" Bulliner, Sisney
was at home surrounded by his eight
children and a neighbOr named James
IIindman, when ''crashn went the glass
in the window and Sisney fell mortally
wounded and Hindman dangerously.
Two weeks later John Russell was killed
on the streets of Marion, and the new
year of 1885 opened with following bal
lance-book of death:
Bulliners-GeOrge Bulliner, Dave Bull
liner, Vincent Hinchcliffe; wounded
Ledwas Rudd, John Bulliner, Mr.. STAN
sill.
Sisneys-James Henderson, Jacob
Ditmore, G.. W. Sidney, John Russell;
wounded-George Hindman, F, Hen
derson.
The Bulliners began the year with
one ahead, and the sheriff appealed TO
tiovenor Beveridge for aid to stop the
vendetta. Warrants were sworn out
against number of the parties impli-
Gated.
John Bulliner was arrested and sent
up. for life, but was lately pardOned.
The two HendeTsons, Cook, COyle, and
one Crane were sent up to Joliet for long
terms. One of the Cranes was hanged
at Murphysboro, Ill, for killing G. W.
Sisney. Tom Russell escaped and re-
turned a short time ago and WAS ar
rested and released on bond, nearly all
the witnesses against him having met
violent deaths since. The four families
were nearly decimated and two grave
yards were started in the vicinity during
73 and IA.