Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-15
FILLLNG TWo GRAVEYARDs.


Avendetta Leads to Many Deaths, One
Hanging, ana Numerous Prison SEN
tences.-
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb. 1.-THE recent
arrest OF. Tom Russell in Carbonate,
jackson county, ILL.,, has revived interest
in the most bloody vendetta ever fought
in this country, which resulted IN the al
most complete determination & four
powerful families. Russell is held on two
indictments Tor murder ia the first de.
gree, which have been pending 10 years.
Among the prominent families and far
mers living IN the western portion of Will
hanson county, Illinois, in 1872, were the
kussells, Bulllners, Hendersons, Cranes,
and Slsneys. There were several grown
sons aud daughters in each family, and
one-Q4 the RulAner boys kept company
with one of the Misses Russell. The lat
ter was betrayed in the early part of 1873,
and the Bulliners aud Russells ceased to
be friends. Election day, in 1873, they had
pitched battle at small poll
ing place called CranevIlle, in
which two Bulliners and one Russell
we're wounded. Then the friends of
the cOmbatants espnused their cause until
a hali-dozen families were involved on
each side. Dec. II, 1878, ''old man"
George Bulliner was shot 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 bis boys to revenge his death. March
%, 1874, while David Bulliner, one Of the
boys. was returning from church with a
woman named Mrs. Stansill in a buggy,
he was shot from a hedge and killed, and
his companion dangerously wounded.
The families were opposed in this wise:
the Russells, Sisneys aud Hendersons
against the Bulliners, Hincheliffes and
Rudds. The score at this point stood two
TO nothing. in favor of the Russells. The
night of May 10, while Joseph Henderson
was standing on his own doorstep, he was
shot and killed and man named Jacob
DitmOre wounded. Two days later Dit
more was ambushed and Killed with a
load OF buckshOt, thus tying the score.
Oct. "A DR.. Vine Mt Hinchclife, while on
his way to Carbonate on horseback, was
shot from behind and killed. One month
later Levidus Rudd received a load OF buck
shot in the side while plowing. butrecOY-
cred. In January, 1873, q. w. Sisney was
shot but recovered. Aug he was shot
with a ufie, the ball passing through his
body. bat he again recovered. Dec. -.
1874. JUST one year after the death OF sold
man" Bulliner, he was at home surround
ed by his eight children, and a neiehbor
named James Hindman. when "crash"
went the glass in the window and Sisney
fell MORALLY wounded and Hindman dan
gerously. Two weeks later John Russell
was killed on the streets of Marion, and
the new year Of 1870 opened with the fol.
lowing balance book of death:
BULLINEBs. sIsNEYs.
George Bulliner. James Henderson,
Dave Bullincr, jacob DctmOre,
Vincent Hinehclinfe, q. W. sisney,
Wounded. John Russell.
Ledwas kudd, Wounded:
John Buliiuer, George Herdman.
Mr.. Stanseu, II, Henderson.
The Bulliners began the year with one
ahead and the Sheriff appealed TO Gov.
Beyeridge for aid 90 stop the vendetta.
Warrants were sworn out against Tom
Russell. Gordon Clifford, sam Henderson,
Felix Henderson, James Morris, Tim
Ceyle ana Nj ton Baxter for the killing
Of the Bull ners, and John Bulliner, Allen
Cook, Jed Crane, Jim Crane. and l.. Rudd
were wanted FOR the killing OF Slsney,
Detmore, and Henderson. John Bulliner
was arrested and sent up for life, bur was
lately pardoned. The TWO Hendersons,
Cook, Doyle and one Crane were sent up
10 Joliet for long terms. One Of the
Cranes was hanged at Murphysb0ro, ILL.,.
for killing q. W. Sisney. Tom Russell
escaped and returned a short time ago
and was arrested and released on bond.
nearly all the " Witnesses against him hay
ing met violent deaths since. The four
families were nearly decimated and two
graveyaTds were started IN the vicinity
during '13 and IA.