The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-16
A FEUD OF MANY YEARS.
THE FUTCH TRAGEDY THE RESULT
q OF AN OLD FAMILY QUARREL.

ks OF An OLD t'AMl LH Nv AhhHL.
The Trial the Greatest Criminal Trial
in the History of Tattnall County.
The Differences Between the Dur
renoes and the Ksnnedys Running
Back TO the Goethe Theory Of til 9
Prosecution.
The sensational murder case 10 Tattnall
county, which was supposed TO have been
the result Of the feud between the Kennedy
aud Durrence families, came to a conclusion
day before yesterday with the acquittal OF
Miss Mary Jane DeLoach and the convic-
Jion Of her mother, Mrs Sarah DeLoach. as
accessory TO the fact
The offense of which Mrs. DsLoach was
convicted is misdemesnor, and she was
fined $3.50 by Judge Gamble. John Dur
renee, her father. paid the fine.
Both women were charged IS being
principals ia the second degree being pres
emit, aiding and sbetting Henry Futch in
the murder OF Alfred Kennedy; as acces,
series before the fact. procuring the muir
der to have been committed, and as Access
series after the fact in concealing the crime
from the magistrates.
Futch, as has already been announced in
the MORNING News, was found guilty of
the murder with the death penalty.
THE FAMILIES INVOLVED.
This closes what has been very sensa-
tional case in Tattnall county. The Dur
renee family is one Of the most prominent
and wealthy families in the county, aud
that of the murdered man, Kennedy, is also
prominent and largely connected family
of the county. Between these families there
has been a long existing feud running back
as far as 1868 or 1859 There mas been a
number of prosecutions and cross
prosecutions between members of
the two families. Mrs. Sarah DeLoach
is the daughter Of John Durrence, who is
regarded as the head of the Durrence fac
ton, he being a man OF considerable wealth
and prominence.
The theory OF tho state was that Futch
was simply a tool in the hands OF the Dur
rences, who hired him to assassinate Ken
nedy; that Mrs. ,DeLoach had decoyed Ken.
nedy to the house on the night of the homi-
eide by making an appointment for her
daughter, Mary Jane, and that Futch, hav-
4 ing been hired by the Durrences through
Mrs. De Loach, was provided with breach
loading gun belonging 30 James Durrence,
was in hiding waiting for Kennedy, and
shot him down. as he came through the gate.
This theory was what made it so senBa-
tional
THE INTEREST IN THE TRIAL.
1t was expected by the large crowd in at
tendance that there would be some evil
dence involving all Of the Durrence family
in the tragedy and this expectation gave
to the trial The great interest which was
manifested in it by the people OF the
county.
Futch was q farm hand on MIR. DeIIoach's
plantation and had neither friends nor
means, being, as fer as the evidence dis
closed, without relatives in the county, He
formerly lived 10 Bulloch county before
getting work on the DeLonch's place, but
exactly who he is and where he came from
no one knew.
motion for a new trial has been fled in
his case, and 1t is not likely that he will be
sentenced at the present term OF the court,
as Judge Gamble has set the motion for a
hearing during the second week in May at
Louisville, during the Jefferson superior
court term. The case Of Futch was argued
by MIR. duBignon aud Judge Hines, Mr..
dublgnon making the opening speech and
Judge Hines concluding the argument be-
fore the jury.
THE DURRENCE FAMILY CLEARED.
Whether Futch is granted new trial or
not it is thought that the interest in the
case will abase, as the result Of the trial Of
Mrs. DeLoach and her daughter eliminates
the Durrence family from any participa-
ton in the crime. But whether the old
feud is at an end is something which time
alone will demonstrate. The killing of
Kennedy has made the feeling Of his faction
even stronger than before, and it wouldn't
be surprising if Tattnall will have moro
sensational, and maybe bloody. affairs in
the future.