The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-28
KENTUCKY VEN Delta,
The Bloody Feud Between the Sowders
and Turner Families.

The Bloody Feud Between the sowders
and Turner Families.
PINEv1LLE, KY, MsrchE25 old feud
which has for years existed between the
Sowders and Turner families in this (Bell
county, and which has involved numerous
relatives and connections ON both sides in
Harley county, KY, and Claiborne county,
Tenn, just across the line, has broken out
afresh' and bloodshed and death are the
results. General Sowders, the leader of
one side, and friend named Burch were
arrested Thursday night by party headed
by Turner and lodged in jail. The next
day the Sowders we're taken to Stanford,
KY, for safe keeping. This arrest stirred
up the old feud feeling, and some of the
friends of Sowders rushed to Jack Turner
and hustled him into Tazewell jail. Two
more of the Turner faction were captured
on Friday, and posse was out at last 40
counts on another raid for the Turner's. A
courier who arrived here last night reports
that fight occurred near Salt Trace
Saturday evening, and four men were
killed and half g. dozen wounded
Reinforcements have gone out. One
thousand armed men are now in the
mountains and it is safe to say men will
be killed and the world will never hear of
it. A fort is being erected on Sinking
creek by the Turner'S, and rumors of the
killings are too numerous to mention.
The sheriffs of the three counties are ar
ranging to make a combined campaign
against the outlaws, who swear they will
never be taken. Governor Taylor will be
asked for regiment of militia.
The Sowders-T Turner feud began many
years ago and is said to have resulted in
the killing of over forty people. General
Sowders himself is reputed to have killed
eight men, including three of the Turner's
"a cousin and uncle and brother of his
own wife, who was Turner; and Andy
johnson, one of the Sowders faction, has
snuffed out the lives of five.
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
LOUISVILLE, March PA special f:om
Pineville, KY, to the Evening Times says
the sequel to the arrest of General Sow
ders by JEFF King, Avis Turner and 9TH
ers and the subsequent arrest and convey
ence of Harvey Laurner and John Cadle
to Tazewell, Tenn, jail, and the arrest of
John Cook Turner by Sowders' friends on
Friday and Saturday, was enacted this
morning two miles from town on the Cum
berlsud Gap road. Avis Turner and JEFF
King were gong toward the Gap and Jas.
Burch was coming to town. Fighting was
initiated by Avis Turner firing at Buroh,
the bullet striking Buroh's gun. Burch re-
turned the fire promptly, killing Avis
Turner, and then King fred on Burch,
killing him, and beat hasty retreat up
Clear creek. The double tragedy was wit
messed by two men at work in field
near by.
Following the umerous arrests Of last
week just after the public mind was be-
coming quiet, considerable excitement
has been aroused, but in view of the loose
methods of the criminal courts during the
past year or two the Winchester is believed
to bs doing good work. Avis Turner
was the son Of Jack Turner and since his
release on bond had been a leader. His
death shuts off money from those who
are before the court.