Evening star., 1903-08-15
SLAUGHTER IN THIS FEUD.
Deaths That Have Resulted From
Hargis-Cockrell Quarrel

The record of the Hargis-C -Cockrell feud
begins with the marriage of Miss Virginia
Britton of Virginia to William Sewall of
Jackson KY in 1852. Four children were
born of the maria ge-Thomas j., Sarah A,
William and Anna Sewall.
Sarah 4. Sewall was married to Hiram
Jett. Curtis Jett Is a son of this marriage
William Sewall died and Mrs. Sewall was
married to John S. Hargis. The Hargis
brothers-H. A. James, John G., Benjamin.
and Elbert Hargis leaders of the Hargls
faction-were born of this marriage. Curtis
Jett is thus related to the HargiS brothers,
whose mother is Jett's grandmother. The
Sewall brothers, also through their mother S
second marriage. became half-brothers OF
the Hargises. The fights and feuds of the
Sewdu side were eSpCuSed by the ttarglS
brothers.
Thomas J. SewaI it has been charged.
preciptated the feud when he, then only
boy. quarreled with Buck Combs and shot
him. CoombS recovered. He nephew
of Thomas Cockrell, head of the Cockreu
far,'!.'
Vengeance was threatened by the Cock
rells. but before they could attack any of
the SewallS Thomas shot and wounded
Judge Cardwell also of the Cockrell family
Cardwell was shot in the back. Thomas
went to Madison county. and on Muddy
creek shot and killed another Cockrell-
Thomas Dunbar He arrested, tried
and sent to the pententary for life. He
served twelve years and was then released.
William Sewall. taking up his brothers
cause. shot Jerry South and Fillmore Brown,
both of whom had been witnesses against
Thomas Sewal Both recovered Sewall
was not tried. Ebert Hargis shot and killed
Henry Barnett, Cockrell adherent. John
q. Hargis shct and killed Sally Hayes. an
eyewitness to the murder of Barnett. Jerry
CardweII. brother of Judge Cardwell. shot
by Thomas Sewall. shot and killed John G.
Hargis. Benjamin Hargis next shot and
wounded Charles Everett. a Cockrell ad-
herent. Everett recovered Ben jamin Har
gs shot and wounded Samuel Lentzford,
brother-n-law of Tom Cockrel
Two weeks later the Cockrells struck
staggering blow to the Harsises when Tom
Cockrell, decoyed to a saloon by enjamin
Hargis, who had intended to asSassinate
him. turned the tables and shot and killed
Hargis. Cockrell was wounded. a man
named Smith. married into the Cockrell
family, shot by James Hargis, county
judge.
James B. Marcum, a lawyer of Jackson
and a Cockrell factionist, filed protest
Contesting the election of Judge Hargis
and Sheriff Callahan. Hargis brother-in-
law. DR.. Cox openly expressed his sympa-
thy for the Cockrells He was shot and
killed John Cockrell was the next victim.
He shot and killed, it is alleged, by
Curtis Jett.
James Marcum then met the same fate.
lie was shot. 1t Is charged. by Curtis Jett
and Thomas White
A. F. Bullock. a Hargis sympathizer, was
killed in general fight December "A, 1901.
A. Cockreli was indicted and tried for this
killing. but has not been convicted, two
trials having resulted in hung juries. B.
Davis shot in blind-tiger saloon and
killed by Tom Cockrell. February 10 of the
following year. Cockreu was acquitted.
Elkanan Smith was killed by Bud Bohanan
in fight. BOhanan was convicted and was
sentenced to fifteen years in the peniten-
tiary. Willis Gabbard was ambushed from
in front of his own home. JEFF Stapieton
was indicted for his murder. Gabbard was
a Cockrel. the other a Hargis. In Il fight
between Bud Allen and Joe Haddix Allen
was killed. Haddix was arrested. but was
acquitted Granville Prater was the next
victim. George Barnett. jr., charged
with his murder. but was acquitted. Bar
nett a Hargis factionist.
The body of Susan Barnett, his wife. was
found floating in the river late last June.
Cuts her head indicated the manner of
her death. Robert Sales, Cockrell, was
indicted for her murder. Hiram Miller and
Reuben Landrum. both fGctOnists. engaged
in d fight near Jackson. Both We're killed
in the fight.
J. W. Noble and Irvine Newgate of the
Harg!s side were killed in January. Jacob
and Jerry Noble Were arrested and Jacob
Noble is now serving a term in the pcni-
tentiary for their deaths. George Smith
fell victim in Il general fight. He was
said 10 have been killed by Charles Byrd
a cousin of the Hargis brothers, who fled
the country and was never indicted. Dan
tel Hays, Hargis sympathizer was killed
by Wesley Cox. a Cockren SympathiZer, last
November. His head was split open with
an ak. Cox escaped and was never cap
tured.
This list includes only the principal rr,ur-
ders and not one of the numerous assaults
and cutting and shooting affairs in which
no deaths resulted.