The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-04-21
ELEVEN MEN SLAIN.
Baker-Howard Feud in Kentucky Developing
Alarming Proportions.

Pineville, KY, April 17-In the
Baker Howard feud eleven men have
been killed and several others
wounded.
The officers of the law are demor-
allied, and, knowing that to make
an arrest means that their entire
families will be drawn into the con
fict, are powerle SIS to preserve order.
Arrayed against each other are two
of the largest families iu Clay county.
They GO armed with rifles, seeking
to kill each 9th I.
Owing to the isolation of the
county particulars are hard to learn,
but the facts learned to-day from a
resident of the county indicate that
the feud will prove one of the blood
lest in the history of the state.
Ballard Howard owns 800 acres of
timber land. George Baker owns a
similar tract adjoining.
Three weeks ago Baker cut 800
logs Howard claimed that he cross
ed the boundary and cut them on
his land. This charge caused fight,
in which Alex. Baker. g. son of Geo.
Baker, was killed. The Baker family
swore to exterminats the Howard
family.
Officers of the law were gwen to
understand by both sides that they
would brook no interference As one
OF the belligerents expressed it:
"You just leave us alone; We want
to fight it out among ourselves.
Last Monday Ballard Howard and
three sons. who had been to Man
chester to procure arms and ammu-
milton, were waylaid FIVE miles from
town by old Baker and three of his
sons. Ballard Howard was shot
through the shoulder. Jim Howard,
his son, and Joe Anderson, hired
man, were killed by the first volley
from the Bakers.
When the Bakers came out OF the
bushes to complete their work, they
were fred on by the two uninj ared
Hoyards, and Joe and James Baker
were killed. Old man Baker retreated
and escaped.
Last Wednesday morning George
Baker, while riding along the road
was met by Jim Howard. Bott
commenced shooting. Baker wa:
! killed. Howard was unhurt- Know
ing that some of ths Bakers would
come to hunt for the old man
Howard got three other men and
went back to where lay the body o
Baker. Concealing themselves the,
awaited the enemy. In an hour 1
party of FIVE Bakers arrive. Waiting
until they had dismounted, the con
cealsd party fred, killing two AMI
wounding another. The remaining
| two of the Baker faction mounted
their horses aud escaped.
The Hewards, after surveying
J their work aud thinking the wounde'
, man dead, departed. The two bodie
remained in the road all day. Fo
fear of an ambush. their friends di'
net remove them until night.
Last Thursday night John How
4 ard, while sitting in his house, wa
g fred at through the window b
D some one on the outside The ba
r passed through his left arm. Grat
}, bing his pistol, he rushed to th
/ door and fred at q man whom b
|, saw running. The man fell
) Before Howard could return t
Y the house he was killed By some on
concealed in the yard The man b
e shot escaped
t 1t Is reported here this mornin
that there was battle yesterday, i
which several were killed and wounc
ed. The particulars and names al
not known here. Both families haE
. been REINFORCED bv other families {
e the county, and the prospects fe
! the angel of peace to do any bus
r ness in tha. immediate section in tt
,.ar f,,t,1re IL not verv reassurIng.