The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1903-08-14
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.

Clty MARSHAL Guy B. Tucker shot
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 8, 1902 At
that time Tom and Walter Parnell.
brothers of John, and Constable H.
l.. bearing 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 have 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 a young lady to a
man he did not like. .ne 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 accosted Dearing 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 a sidewalk
in front of the Parnell property of
| distractions. 1t has been claimed
that no attention was paid to the
order. At the time the Parnells were
erecting 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
distractions 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 it
seemed that his efforts would be sue
cassful, but when the time came for
the men to so their separate ways
the trouble was revived by remark
which called forth a spirited reply
Hot words were exchanged a moment
or two and the street soon ran red
with the blood of the angry men
Thirty or forty shots were fred and
when the battle subsidized it was
found that Walter and Tom Parnell
AMI Constable Dearing were dead
and Tucker had been shot three
times. Jim and Mat Parnell came ur
during the shooting and one of them
was slightly wounded. Walter Par
nell and Constable bearing were ly-
ing across each other, shot to pieces.
Circuit court was iE session at the
By the sanguinary affray and upon
the acquisition of the authorities
there the governor ordered out com
pany G, Second Arkansas Infantry.
which is located in Ell Dorado. and for
week the company guarded the
house, where the surviving Parnells
We're kept Jim and Mat Parnen were
indicted last March for murder, but
a compromise was entered into
whereby the prosecutions would be
held in allegiance If the defendants
would leave the state and reside else
where. Permission was given them
to return once a -ear until their bus
mess affairs in the town were settled
up.
Only few days ago Marshal Tuck
er received by express jug of whis-
ky and friend who took a drink of
the liquor came near dying before a
physician could relieve him. An in
vestigation showed that the whisky
| contained enough poison to kill
dozen people.