The Van Buren press., 1903-08-15
JOHN T. PARNELL 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 9. 1902, in Which
Three Persons Gave Up Their Lives
Tucker Claims Self Defense.

City Marshal Guy B. Tucker shot
and killed John F. Parnell at Ell Do
rado. 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 8, 1902 At
that time Tom and Walter Parnell,
brothers of John, and Constable H.
l.. Dearing were killed and City Mar
shal Tucker was seriously wounded.
The series of killings beginning at
Junction City December 81. 1900,
when Rober, w, Mullins shot and
killed John Bussel, a leading young
business man, is said to haye been
enormously connected with the sub.
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. Ahe young cou.
pie We're leaving town on train and
it Is said Mullins tried to intercept
them at the next station Antictpat-
ing his purpose Constable H. l..
bearing and City Marshal Tucker had
boarded the tIsin at El Dorado and
at the next station they placed Mul-
Inns under arrest Later in Ell Do
RADIO Mullins accosted Dearing and
slapped his face. The result was
that Dearing 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
distractions 1t has Deen 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
| 8 last Tucker met Tom and Walter
Parnell as he was leaving the court
house and the subject Of the sidewalk
obstructions was broached. The out
come of the meeting was a bloody
duel, Constable Harrison Dearing
was close at hand and rushed In to
act as peacemaker. For a while 1t
seemed that his efforts would be sue
| cessfu!, but when the time came for
! the men to 90 their separate ways
the trouble was revived by a remark
| which called forth spirited reply
| Hot words we're exchanged a 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 subsided 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 were ~
Ing across each other, shot to pieces
Circuit court was In session at the
time Intense excitement was caused
by the sanguinary ARRAY and upon
the reQusition OF the authorities
| there the governor ordered out com
pany G, Second Arkansas infantry
which Ia located In El Dorado and Tor
A week tho company guarded the
house, where the surviving Parholls
were kept. Jim and Mat parnell were
indicted last March for murder but
A compromise was entered INTO
whereby the prosecutions would be
held In abcyoncc If tho defendants
would leave the state and reside else
where. Permission was given thcm
To return once u year until their BUS
mess affairs In the town were se''lod
mp,
only n few days ago Marshal Tuck
) or received by express jug OF WINS
ll,y ana friend who took drink OF
tho lIauor camo near dying before a
physleIan could relieve him An IN
yes,IgatIon showed that the whisky
contained enough poison to Kill a
dozen people
viii Reside Elsewhere,
CITY Marshal Guy Tucker who shot
aud lIIlad John pnrnoll At III Dorado,