The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-11-28
FIVE ON ONE GTDBER.
Three Brothers and Two Cousins Waiting
q Governors Clemency.


New York World says:
Unless Governor Taylor interferes with
the supreme courts decision, three
brothers and their two cousins--the FIVE
Barnard boys-will swing from the same
scafold here on December %, for the
murder Of Henley Sutton. Public senti-
ment is divided as to the degree Of guilt
and punishment. Many think the gov
ernor will mercifully interfere and save
the necks Of some Of the boys. Others
are Of the opinion that he will let the law
take its course. The five doomed men are
now locked up in the Jail at Knoxville,
where they have been since last May.
There are nine murderers in the Knox
vile jail. All are from the extreme
northwestern portion Of the state, where
the people are very poor. All those people
20 armed with Winchester rifles. Vol
umes could be written about their bloody
vendettas, and there are few families who
do not have trouble Of many years
standing. It was in just such region
and surrounded by such circumstances
that the Barnards lived. The scene Of
their crime was near their home in Han
cock county, ten miles from this town, II
such II can be called. In the toughest
part Of the country is small still-house,
the proprietor Of which was Henley SUIT
ton. In all the country hereabouts no
one was regarded us more dangerous than
"Hen" Sutton, as he was generally called.
lie was magnificent specimen Of physi-
cal manhood, but his deeds Of bloodshed
were many, and among the crimes that
cried for vengeance was the murder Of his
father. He was never arrested for that
unnatural crime. Twelve years ago he
was made deputy United States mar
shal, although his reputation was that Of
a man who knew no fear. Among des-
perate men he was accredited as the most
desperate.
"But part your lips and I'll send q
bullet through your heart" was favorite
expression when some trivial act aroused
his ire. Shortly after Cleveland's election
he was removed from the marshalship,
and then he opened up little still. The
Barnards lived mile distant from his
house. There are two families by that
name. In one there are three sons, "Big
John," Anderson and Elias; in the other
there are two, Little John" and Clint.
'fBig John" is now 20 years Of age, and
Is regarded as the virtual head Of the
Barnard faction. Tall and well proper
toned, he Is giant. Among the fair sex
he was exceedingly popular, and his
amorous conquests were many and
notable. In one Of his predatory excur-
sions he poached on the premises pre-
empted by "Hen" Sutton. He found
more favor in the eyes Of o certain noun
tain maid than Sutton had. Sutton swore
vengeance against his more successful
rival, and this collision in their love
affairs only intensified the bad feeling
that had long existed.
The killing Of Sutton occurred on jan
uary IL. He had quarreled with "Big
John," who had attempted to make
peace. Sutton had sent to "Bis Johns.
this note: s
81 consider l have lived over half my
no man above ground, and the gun will
have to settle this thing"
To one man Sutton offered $50 and 10
another S25 II they would entice "Big
John" away from his crowd so that Sut-
ton could kill him. "Big John" called a
council Of the Barnards, and II was de-
cided to 60 together as much as possible
and to be prepared for trouble. On the
afternoon Of January IL Sutton started for
Sneedsville, accompanied by John Mills,
a government gauger. Both were horse
back and armed with Winchesters and
revolvers. The road led through dark
forest. They had turned an abrupt curve
In the roadway, where there was a clear
ing, when Sutton was shot dead, and fell
to the ground. Even at the moment Of
death he had cooked his rife, and the
weapon lay by his side with hammer up
raised. Looking ahead, his companion
saw "Big John" standing behind log,
ready to fire again. Then his two brothers
and two cousins sprang into sight, and
poured fusilade into the PROSTATE body
Of Sutton. Mills shouted to them not to
shoot ct him. They had no feeling against
the gauger, and the rife balls, sent with
unerring aim, all entered the corpse Of
the distiller.
The Barnards gave themselves up. AT
the trial the killing was admitted by "Big
John" who claimed justification. The
death sentence was passed on the five,
and an appeal was taken to the supreme
court, where all the justices, save Chief
Justice Deaderick, rendering an opinion
affirming the decision Of the Hancock
county court. Judge Deaderick went 50
far as TO formally declare from the bench
that the men ought never to have been
convicted on the evidence.
81 killed Hen Sutton" said "I.lg
John" to-day, 'and don't deny Il. He
had threatened to kill me, and he or had
TO go. Ny brothers had nothing to 20
with Il, and don't think Il is right that
they should suffer for what ! did.
II Is claimed that the meeting with
Sutton was accidental, and that Sutton
had brought his rifle 10 bis shoulder 10
shoot "Big john" when the latter trof
the drop on him" and killed him.
Within the next few days in energetic
effort will be made to induce Governor
Taylor to interfere In behalf oi the Bar
naTd boys.