Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-11-11
FOUR MEN SHOT.

FOur nlen htiO ohO1 ahN N'iiN" "
Beaver Creek village in Johnson county,
KY, yesterday, in 6ght about an cleo
ton bet Numerous settlers had gath
cred at small grist mill in the village
to secure their -four for another week.
This was the first "mill" day since the
election, and the district being some
what remote, many had not heard the
result of Tuesdays election until they
reached Beaver village yesterday morn
ing. Bets had been wagcred last ".nilP'
day, and yesterday was pay day for
election bets. A wager between Cam
erou Estep and john Saddler, both
well-to-do people of that mountainous
district, led to quarrel, and four men
of the community are now dead and
another is DYING. The dead are ; Cam
eron Estep, Charley Prater, EnOch
Bentley and Reuben Morgan. John
Saddler was stabbed four times and can
not survive.
Cameron Estep aud John Sad1ler
were among the first to arrive at the
mill in Beaver village. They wagered
five d,lars on the result in Ohio, sad
dlcr b ting ou Hefrlck. Estep de-
manded the money from the stakeholder
and the funds were turned over to him.
A little later in the day, after nu-
merous other mountainee:s had arrived,
many of whom had filled mp on moon
shine whisky, Sadder decided, from re-
ports current in the community, that
Ohio was yet in doubt, and that the
money should not have been tnrned
over to Estep. He approached Charley
Prater the stakeholder, and, with
an oath, told him that he was going to
kill him unless he made Estep give
back the money. Prater, who was a
dangerous man when in his cups, went
to Estep and demanded the retnrn OF the
money.
E,tep asserted that the bet was fair
one, that he had honestly won the
money, and that he would die rather
than bs "held-up," as he termed it, by
any republican. At this, Sadder drew
from another inner pocket a big revolver,
and he no sooner brought il into view
than four OF five other pistols were drawn
in the crowd.
Firing was so rapid that it is difficult
to state positively the alignment OF the
combatants, but when the firing ceased,
three men, Charlie Praier, Enoch Bent
lv and Reuben Morgan, were dying up
on the ground.
Estep, with smoking pistol in his
hand, started running from the scene,
and John Sadder made a rush after him
with club in his hands. Estep turned
and snapped his pistol several times at
him, but the weapon was empty. Estep
was out Of ammunition, but he drew
a knife and turned to face his pursuer.
Saddler struck Estep with the club
and staggered him, but he recovered,
and sprang upon Saddler, stabbing him
four times, every thrust entering a vital
spot.
Saddler fell TO the ground, and as be
was being picked up by friend, William
Saddler, brother, reached the scene of
the conflict, and learning that Estep had
fatally wounded his brother, be went in
pursuit Of Estep and overlook him few
hundred yards up the creek, and opered
fire. Fstep, with empty revolver in hand,
pleaded for mercy from his parsuer, but
Sadder continued to euntil Estep drop
ped dead.
At a late hour yesterday evening John
Ssdder was still alive, but physicians
said be woul not survive tonight. All
tn men engaged were men Of families,
and were well-to-do people of their com
muniiy. All leave numerous relatives,
and if further bloodshed does not result,
even in following generations, from yes
terday's tragedy, it will be unlike other
feuds which find their origin in the hills
of eastern Kentucky.