The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-10-30
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Desperate State of Affairs at Harlan
Kentucky.


LoUmvILLE. Ky. October 2SNews has
! just been received here Of an engagement be-
tween the Howard and Turner factions near
Harlan coast House. The fight took place
yesterday. and James Dean, of Howard's
party, was killed and five others wounded,
among whom are Wilson Howard and one
Of his principal supporters named Jennings.
It is said that Howard's injuri. may prove
fatal Three of the Turner party were also
wounded
DETAILS OF THE BATTLE.
The Turner's have been in possession Of
| the town for more than a'week. Their lead
er is John Turner. Just seventeen years Of
age. Howards forces have been in camp one
mile from town. There are about forty men
in each crowd all equipped with Winches-
tiers and revolycrs. Turner led bis followers
IN an attack on the Howard camp. The at
lacking party got in the first work, but were
finally driven back to town.
A report reached Pineville at eleven o clock
this morning that the Howard forces in
Harlan, enraged by the battle OF yesterday,
and the probable fatal wounding of their
leader, left camp last night and started for
Harlan Court House intending to kill ev-
erybody that belonged to the opposition and
burn the town. Clerk HUFF, OF the Harlan
County Court, at Pineville, is afraid to 60
home, though he has no connection whatev-
er with the trouble.
ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE.
The trouble began two months ago. when
State troops were sent up TO enforce order.
Some time since they were withdrawn, since
which the outlaws have thrown off all re-
strains and organized under the leadership
Of wills Howard, and are encamped near the
town. The Law and Order forces which
comprise the Turner crowd, under the lead
ership of County Judge Wilson Lewis, are
intrenched in the Court House. On Saturday
afternoon John Howard aged nineteen
years, brother OF Wits, visited the town
where bis father lives. Finley Smith, son
of Wash Smith, one of the wealthiest men
in Harlan county, was also in the town.
The Smiths were related by marriage to
John Cawooi, the wealthy farmer who,
with bis hired man, Hezekiah Hall, was
killed on Friday, 0stober IL, by Wills How
ards gang A nephew Of John Cawood,
named Charles Cawood, married daughter
of Wash Smith and the sister of Finley
Smith They belonged to the Law and Or
der party.
John Cawood was a brother-in-law OF
County Judge Lewis wills Howard wanted
him out of the way, and he and Hall were
killed.
The Law and Order party were greatly ex-
ercised over this. and were considering means
| by which Clwood AMI Halls slayers could
be brought to justice when the last fight oc-
CURED. Just how it was brought about no
one seemel to know, and the point is dispu-
ted as to whether Finley Smith or John
Howard fred iirst.
The SUB EQUENT PRocExrISGs.
The shooting occurred about o'clack on
Saturday afternoon. Howard communica-
ted with his brother, who vowed vengeance,
and on Sunday intelligence was received that
word had been dispatched to all the outlaws
to rendezvous within a short distance Of the
town. Thereupon Judge Lewis called the
citizens Of the village together, and after
arming themselves they took up quarters in
the Court House building. Harlan Court
House is 50 situated that a war may be wag-
ed upon men in it with the attacking party
well protected. The town has about 400 in
| habitants