The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1908-12-11

william vinson. sr,, and wpey
Literal were killed last Saturday
Arorning on Tug river, Is miles
southeast Of Louisa.
The stories given out by the two
opposing sides are 30 much at
variance that The NEWS can
rot reconcile them into one state
rent. and the only fair thing left for
Us Is TO publish both stories.
rHE OFFICERS STORY.
The following statement Is based
upon the story OF the officers;
In a fierce encounter between Unit
Cd states Revenue officers and
relatives OF a man for
whom they had warrants, two
men were instantly kill
ed near the mouth OF Coon Creek,
Tug river, at an early hour last
saturday morning. Coon creek emp
ties into Tug river on the West
Virginia side. about Is miles above
Louisa. For many months that re-
plon. on both sides OF the river,
has been the scene Of repeated vio-
latlons Of the law, both Federal
and State. The violators were bold
and defiant. and the arrest Of the
yiolators was very difficult matter
en- this account captures were ieS,
and Il has occurred that prisoners
had been taken from the arresina
officers by force OF arms. About
mouth ago Il Is said that Bill Vim
son. sr.. his son, Fillmore Vinson,
and Morris Bates overpowered Consta
lie Ro. sammons and Wiley Literal
n special deputy, ani took from then
Joe vlnson, whom they had under
arrest. This was on the Kentucky
aide Of the river. In this encountsi
pmebody fired shot at sammons
which cut a lock OF hair from his
head.
Sheriff Richard Stone had q war
rant for the arrest OF these parties
charged with rescuing n prisoner
and Deputy United States Marsha
Dan Cunningham, OF West Virgi1ia
had a warrant for the arrest Of 'o'
vinson and others charged
with illegally selling whisk'ey nnt
removing goods from storehous'
after they had been seized by Unit
cd States officer. This latter offense
n by the Government, made felony
The difficulty 10 effecting an ar
rest, the dangerous character Of tn
offenders and the possibility OF
rescue induced the United States
officers and the civil authorities OF
the Kentucky side Of the river Z
man a raid. Sheriff stones posse
consisted OF himself, Marshal Fret
Iiarcum. ]. C. and Henry Johns
Roi sammons and two brothers an'
Wiley Literal
The posse from West Vir
elnla consisted OF Deputy MarshaR
Dan Cunningham, Sam Davis, T G
Cochran and nine other men from
Huntington and Charleston
It had been agreed tha
the raid should not be mad
until after daylight, and up TO
certain point the plans as perfecte'
we're carried sut. Most OF the rart'
went up on the n. AID w, Nrida.
night. Sheriff Stone aud one o.
two Others went up the Point OF
the Kentucky side during the night
The riding party divided into three
squads, one, consisting of Sheriff
stone, Henry Johns and Constable
ssmmons was to watch the hous'
Of Joe vinson, which is on the Ken
mcky side. Another headed b.
marshal Fred Marcum watched tn
shanty boat Of Morris Bates, while
third consisting Of United state
Marshals Cunningham, Davis an
Cochran, and Wiley Literal as
81 ecIal deputy, watched the hous
Of Bill vinson, sr. It is not nxactl
known what caused II, but the plal
Of attack was changed. While ston
and his party were still on tn
kentucky side Of the river the Coy
ernment party closed In on the Vim
non house TO effect an arres'