Wichita eagle., 1889-08-11

county of not knowing what fear IS.
After Miles had killed Kinney, he being
trifie quicker with his gun, things settled
down a little. But there had been a sharp
line drawn between the Bald knobbers and
the Anti-Dald Knobbers, and at present the
relations are somewhat strained
THE PRESENT DIFFICULTY.
The origin of the present difficulty began
some time ago. Edward Funk and James II.
Dennis, two detectives about % years OF age,
came into Taney county from Eureka
Springs, Ark, and concocted scheme to en-
trap Arbert Combs and Austin Stockstill, two
Young men who were members OF two power
full and numerous families in fancy county,
by inducing them to rob the store OF one
Cummings They did it in this wise. Funk
STAYED in Forsyth and Dennis went to the
Stockstin and Combs settlement, at the mouth
of Bear creek, s:nd hired out as farm hand.
He ingratiated himself into the graces of
Young Combs and Stockstill, represented him
self TO be tough character, and finally pro
posed that the trio rob Cummings store. The
two victims fell into his trap. Then he told
Cummings aboUt it, got his keys 10 the store
and arranged TO have Sheriff Branson and
Funk near by on the night of the attempt.
The night came around, and Dennis un-
locked the door with the keys Cummings had
given him, and sent Combs and Stockstill in
side to gather the plunder whTfe he stayed
outside as he said, to keep watch. When the
robbers had entered the store Dennis gave
the SIGNAL. and they were rushed on by the
two detectives and the sheriff. Combs ran
out. and on his way shot Dennis dead The
next day he was arrested for murder. Stock
still was caught il the store. At the inquest
held over the body of Dennis, Funk made
violent speech. and justified the course pur-
sued by his dead friend in entrapping Combs
and Stockstill
The entire Combs and StockSti1 families,
who had been jealous Bald knobbers and
supported Branson for sheriff, now turned
around and denounced him for favoring the
methods of Dennis and Funk, and thus there
resulted a split in the Bald knobber ele-
ment The feeling against Funk became
very strong, for the people did not lndorse
their patent burglar trap.
Thus we have two parties. On one side
Sheriff Branson. one OF the original Bald
knobbers, Detectve Funk and their sympa-
thizers; on the other side the Miles boys. the
Combs ard StockstiIl families and their SYM
pathizers 1t was natural, therefore, that on
the Fourth of July, the day OF she celeora-
ton at Kerbyyille, when both parties were
brought together, some trouble should ensue,
and it is here graphically related BY cor
respondent Of The Glob-eDeuocrat-
A hvcLY FOURTH
s'Or the Fourth Of LUX the Miles BOYS went
70 KeroyvllIe, immediately In the neAghoor-
aood of Capt Kinneys old home oherln
Branson, accompanied BY Detective funk'
went 10 the celebration at Kerbyv1ne also
Nothing happened as 50 indication OF ths
>oming tragedy until -abdalt O'Clock IL me
afternoon. when some one came and totd t4ss
sheriff and Funk that tle Miles boys were dls-
playing pistols "A: tue spring. The sherin and
the detective started to the spring 70 see what
the Mileses were doing. Funk wss some DIS
tance ahead Of Branson, and aecosiea bil
Miles first. asking him his name sra demand
ing his arms Ii is clained by the IFleIaas o.
Branson that no violence was Threatened, a11a
taai the ialeptaoR 81 tae. ocscsg Mss tasxa0