The Washington herald., 1907-05-25


mon form of protection relied upon by the
clan in power in local politics The noun
taineer is not. as a rule, lacking in Dhysl-
cal courage, but he avoids an open fight
as the North American Indian did. upon
the ground Of unnecessary exposure. and
shoots from ambush to avoid leaving a
clew that may result in annoying. If not
serious clashes, with the Jaw.
The dockets Of criminal courts in the
GeuS cases are cIOgged with entries against
mountaineers, but convictions are few.
death sentences extremely rare, and par
dons secured by clan leaders with State
wide political influence for convicted as
sassins are not uncommon. The focusing
Of public attention upon a single feud
sometimes results In a lull in hostiities,
but rarely in the upTOOting of the trou-
bic. While a State is going to large ex-
pense TO prosecute one clan, others con-
tinue 10 practice their vendettas without
much fear OF mOlestatiOn. Statistics show
a greater number Of homicides in the
Appalachian Mountains than in anv other
civilized section OF the world, and only
persons who are familiar with conditions
there, and with the difficulty Of securing
the conviction of outlaws, can under
stand why the Appalachian States have
made so little progress in eliminating
their bad men, while the States west Of
the Mississippi have made such encourage
Ing progress in the determination of SINH
lar characters there.
In q famous criminal trial in Kentucky
recently. testimony was adduced showing
that there existed In the mountain coun-
ties from which witnesses we're sum-
moned a secret order planned for the mu-
tual protection Of outlaws. Each men,
Der Of the order. upon being initiated.
took an oath TO become an aiibl witness
for any member accused of any crime
whatsoever. An attempt TO convict a
member of this order naturally presents
problems not ordinarily encountered in
criminal prosecutions.
During the progress OF the notorious
Tolliyer-Logan feud in Rowan County,
KY, the State administration made many
Intellectual attempts 10 secure the cOnvic-
ton of the leaders OF the Toiliver clan.
but nothing material resulted. Upon one
occasion Craig Tolliver was arrested by
mllltiamen, brought into the grand jury
room and relieved Of two concealed re-
volvers. The grand jury refused to re-
turn an indictment against him. but did
indict the attorney general who wore a
pistol 70 court while attempting 10 prose
cute the feudlsts. Outrage after outrage
was perpetrated by the Tolllver clan.
On one occasion a number Of Tolliver's
men were sent to the home Of physician
with directions to demand the surrender
Of his two sons In response TO warrants
which they pretended TO have. The boys
wanted to fight II out believing that they
would be murdered. but their father. after
securing a promise that they would not
be illused, advised them to surrender.
The Tolliver men marched them a few
rods from their fathers front door and
shot them TO death. The young men
were Logans. A short time thereafter a
young attorney, Boone Logan, was order
ed by the Tollivers TO leave Morehead.
where he owned a house. Realizing that
70 dlsobey the order meant sudden death,
young Logan agreed TO leave.
At this time it was apparent that no
appeal TO the law could avail to crush the
power Of the Torlivers. At the point Of a
rife and by the votes Of handful Of
his retainers. other voters fearing TO
come TO the polls, Craig Tolllver had him
self elected police judge. declared prohi-
bition in effect. forced all saloons to close.
and opened a saloon Of his own. He
bought the leading hotel by showing the
proprietor a check and a rifle. and men,
tionlng the day upon which he desired
possession. He owned the circuit judge
and efforts to impeach that official had
failed.
After leaving Morehead. Boone Logan
appeared at Frankfort and sought an in
terview with the governor. Just what
advice was given 10 him was never di-
vulged. Mr. Logan then went 10 Gin
cinnati. where he purchased 100 repeating
rifles. having raised the funds by mort
gaging his Morehead home. a few days
thereafter a Gordon of men was thrown
about the town Of Morehead before day
break. to prevent the escape OF any Of the
Tollivsr clan who might seek safety in
fight. At a signal another body Of men
led by Boone Logan. entered Morehead.
and the battle began. Trains were tagged
east and west Of the town. for the double
purpose Of preventing the escape Of the
feudists, and preventing possible injury
10 passengers. More than 1000 shots
were fired. and Craig TOlliver and all of
his retaineTs who could be found were
finally laid out in a row to convince the
people Of MOrehead that the TOlliyer clan
was virtually extinct Boone Logan re-
turned TO the practice OF law. and since
that time has been one Of the most re-
spected citizens Of his State.
Craig TOlliver-the name was originally
Tsliaferro-was a native Of Virginia. He
was said TO be a model husband. He made
a good impression upon strangers. and
had the marks Of good breeding. Allie
". Young, who was charged by the Lo-
gans with completely in the feud. and
who would have been shot down with Tol-
liver If the avengers had caught him
in Morehead, was afterward chairman Of