The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-08-07

county Of not knowing what fear Is.
After Miles had killed Kinney, he being
triAe quicker with his gun, things settled
down a little But there had been a sharp
line drawn between the Bald Knobbers and
the Anti-Bald 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 H.
Dennis, two detectives about - years Of age.
came into fancy county from Eureka
Springs, Ark, and concocted a scheme to en-
trap Arbert Combs and Austin Stockstil, two
young men who were members Of two power
fnl 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
StockstiIl and Combs settlement, at the mouth
Of Bear creek, and hired out as farm hand.
He ingratiated himself into the graces Of
Young Combs ard 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 to the store
and arranged to have Sheriff Branson and
Funk near by on the night of the attempt
The night came around, and Dennis I'M
locked the door with the keys Cummings had
given him, and sent Combs and Stockstill in
side to gather the plumber, while he stayed
outside, as be 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 in the store. At the inquest
held over the body Of Dennis Funk made
yiobent speech, and justified the course pur-
sued by his dead friend in entrapping Combs
and Stockstill.
The entire Combs and Stockstill 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
Tery strong, for the people did not indorse
their patent burglar trap.
Thus we have two parties. On one side
Sheriff Branson, one of the original Bald
Knobbers, Detective Funk and their sympa-
thizers: on the other side the Miles boys, the
Combs and Stockstill families and their SYM
pathizers 1t was natural, therefore, that on
the Fourth of July, the day of the celebra-
brought together, some trouble should ensue,
and it is here graphically related by cor
respondent of The Globe-Democrat.
A LIVELY FOURTH
Son the Fourth of july the Miles boys went
10 Kerbyville. Immediately in the neighbor-
hood Of Capt. Kinneys old home. Sheriff
Branson, accompanied by Detective Funk,
zent to the celebration at Kerbyville also.
Nothing happened as an indication of the
coming tragedy until about o'clock in the
afternoon, when some one came and told the
sheriff and Funk that the Miles boys were dis
playing pistols at the spring. The sheriff and
the detective started to the spring to see what
the Mileses were doing. Funk was some dis
lance ahead of Branson, and accosted Bill
Miles first. asking him his name and demand
ing his arms. 1t is claimed by the friends Of
Branson that no violence was threatened, and
that the intention Of the officer was merely
to disarm the Miseses in discharge Of his duty.