Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-06-10
FEUDBLEADER.' -ass:n
SAID TO BEsDYING
James Callahan, The Noted Kentucky
ReudiSt, Now Lying at Deaths
DOOF-Death Will be Sig
nal For Bloody Battle

Lexington, KY, June S.-Crocketts-
vile, in Bloody Breathitt" county,
where Ed Callahan, the long-dreaded
feud leader, lays dying from an assas-
sins bullet, paralyzed from the waist
down, now presents the appearance of
an armed camp as the grim mountain
eer feudists, each with his Winchester
and Colt, pass along its main street.
Callahan, like Jesse James, was shot by
a former henchman, one of several for
mer friends who have turned into his
bitterest enemies, it is said today. No
names are mentioned, but the impress
sion is general that the bloodhounds
that are being used to trail the assas-
sins are for effect, and that the authori-
ties could point directly to the guilty
parties if they dared.
Wilson Callahan, son of the dying
Deatons, has assumed leadership of the
men who are to avenge the shooting of
their leader. Young Callahan's hair
was swept by a bullet yesterday, fol-
lowing the shooting of his father, as he
ran to the house after having been fired
on.
The attack upon him is looked upon as
the result of killing John Spicer, of the
Deaton faction, after Spicer had stab
bed his father.
Yesterdays tragedy has blown the
enbers of the Callahan-D Deaton feud in
TO white heat, and each side is watching
the other for the next move toward
what all feel will be the bitterest feud
battle in all Kentucky's bloody history.
Callahan has been one of the most in
fuential men in Breathitt county, and
his friends and followers are hurrying
to Crockettsville from every corner,
armed and ready to make the Deatons
pay heavily for their deed. His death,
which is but a matter of hours, may
prove the signal to slay.
Callahan knew that his enemies were
after him, but had relied on his we'll
tried luck and prowess to ''get them"
first. He was in Jackson one day last
week to answer a warrant served on
as soon as his case was continued, as he
had been warned that his enemies had
announced they would kill him on sight.
That was his last appearance outside of
Crockettsville.
He had just swept out his store pre-
paratory to opening for the day, and
was brushing the refuse from the front
door when the shot was fired. The ball
took effect in the left side of his abdo-
men.
Callahan was the chief lieutenant of
Judge James Hargis, who was shot and
killed by his son, Beech Hargis, the lat
ter having received q life sentence in
the penitentiary for the murder Judge
Hargis serveral years ago appointed
Callahan sheriff of Breathitt county,
and the enemies of the Hargis clan
claimed they were being prosecuted.
Six years ago Attorney J. B. Marcum
was shot and killed in the street near
the courthouse in Jackson. Callahan
and Hargis were arrested. Later the
widow of Marcum entered suit for dam
ages in the civil court. The death of
Hargis caused delay. Many of the MEM
bers of the Hargis clan had left Breath
lit county, and it was believed the feud
had ended, but the attempted killing of
Callahan shows it has broken out afresh;
and now that Callahan's followers de-
clare they will have revenge on the
Deaton faction it seems improbable that
even the troops, which have been asked
for, can avert further trouble.