Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-04
COUNTY SEAT WAR.
Ho W the Bald Knobbers and Anti Bald Knob
bers are Waging War in fancy
County, No.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
county was the seat of the BaldK nobber
war, and as the state has effectually
quelled that trouble By the execution of
the leaders of the murderous raids, the
people have adopted one of the favorite
pastimes of their neighbors across the
Western state line. Preparations are
now being made for what will probably
be holly contested county seat fight,
which, with the well known inclination
of the South Missourian, will probably
terminate disastrously for several of the
participants. At the last session of the
state legislature an act was passed grant
ing the sum of $4,000 for the purpose of
building a courthouse in fancy county.
This is a big lot of money for that county,
and at once there arose scramble from
the various parts of the county to see
which section would have the pleasure OF
handling it and possibly retaining the
"sweat'' on their hands from the use
of it.
fancy City, a little town about FIVE
Il
seat, became the strongest aspirant for
the honors, and at last the fight became
narrowed down to these two cities.
Numerously signed petitions were sent in
to the county clerk praying for an cleo
ton to decide the question, but the
county court concluded that if there was
anything done it would be by themselves,
and the result was that the whole year
has been wasted in getting ready to de-
eide the matter by the full bench. The
greater the delay the more difficult be-
came the decision, for the judges saw
that they had a fight on their hands
whichever way they voted. The old
iealousies broke out afresh and there was
a certainty of bloody fight as soon rs
the decision was made. About two weeks
ago the matter was brought to termina-
ton and an immense crowd gathered at
FOrsythe for the purpose OF hearing the
decision of the judges. But here came
another disappointment. The judge from
the eastern part of the county was abb
sent. He sent word that sickness would
prevent his attendance. AS the two re-
manning judges were divided on the
question, one being from Forsythe and
the other from fancy City, the vote OF
the third judge was necessary to locate the
county seat Court was adjourned for
three days, but when that time expired
the Judge was still absent and courier
was sent to inquire after his health. It
was then discovered that sickness of the
mind was all that allied him. He knew
that on his decision rested the whole case,
as his ballot would break the tie. He had
studied the matter over and came to the
conclusion that his life was of more con-
sequence to him than the county seat to
the people, and, therefore. he would
stay at home and let them fight it out as
best pleased the cortendiDg parties.
Those who remember the circumstances
of the last two years i'll Southern Mis-
souri, know that in fancy county there
are two political parties which have
been in opposition for years. These are
the Bald KnobDers and anti Bald Knob
bers. These two parties havs taken up
the fight and are at war over the locS-
ton. This being the case it can be
readily seen why the judge was at loss
to know how to please both parties. On
the last day that was set for the Conven-
ing of the county court the town was full
of men representing both factions, and
when it was learned that the judge would
not brave the people and cast his vote for
either place, the members of both sides
began filing themselves up on the white
whisky which is only to be found in this
section. The result was that the town
was soon full of men who were fighting
drunk. A dozen or so ordinary fights
on the streets occurred but it remained
for the coming of night to bring Gull
mination of the trouble. One of the
doggeries, which by courtesy is called
"grocery - was full of rough, push
ing, swearing crowd of men who were
yyai4 cd In Of,
that $4,000. Suddenly blow was struck
and instantly the room was converted
into bedlam. The lights were put out,
and in the darkness the biting and goug-
ing that went on was fearful. By
mutual consent pistols seemed to be
tabooed, but knives and teeth were
brought into play with terrible effect.
When the struggle died out from sheer
exhaustion on the part of the combat
ants and the lights were brought in the
scene that presented itself was horrible.
Blood covered everything. Men in all
stages of stupor lay around the floor.
Faces in all stages of mutilatiou were |
seen and the whole place had the appear !
ance of a slaughter house. No one was !
killed, but the wounds were of such seri- |
Gus nature that it will be many weeks |
before the participants of the free fight |
VIII 1uiiy recover from the eHects or |
their debauch. But the county seat |
question is still undecided.
fancy county has population of 5000 !
and its Indebtedness is SIS, 900. AS the |
pro portion of taxpayers TO the popula- |
ton is small, this leaves the county in |
very bad condition financially. County |
warrants are held at 40 cents on the dol
lar, and hard to sell at any price. AS |
there are eipht men held for murder IN
the first degree and seven for second de-
gree, all of which cases are to be tried at
the coming session of the circuit court,
it is estimated that the county warrants
will soon be worse than valueless to the