Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-08-25
WHERE THEY LAUGH AT LAW.
Mountain Desperadoes In Several State
Being Slowly Brought 20 Time.


Mountain Desperadoes In Several States
Being slowly Brought TO Time.
The sentence Of death recently passed
on Talton Hall, the mountain despera-
do, Is another evidence that the wild
country extending along the borders Of
West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and
Tennessee and farther south Is making
an effort 10 free itself from the various
desperadocs and bands OF desperadoes
who have long given 20 those sections
character not in accordance with
American civilization. For several gen
erations II has been impossible TO Sc
cure the conviction OF murderer.
IL the courts themselves were not in
fiuenced by partisanship the witnesses
were afraid to testify, and no man
suffered for taking another's life
unless the friends Of that Other
took his own in payment. But since
the miners and the railroad builders
and others have entered these regions
the population is becoming gradually
reclaimed Many OF the worst despera-
does have been punished. Some have
been hanged, some are In the peniten-
tiary for life, and since the law now
gives some protection witnesses are not
afraid TO offer their evidence. Thus
more convictions are sure TO follow, and
in time the once half-wild population
Of the Allcghenies will become as or
derby as the inhabitants Of any other
part OF the Union. There have been
many false impressions concerning
these mountain feuds and battles. IL
has often been said that they will offer
good material for the future novelist
when time shall have thrown little
romance over them. Perhaps they will,
but there is no romance about them at
present.
The dcsperadoes Of the Alleghenies
are an idle, worthless set, who prey
upon and bully the industrious and or
derby portion Of the community. while
nearly all their feuds are generated and
kept alive by deep rotations at the Illicit
distilleries. There is nothing pictur-
csque or inspiring In the appearance Of
these despcradoes. II the curious expect
TO see tall, agile mountaineers, with
erect heads and bold eyes and the man.
ners OF Rob Roy, they can prepare
themselves for n disappointment.
Usually they are small, sallow and
shrunken, shuflling Of gait, unsteady Of
eye and never erect Of form, and II the
truth must be told about them, they are
cowardly. The most notorious muir
derers never fight face TO face with
their victims and on equal terms,
as the bold outlaws in the story
books do but they seek every
advantage. Usually a man Is am
pushed and shot down when he is least
expecting danger, and II there is any
open fight at all It is because one party
Is able TO attack another in overwhelm-
ing numbers. Frequently in these
mountain fcuds women and children
are killed as mercilcssly as IL they
were men, and IL has been favorite
method for one faction TO surround n
cabin at night, set IL on fire and shoot
the inmates as they ran out.
II should also be known that the des-
peradoes form but a small fraction OF
the mountain population. They have
hitherto carried things with such n
high hand that they have given their
bad tone, IN the eye Of the public out
side, to the character OF all. The great
bulk Of the mountainous of the Ale
ghenies, whether in this state or
another, arc law-abiding citizens, and
when relieved of the incubus OF the
desperadoes, which they will be. will
give TO their country reputation for
peace and good behavior Baltimore
Herald