The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-18
Renewal of Breathitt War
fare Expected by Noun
tain Folk.
WOUNDED LEADER
TELLS OF SHOOTING
Knows He Is Marked Man. But
Wants to Fight It
Out.
By THEODORE rILLER.

JACKSON. Breathitt County,
KY, June t8.-Ed Callahan, sur
viving leader of the old Hargis-
Callahan feud clan and former
sheriff OF Bloody Breathitt" coun-
ty, will recover from the bullet
wounds recently inflicted by some
of his feudal antagonists who lay in
ambush above his home. His re-
covery means, according to the
mountain folk, a renewal of the
bloody warfare that has cost a score
of lives in Breathitt in the past few
years.
RESULT OF DEATH.
Callahan's death, it is said, might
have ended it all, although within
an hour after he was shot some of
his followers were at the mountain
home of their leader ready and will
ing to begin the exterminaGOn of
his enemies. Callahan lives twenty
five miles across mountain from
Jackson, the nearest town approach
ing civilization.
At his home last night, the des-
.perately wounded man gave me the
first account of the shooting that
has revived the old feeling III
Breathitt county. The so-called feud
leader who has several times faced
the courts on charges of having
other men put to death, is in sore
mental distress.
Advised to Leave.
Some Of his neighbors advise him to
leave the county for good Others are
insisting that he should not run away
and are urging him to fight it out with
powder and lead Callahan himself
said:
II don't know what I am going 20
do. I have worked for what / have
here for forty-six years. It is worth
more to me than anything else. It is
my home. 1 hate to be made to leave
my enemies. If I stay 1 know that I
am a marked man. I told them all
six months ago L was for peace and
that they must fire the first shot. They
have indicated that peace is not wa,le.
ed
AT hrst. I thought I would leave
- -
say stick the others advise me to
90.
Il don't see how they failed 10 get
me the morning 1 was shot ten days
ago. II was hardly sun-up and I had
stepped out of the door of my store
to sweep the steps. I felt a sting in
my side: a second later I heard riffs
report and saw the smoke 300 yards up
the mountain.
Staggered Into Store.
4 staggered back into the store and
called my wife. -Four more shots from
a Winchester IS followed IN quick sue
cession. Then my little son called
80 Papa, hear them running through
the bushes. Ny wife came and brought
me rife. for 1 expected them to come
on and take the store. have no douF*
bond, are the right men"
The bullet that hit Callahan passed
through his body just under the heart.
and went through a candy barrel twenty
feet inside the store. He fell behind
the door. which now shows several bull
let holes. The quick fall probably saved
his life.
Mrs. Callahan has enough OF it all.
She is tearfuily begging her husband
each day to leave Breathitt forever
The special grand jury at JackSon IS
proceeding slowly today with its ihves-
LEGATIONS because a number of noun
taineers refused TO obey the summons
Of the court. not desiring 10 TESTIFY
against the anti-Cailahan feUdists-
Bench warrants were issued for them.
Talked With Feudists
I talked also with the smiths. the
Deatons, and the Johnsons, suspected
of being at the bottom of the attempt
ed assassination of their Old foe. Like
all feudists, they deny completely in
the present onense, but talk unre-
servedIy OF the feudal methods and in
dividual prowess-
John smith believed TO be a potent
hut silent factor in the present trouble
ran away a little over year ago with
C'ailahan's wife. The latter obtained d.
vorce and married again. Smith was 4
former Callahsn-Hargfs heBchman, but
following his famous confession OF par
ticipatiOn in the assassination cf Dr.
Cox and Attorney Marcum. Il Jac<-
son. went to Perry county. His brother,
| Elisha. ana another relative. Levi john
son. are now accused OF the Callahan
shooting Their indictment viii mean
further trouble Their liberation WhI
mean the same
1t seems there is 10 oe no peace in
I Breathitt, said an old mountain phiioss-
opheF today Trouble is sWooping down