The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-13
AN ILLINOIS VENDETTA.
A FAMILY QUARREL STARTS TWO
FAMILY GRAvEYARDS.

Moody Doings in Williamson County
Seven Men Assassinated and Five
Wounded-Only One Hanging the Re
suit Of 1t ALA sanguinary Story.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 13-The recent arrest Of
Tom Russell in Carbondale, jackson county,
Ills, has revived interest in the most bloody
vendetta ever fought in this country, which
resulted in the almost complete extermina-
ton of four powerful families. Russell is
held on two indictments for murder in the
first degree, which have been pending ten
years.
Among the prominent families of farmers
living IN the western portion of Williamson
county, Illinois, in 1872, were the Russells,
Builiners, Hendersons, Cranes and Sisneys
There were several grown sons and daughters
in each family, and one OF the Bulliner boys
Kept company with one of the Misses Russell
The latter was betrayed in the early part of
1873, and the Bulliners and Russells ceased
to be friends. Election day, in 1878, they
had pitched battle at a small polling place
called Craneville, in which two Bulliners
and one Russell were wounded Then the
friends of the combatants espoused their
cause until a half-dozen families were in
volved on each side Dec Il, 1873, "oli
man" George Bulliner was shot from am
bush and killed just inside the Jackson
county line while on his way to Carbonate
He died cursing his unseen foes, and calling
on his boys to revenge his death March 2S,
1874, while David Buliner, one of the boys,
was returning from church with a woman
named Mrs. Stansill in buggy, he was shot
from hedge and killed, and his companion
dangerously wounded
The families We're opposed in this wise:
the Russelis, Sisneys, and Henders ms
against the BulllnerS, Hinchcliffes, and
Rudds. The score at this poist stood two
to nothing in favor of the Gussells. The
night of the 18th of May, while Jos ph Hen
derson was standing on his own doorstep, he
was shot and killed and a man named ia
cob Ditmore wounded. Two days later Dit
more was ambushed and killed with load
of buckshot, thus tieing the sore. Oct. 81
DR. Vincent Hinchchffe, while on his way
to Carbondale on horseback was shot from
behind and killed One "onth later Levidus
Rudd received load of buckshct while
blowing, but recovered. In January, 1874,
q, W. Sisney was shot, but recovered.
Aug he was shot with a rifle, the
hall passing through his Eoiy, but
he again recovered Dec Il, 1874, Just one
year after The death of old man Bulliner
Sisney was at home surrounded by his eight
children and nsighbor named James Hind
man, when crash" went the glass in tbs
window and Sisney fell mortally wounded
and Thurman dangerously. Two week,
later john Russell was killed on the street:
of Marion, and the now year of 1885 opened
with following ballance-book of death:
Bulliners-George Bullin r. Dave BULL
ner, Vincent HinchcliiTe: wounded Ledwa.
Rudd, John Bulliner, Mr. StansilL
Sisneys-James Henderson, Jacab bet
more, &. W, Sisnsy, John Russell
wounded-George Herdman, f. Henderson
The Bulliners began the year with one
| ahead, and the sheriff appealed to Governor
| Beveridge for aid to stop the vendetta
| Warrants were sworn out against numbeI
| of the parties implicated
John Bulliner was arrested and sent u,
| for hfe, but was lately pardoneI The tn,
| Hendersons, Cook, Coyle, and one Cram
were sent up to Joliet toT long terms. On
| of the Cranes was hangel at Mulphysboro
| ILL.,, for killing G. W. Sisney. Tom Russe.
| escaped and returned short tins ago an,
| was arrested and released on bond nearl,
all the witnesses against him having me
| violent deaths since. The four families wer
| nearly decimated and two graseyar.Is wer
| started in the vicinity during 70 and -