The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-08-09
A KENTUCKY TRIAL.
The Judge Sits Surrounded by a
Gordon of Troops.
A NEW YORK CENTRAL STRIKE.
Trains Are Everywhere Abandoned Byrnes'
Hen are Affording Protection-It
Promises to be Bitter War.

Especial to THE Observation-Disclosures Dispatch
CINCINNATI, O., Aug. S.-The first SEES
sion of court held in over two years in
Hazard, Perry county, KY, opened last
Saturday. The famous vendetta and
Perry county war cases are being tried
there. The scene is one of the strangest
ever witnessed in the United States Hun
dreds of backWoodsmen and mountaineers
are crowded into the little village; state
troops, with drawn bayonets, encircle the
judge and jury while heavy detatchments
of the same are keeping sharp look out
among those who have crowded into Haz-
ard to listen to the trial of the murderers
of Eversole.
The town is isolated and a correspondent
has just arrived in Cincinnati after travel
ing over one hundred miles before reaching
the railroad. Several months ago the court
house was burned down al midnight by a
masked band whose cry was that Perry
county had no need for law or lawyers.
Judge j. I. Lilly engendered the wrath of
mountain outlaws, who have more than
once threatened his life. On account of
the burning of the court house he was
compelled to have tent built in which to
hold court. On boards laid across small
boxes the public is seated, the lawyers oc-
cupying chairs in front of the judge. The
proceedings on the first day were of the
Strangest character, Judge Lilly called
the court to order at 9 o'clock and sixty
men were found who could act as members
of the grand jury according to the law.
Judge Lilly then began his instructions to
| the grand Jury. He has become somewhat
brave with the militia at the back of him
and was very severe in his instructions.
'As you all witness, - said he, 81 am again
here to hold court. | have missed several
terms in your county and for reasons best
known to myself. was satisfied that
court could not be held, and having had my
life threatened had every reason to believe
l would be assassinated if | came to Perry.
1t all lies with you. Do you want a court
that you may bring offenders to justice? /
know the reputation of Perry too well and
when the people learn that mans life is
more valuable than that of a horse, men
will be punished more severly for murder
than for horse stealing.
81 now turn to the page in the statutes
of Kentucky which defines the word muir
der and the law upon that subject 1t
seems that the people OF Perry do not know
there is such a word. Why, gentlemen,
this county is over seventy years old and
but one man in all that time has been CON
victed for murder anu he was sentenced
for short term of years in the penitentiary
though 500 men have been murdered in
the county. / have called this extra term
of court to give one more opportunity tc
show that you want it. Now do your duty
My life is in danger. | want you to dill
gently search and inquire into all the crime
in Perry county and bring the criminals tt
justice and render true verdicts. If it i:
murder, say so; don't say manslaughter.
Nearly two hours were taken up with in
structions to the jury, and after some few
prelimjnaries the court adjourned owe
until Tuesday Sellers of liquors ant
moonshiners are hidden in the mountain
almost within stones throw of where thu
court is. The court charged the stat
troops to seize all whisky in Hazard ant
destroy it. A building used by a saloon
keeper was taken charge of to-day b.
troops to be used for storing away good
belonging to the commissary department
Honest citizens fear more bloodshed befor
this term of court is over.