The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-07
A SOLDIER AND A JURIST.
JUDGE LEWIS TELLS OF HIS CAM
PAt0N IN HARLAN COUNTY.

The Trouble Begun Oct. 10 When Fin.
ley Smith Shot at John Howard
Wilson Harvard Immediately Gath
cred His Gang to Avenze the Wrong
Done His Brother-How the Judge
Conquered the Outlaws.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Nov. 6.-The follow
ing has been received here:
HARLAN CoURr House., KY, Nov. 4. 1889
To the Editor Of the C0Urier-Journai:
During the last three weeks there has been a
great deal OF trouble in Harlan county, an ao-
count OF which has been given in the columns
or dlnerent newspapers all over the country
aud want TO say here that the reports sent out
have been greatly exaggerated. As think the
war In this county is now over for the present
at least, deem 1t an act of justice to myself as
the citizens OF my county, to state few facts
70 the public in regard to the recent trouble
here.
BEGINNING OF THE ROW.
On the evening of Oct. 10 it is claimed that
Finley Smith shot at John Howard with the in
tention of killing him. l do not know whether
u Is true or not, as was at home, six miles
from the town, when this is said Co have oc-
CURED. But be It as il may, instead of
John Howard, who is brother of the notorious
Wilson Howard, waiting for the authorities to
deal with Smith according to law, he sent word
u Wilson, his brother, who was secreted
Twelve milves from the town, to come and help
MIN wreak revenge on the citizens OF Mount
Pleasant Tor the wrong he claimed Smith had
done him.
GATHERING HIS GANG
Consequently Wilson Howard was seen the
next day only three miles below town, with a
posse or seven men; and in the evening of the
same day another gang of twenty-five men were
seen passing town on their way to join Wilson
Howard and his crowd at the mouth OF
Poor Fork, only one mile from the town,
and Benz. Spurlock, who is the acknowledged
leader of the Wilson Howard allies, sent word to
them by Mrs; Louisa Bailey, wife Of County
Attorney Bailey, for Bailey's and T. s. Wards
families, who we're near relatives to the Spur
lock crowd, to get out of town, for they in-
tended to take possession OF the court house
| and fight it out
sPURLocK JOINED THEN.
Spurlock then Joined Wilson and his crowd at
the house of f. M Howard. one mile from the
town. and stayed there Sunday night, all day
Monday and Monday night. led posse of
thirty-four men, whom l had summoned to
capture Wilson Howard, IL possible on Tues
day morning l made an attack upon
a gang Of desperadoes, who were
fortified in a portion of E. NJ. Howard's 3
dwelling house, and fight ensued, in which
| one of the Howard mon was killed and four
wounded, and one disinterested man slightly
wounded. The Howard party then fed in utter
confusion, leaving their dead and wounded for
me to care for, which did to the best Of my
ability.
REITERATED TO MARTINS FORK.
The Howard party then retired TO Martins
Fork, where followed in q few days. On this
raid that 1 made up Martins Fork, when
came to the mouth of Mill creek l divided my
| forces, sending one crowd up the main river, and
l taking the other and going up Mill creek
| in search of the Howard party which |
| suspected was secreted at or near W. Il. Halls
house. The crowd that 1 sent up the river
found William Glenn, Sr., and l.. d. Hall, who
| are sympathizers and abettors of the Howard
gang. Glenn Hall started to run, when an Off
| Ger of my crowd commanded them to halt.
HALL KILLED.
They wouldinot stop, and my men fired on
| them, killing Hall and capturing Glenn. Glenn
| and Hall we're both old experienced schemers,
| and had figured very consplcuously In the kill
| ing of John Cawood, who was goodlcitizen and
wealthy farmer of this county.
AS have thirty-scven warrants in the hands
| of a constable against Spurlock and his men for
| the murder Of John Cawood, and he has asked
for peace; l will say If he will surrender to the
| authorities will protect him and his men. and
| see that they are tried by disnterested court.
| AS it is reported that Wilson Howard and Will
| lam Jennings, his associates In crime. have left
| the country and probably gone TO parts un-
| known. hope peace is restored and business
will revive. WILSON LEWIS,
Judge of Harlan County.