The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-11
KENTCCKY's OUTLAWS.
Judge Lilly. Guarded by Troops, Opens
Court IN a Tent.
From the Ne,o York sun.

back over the mountains from Hazard,
Perry county, where Circuit Judge Lilly is
holding court in big tent guarded by sew
eral companies of Kentucky militia.
On last Saturday the first court held in
Perry county for two years was convened.
Several hundred people were present. but
were awed by the presence of the soldiers.
Still. it looks as If trouble is brewing, and
the several factions which have been war
ring so long with each other may combine
their forces against the state troops. JUS
tee seems to be I'm decided whether CT not
to bring TO the gallo VS. many deep-dyed and
cowardly assassins Of the best citlzeGs OF
Perry.
Judge Lilly called court to order at
a. M, and Sheriff Fields walked To the
edge of the tent aad announced in loud
voice:
Hear yei hear We! the court is in session,
and all men within the hearing of the court
are notified that the honorable judge of the
circuit court is on the bench. God save the
commonwealth
AT this announcement an increased num-
Der of people crowded about the judge.
Sixteen men we're found VINO could act as
members of the grand jury according to
law. Judge Lilly then began his instruc-
tons to the grand jury. He has become
brave with the militia back of him, and he
was very severe in his instructions. He
said:
Mr. Foreman of the Grand Jury and
Gentlemen, and People of Perry County:
As you here witness | am again here to
hold court. | have missed seve, al terms of
my court in your county, and for reasons
we'll known. | was satisfied that court
could not be held, and, having had my
life threatened, had every reason to BE-
lieve l would be assassinated if l came to
Perry.
Now it all lies with you Do you want a
court. that you may bring offenders to jus
tices | know the reputation of Perry too
well, and when the people learn that mans
life is more valua lie than that Of a horse,
men will be punished more severely for
murder than for horse stealing"
People seemed to be amazed at the judges
stern remarks, for he had never before
before talked SO plainly. But he was backed
by the militia Several tough looking
characters walked hurriedly cut of the tent
as if ANXIOUS to inform some faction that
Judge Lilly was getting too severe. Con-
tinulng, Judge Lilly said:
II now turn to page in the statutes of
Kentucky which defines the word murder
| and the law upon that subject. 1t seems
that the people of Perry do not know that
there is such word. Why, gentlemel,
this county is over 70 years old, and hut
one man in all that time has been convicted
for murder, and he for a small term of
years in the penitentiary, though 800 mon
have been murdered in the county. This
is appalling, aud | again ask you, do you
| want Justice?
THE records show you these things.
have called this extra term of court to give
| you one more opportunity. Now do your
duty. l am frank to say that if this court
amounts to nothing there will be no use of
ever again trying to hold court in Perry.
My life is in danger. | want you to dill
gently search and inquire into all crimes in
Perry county and bring criminals to justice.
Render true verdicts. If murder, say 50;
don'I say manslaughter Yes, and arson.
| There stands the ruins of your court house
1t speaks for itself l want you to find out
who burned it, 1t is a matter which comes
home to you and reaches your pocketbooks.
| Set an example"
Nearly two hours was taken up with in
| STRUGGLING the grand jury, and after some
| few prelImnaries court adjourned over
until Tuesday. As Monday is election day,
| no court will be held. The sellers of rum
and moonshine whisky are hiding in the
! mountains almost within a stones throw of
the tent where court is being held. Judge
| Lilly will order Capt. Gather to seize all
whisky in Hazard and destroy it.
A building used by saloon-keeper was
taken charge of by the troops, to be used
! for storing away goods belonging to the
| commissarv department. A citizen walked
into the door shortly after it was broken
| open and made some remarks about the
| brandy left there by the fugitive saloon
| keeper. Lieut.. Walcutt ordered him hustled
| out at the point OF the bayonet, which was
| done
| The social situation in Perry is not exag-
| gerated. Many honest citizens are afraid to
make move toward indicoing outlaws for
| M 10 CNY, of a frnD m
away. OF the murderers of the great num-
| Der Of people killed within the past few
| years not one has ever been punished. Few,
| # any, have even been arrested. Social
| lines have been so drawn through political
! means and otherwise that outlawry regns
| unmanageable. There is not a church In
| Perry county, nor a school house.
The Rev. j. j. DIckey Of Jackson was al
Hazard when Joe Eversole was killed, and
offered prayer at the grave when he was
buried. This action of Mr. Dickey incenseC
a faction, and his life was threatened. HI
has never been IN Perry since.
A superintendent of schools was to b.
elected Monday, but do not see to wha
use this county could put such an official
On account of the burning of the cour
house Judge Lilly was compelled to order
tent in which to hold court. 1t is loosely
constructed of tight canvas. On SOM
boards laid across small boxes the public il
seated, the lawyers occupying chairs il
front of the judge.
The grand jury has not yet secured quar-
ters, but it is not to sit again until mex
Tuesday. If a heavy rain comes befor,
court Is over, it is almost certain to destro,
all the present chances of holding conr
other than i'll the open air, which will b
impossible. Judge Lilly informed me tina
he had never held court under such dis
couragng circumstances. He is keeping
very quiet outside the court.
Women and children have not only beef
threatened, but shot at, and live in dali,
dread of their lives, and this, too, within
hundred miles of the beautiful Blue Gras
region of proud Kentucky. The little fore
of militia that generally goes to the noun
tains has only temporary effect upon the
outlaws.
| Judge William Hurst has not been bacl
here since he was shot until this term o
court. He has been employed by Mrs
Eversole to assist In bringing to justice the
murderers of her husband. He was sho
while IN bed at night, with an exposiv,
ball. but, fortunately for him, the ball speu
its force before it reached his body. The
next day he received letter from Fulton
French, the leader of the French faction
Yes. git, and that damn quick"
Capt. Hurst was a brave soldier in the
civil war. and lost an eye at Missionary
Ridge, but he knew what French's warning
| meant, and he left Hazard at once. It i