The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-09-12

reluctantly given up by French. Hare
feelings were created on this account
which were aggravated when French star
ted an opposition store. Finally an opeT
rupture was brought about by former
clerk of French telling Eversolc that his
employer wanted him, the clerk, to shoot
Eversolc The clerk made an affidavit tC
that effect, which is still in the possession
of the Evcrsoles. A short time after this
a man named Smith also informed Ever
sole that French had offered him $500 to
kill him, to which he made n written
affidavit Still another man told Ever
sole the same thing, and the Eyersoles
claim that they have the afidayits of all
three of the men swearing to the fact that
French offered to bride each of them to
murder his business opponent. y short
time after this Silas Grayhcart, friend of
French, was shot from ambush and in
stantly killed. This was the first man to
meet his death since the fucd began, but
the Evcrsoles claim that they had nothing
to do with his taking OFF. The French
faction. however held them responsible
for it, and both factions began TO collect
and arm number of men, The next
outbreak was in September, 1887. On
that day William Gambeli, of Brcathitt
county, came to Hazard and stopped AT
French's house The Eyersoic- assert
that Gnmbcll was a worthless character,
and was wanted in Brcathitt county on a
number of charges. y man named Dcanc
was also at French's house al the same
time. The sheriff held 81 warrant against
| Dcanc. and went to Frcnch's house TO
arrcs, him.
Gambcll followed the officers to the Jail,
where he met Joe Evcrsolc. Gamhell
began cursing Eversole, which resulted in
shooting contest. Gambell was killed,
there being five bullet holes in his body.
John Evcrsole and Ed. Campbell were i'll
Il house near by when the the shooting
began, and scizing Winchester apiece
both hurried to the scene. Neither,
however, took any part in the fight, prob
ably because Gambcll was dead when they
got there. All three men were arrested
and were discharged on their examining
trial Gambell's death pat it into the
minds of the two factions to effect 4 COM
promise of their differences. Both sides
agreed to lay down their arms, the Ever
sole faction to surrender to Judge Eversolc,
and French to the county judge of Leslie
county. The Evcrsolcs assert that they
complied with the agreement, but claim
to have shortly discovered that French :
men were still armed. As matter Of
prccaution, they say, they again armed
their men and held themselves in readiness
for anything that might come u?. On
April &c, 1883, the Evcrsolc faction was
thrown into Il CONSERVATION by the assas-
sination Of Joseph Evcrsoe. who was
shot from ambush while 1iding OH the
highway about four miles from Hazard.
Nick Combs, his brothcr-in- law, who was
with him, was also killed. Tie Evcrsoles
say that both men were robbed while they
lay in the road, and that between $3.50
and $500 was taken from the person Of
Joe Evcrsolc On the death OF Joe Ever
sole. his two brothers took up the fight,
which has continued ut intervals ever
since, with VARYING success 10 either
party During the struggle nearly thirty
men have met their death ut the hands Of
one side or the other
French has been quite sick since his
arrival al Winchester, 50 much so that
he has required the services of Il physician
He was unable to talk much when seen
by reporter and gave very brief state
ment of his side Of the story. He says
he went to Hazard in 1874, and for awhile
taught school. He studied law at the
same time and soon began to practice. In
IL wear or two he was elected county att0r-
ncy, when lie began selling goods. In
1856 he was attorney Tor some non resident
landowners. Joseph Eyersoc claimed
that he owned the same land, and lawsuit
resulted in which Eversolc WAS beaten
Evcrsolc blamed French with his defeat
and loss Of the lard. SO great was his
anger that he threatened to Kill French,
and the latter claims, tried 10 hire some
one to asSassnatc him. French heard Of
the threats and left the county. While
he was gone, on June I, lSSG, Silas Gray
head was assassinatcd, and he believed it
was done by, or at the instigation OF the
Evcrsolcs. French says that the hard
feelings were further aggravated in the
beginning, by deal bctweca French and
Joe Evcrsolc French bought Eyersolc's
store with the understanding THAI the
latter would not start in opposition to
him for one year. lie claims that Ever
sole did start Il store within ten months
of this agreement Without going into
further details French concluded that
things went Oh from bad to worse until
the two factions began killing each other.
\ noticeable fact i'll connection with
the prisoners is that all are young men
French, WHO is thirty-seyen years OF age.
is the Oldest one OF the lot. and the
Youngest is Frank Polly, II member q the
l. L.,
years old. Although the Youngest III the
crowd, Polly is by no means Il youth when
il comes to fighting. He has two charges
of murder lodged against him now, aud it
is said that he was never known 10 lag
behind when there was any dcyilmcnt on
hand He claims to lie "a bad man from
the headwatcrs of Bitter creek and he
looks every inch of it,
The most hardened man of the lot is said
to he Joe Davidson, large, raw-boncd
fellow thirtv-two years old. lie is Charged
with murder on three indictments, and il
is said that siXty-fOur were pending
against him for various olienses, when the
records of Perry county were burned n
few months ago. Davidson is the man
who shot little girl through the brain Oh
the streets of Hazard IA year or two since.
His only excuse for the brutal act was
that he wanted to try his new pistol, and
the girl was the first living object he saw.
His own companions were so Mortified NJ
the terrible deed that they came near
mobbing him OH the spot
The prisoners arc enjoying Il good joke
at Joe Davidson's expense. Before his
arrest he boosted that there were not
enough soldiers in Perry county to take
him. One night Capt Gather heard that
Davidson wa at his home short distance
from Hnxnrd and scnt one of the Guards