The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-10-02
lTHE 4! 81 /! !. I: LON \ .FEUDSS B
,f Et 1B9Esat hit County, Kent, 'oky, and
Their Numerous Fatalities. -,
A DARKsAND BLoODY5 STORY.
The Hargis, Cockrell, Bonnetts, and
Other Blood Thirsty Families
N Number Their Dead by
Is SlrlSSi 80 Ss,,.5SS the Scores. Il Il 80
the Scores.

Number Their Dead BY
the SCORES.
Breathitt county, Kentucky, is in
the eastern end Of the State, about
midway between the Ohio river and
the southern boundary and to- tho
southwestward Of spur OF the Cum
berland mountains that reaches up
from the southeast and, having per-
formed the useful purpose OF dividing
Breathitt county from Wolfe and
MagofIin counties on the north, con-
tinues through Lee and Estill coun-
ties on the west.
1t Is the real thing in mountain
country, and Its population, some
where about $4,000, is we'll scattered.
Jackson, It's capital or court house
town, was, until the railroad pierced
the country, as isolated as any Of the
remote hill towns, like Manchester,
Clay county, not far away.
people Of Kentucky, hospitable to the
oUl 1HRCl3 4 10 lOu dflOtCtluC OlllCSI, I,
contented to live without schools, If
they must be depended upon to pro-
vide them; not worried because the
women wear one piece frocks and sun
bonnets and rub snuff into their gums,
like their mothers before them; will
ing to be interested In the outside
world, but not anxious to get into it,;
with native standard of morality
that Is not just that OF the blue grass
lands below the foothills, and so strong
In their likes and dlslikes that the
men will fight to the death for q
friend or pursue a foe with Telent-
lessness that will not wear out.
The casual visitor who should drop
into Jackson nr any OF the other small
cr settlements of the county would
live there for months before he would
lose the Impression that it was
only peaceful village, with railway
connection direct to Frankfort or
Louisville bringing the two places
within days ride Of the mountain
town.
If the visitor wants to know about
Jackson's reputation as the capital Of
the Hargis- -Sewall Cockrell feud, he
will be surprised to find that the peo.
Pile are not only not averse to discuss
ing it, but actually willing, If not
anxious, to 20 into all details Of the
contention that is described as having
begun when William Sewall of Jack
son married Virginia BrItton OF
Virginia in 1852.
OF this marriage there were two
ri 4
two daughters, one OF whom was
married to Hiram Jett. Curtis Jett
was child Of this marriage. When
William Sewall died, his widow was
welded to John 81 Hargis. There
was big family OF HarRises: Henry
A., James, John G., Benjamin and
Ebert; and II therelwere any daugh-
tiers they are not talked iabout. The
mother OF these sons the grand
mother Of the Curtis VIII, is now
in State prison 80 1s;F;sss.I
The interests OF tlaS aSSSssS3ss 80 all brothers
and the Hargis brothsrs, ssons Of the
same mother, heca me5i dentical for the
bitter purposes that pr Stly arrayed
the family against 9 ler family
According to the local counts, the
troubles between the Fl :gis and Cock
rell families between boys, Thomas J !.
Sewall and Buck, Coombs played to.
gether. They quarreled. Sewall shot
Combs. He was not killed, but his
shooting diu the business.
A latent spirit OF dislike, possibly
tinged with Jealousy and rivalry for
leadership in mountain society, burst,
into flame. Coombs was the nephew
Of Tom Cockrell. Cockrell loudly pro-
claimed that the injury to his family
must be atoned by the blood OF the
Hargises. That was many years ago,
and in the course OF the intervening
good, and the determination OF the
other side to be even with the Cock
rells, have led to some slaughter. The
score shows greater activity by the
Hargises, but the Cockrell shooting
has been the more accurate and fatal.
1t was not constant, open fight.
On the surfact. Breathitt county was
not always turbulent region. From
time to time, sometimes by accident
and again by design, not infrequently
from the security of ambush, a Cock
rell would slay Hargis or Hargis a
Cockrell. The record, as made up at
Jackson recently, showed the account
10 stand as follows
THE sEwALL-HARGIs SCORE.
Buck Coombs, wounded by T. j.
Sewall.
Judge Cardwell, wounded by T. J.
Sewall.
Thomas Dunbar, killed by T. J.
Sewall.
Jerry South, wounded by William
Sewall.
Fillmore Brown, wounded by Will
liam Sewall.
Henry Barnett, killed by Elbert
IIargls.
Sally Hayes, killed by John G.
IIargis.
Chrales Everett, wounded by Ben
Hargis.
Samuel Lentzford, wounded by Ben
Hargis.
Tom Cockrell, wounded by Ben
Hargis.
Henry Smith, shot by County Judge
HargiS.
DR.. Cox, killed.
John Cockrell, killed by Curtis Jett.
James B. Marcum, killed by Curtis
Jett and Thomas White.
Willis Gabbard, killed by JEFF
Stapleton.
Granville Prater, killed by George
Barnett, Jr.
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