The Newark journal. (Newark, Ark.) 1901-1959, 1903-08-14
JOHN +. PARNEl KILLED
Shot Down on Street at Ell Dorado
By City Marshall Tucker.
MILITIA ORDERED OUT TO KEEP PEACE
Tragedy Due TO the Bloody Street
Duel of October o. 1902, in Which
Three Persons Gave Up Their Lives
Tucker Claims Self-Defense.

City MarSnal Guy -. TUCKER suot
and killed John F. Parnell at Ell Do
RADIO 1t is claimed by Tucker that
Parnell attempted to draw his gun
when they met on the sidewalk.
The killing caused great excite
ment, and upon request of the sheriff.
Gov Davis ordered the local militia
company to report for duty. The
cause OF the tragedy can be traced
directly to the bloody street duel in
Ell Dorado on October 9, 1902. At
that time Tom and Walter Parnell,
brothers Of John, and Constable III.
l.. bearing were killed and City Mar
shall Tucker was seriously wounded.
So great was the excitement then
that the governor ordered out the Ell
Dorado military company to assist
the local and county authorities in
preserving order.
The series of killings beginning at
Junction City December 81. 1900,
when Rober. w. Mullins shot and
killed John Bussel. leading young
| business man, is said to have been
enormously connected with the sab
sequent tragedies in which Tucker
and The Parnells figured.
Mullins subsequently engaged in
the photograph business in Ell Dora
do and It seems he tried to prevent
the marriage of young lady to a
man he did not like me young cou-
pie were leaving town on a train and
| it is said Mullins tried to intercept
them at the next station. Anticipat-
ing his purpose, Constable H. l..
bearing and City Marshal Tucker had
boarded the train at Ell Dorado and
at the next station they placed Null
Inns under arrest. Later in Ell Do
RADIO Mullins aceo:ted bearing and
slapped his face The result was
that bearing pulled his pistol and
killed Mullins. Tucker had nothing
to do with this tragedy.
1t was some months later that
fuckers trouble with the Parnells
began. As city marshal, Tucker or
dered the Parnells to clear sidewalk
in front of the Parnell property Of
Instructions. 1t has been claimed
that no attention was paid TO the
order. At the time the Parnells were
erecting a brick business block to
replace frame buildings which had
been destroyed by fire. On October
9 last Tucker met Tom and Walter
Parnell as he was leaving the court
house and the subject of the sidewalk
Instructions was preached. The out
come of the meeting was a bloody
duel. Constable Harrison bearing
was close at hand and rushed in to
act as peacemaker. For a while it
seemed that his efforts would be sue
cessful but when the time came for
| the men to go their separate ways
the trouble was revived by remark
which called forth spirited reply.
Hot words were exchanged moment
or two and the street soon ran red
with the blood of the angry men.
Thirty or forty shots were fired and
| when the battle subsidized 1t was
found that Walter and Tom Parnell
and Constable bearing were dead
| and Tucker had been shot three
times. Jim and Mat Parnell came up
| during the shooting and one of them
was slightly wounded. Walter Par
nell and Constable bearing ere ly.
Circuit court was in session at the
| time. Intense excitement was caused
| by the sanguinary ARRAY and upon
| the requisition of the authorities
| there the governor ordered out com
| pany G, Second Arkansas infantry,
which is located In Eel Dorado, and for
week the company guarded the
| house. where the surviving Parnells
were kept Jim and Mat Parnell were
indicted last March for murder, but
| compromise was entered into
| whereby the prosecutions would be
| held in allegiance IL the defendants
would leave the state and reside else
where Permission was given them
to return once year until their bus.
mess affairs in the town were settled
up.
| Only a few days ago Marshal Tuck
err received by express a jug OF wins
| ky and a friend who took a drink OF
the liquor came near dying before
| physician could relieve him. An In
vestigation showed that the whisky
| contained enough poison to kill
dozen people.
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