The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-27
ROBBERSAND MURDERERS
A BAND 'bF WEST vIRarNIA.KEN:
lucky BANDITS BROKEN UP.
The Border Counties Between the Two
States Released From the Domino
ton OF the Merciless Outlaw Organ
ization.

HUNTINGTON, w. Va, March 20.-There
Is ut least some indications that the people
of the counties Of West Virginia and Ken.
lucky, lying along the Big Sandy river,
will be released from the domination Of the
band Of robbers, murdereB and outlaws
which have ranged up and down the coun.
try over an area OF more than 100 square
miles during the past eighteen months,
robbing stores, postoflices and dwellings,
and not hesitating 10 commit murder
when that crime was necessary to secure
the safety Of themselves or grasp the plum
der they coveted. In Cabel, Wayne and
Logan counties, in this State, these out
RACES have been frequent, but Boyd coun-
~, KY, and the adjacent country has also
suffered severely, and even the Ohio side
Of the river has been subjected to the I'm.
lawful excursions.
The gang was recruited from all three
States, and the numbers had been placed
at from ten 10 thirty-fve by those more
or less familiar with them and their opera
tons. So successful were the outlaws in
cyading arrest that little was known Of
their strength or personnel. lately
there has been an exceptional num-
Der OF robberies, and officers were
started after the gang, determined
not 10 stop pursuit until they had
been put under arrest. The band was
known 10 be in Wayne county and there,
after persistent effort, two OF the ring
leaders, brothers, named Charles and Ste
phen Kelly, were captured. The two men
la. t..l l..
the hopes Of lettering their prospects nj
their trial, they made confession. which.
although startling in lis nature, only con.
firms what has been generally known.
The kellys said they were members OF n
band OF twelve men recruited In Ohio,
Kentucky and West Virginia, who had in.
dulged In robberies and murder IA n trade,
but their motto was "Nevcr kill unless
compelled 10 do 80 10 gain your end" In
the confession, the kellys named as n
member OF their band an old man named
Merida Workman, who has served his
time. They further said that they shot and
Killed Edward Bush near Cercdo, last
year, and that they had robbed T.. Lyman
4 Bro, at Dunkirk; the store OF j. b.
Newman 4 Co., ut the mouth Of Berry
Fork, and several private residences and
rt'ifr Nv NuNHhuolNf, ucfoH tnt flNef
from this place. The gang robbed, upon
information furnished them by woman
named Melissa Badtram, the house Of NJ.
H. Bayard, near Guyandoitc. This
woman was used M a dccoy 10 find out II
Bayard had money In his house. The
woman IL under arrest here. Tie prison.
cr stated that on the night Gen. Walker
WIS wounded near Huntington they were
ON their way home and shot nj some one
supposed 10 be Walker. They intended 10
Kill him. They recently robbed n country
store In Ohio, not far from the river, and
~. the neighborhood Of Huntington, be-.
sides participating In various other robbcr.
les. Last Thursday night they intended
% rob VI. Lander 4 Co.'s stonr, at Bound
bottom. and Monday night they intended
pbbing Cox's store, at Cox's landing,
Sabel county, after which they would
have transferred operations TO Kentucky.
The names Of the gang are known, and
more arrests will he made In few davs.