The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-06
Version of the Trouble


According to the version of the feud
which reached here, while everyone else
was at the barbecue in another section
of the little town the two Etheridges ana
a cousin, VIII Kitcains, rode up to the
little store kept by Luther Morton and
an interchange of invectiVes folloWeo'
which terminted in Will Morton leaving
the house and he and Clayton htchfns
engaging in a fist fight the 1ght
waxed warm and almost simultaneously
shots rang out, perhaps nine or ten ioi-
owing in quick order. When the smoke
cleared away the two Etheridges who
we're standing between the fighters and
the door of Morton's store, were lying on
the ground. Half of the older mans face
was shot away and his brother, Morris,
was shot through the heart.
Ialther Morton was standing IN the
doorway with a magazine shotgun In ms
hand, according to an eye witness OF the
bloody affair. There was a stampede or
people TO the scene
Sheriff Brooks entered the home of the
Mortons while over the dead bodies OF
the Etheridges were heard threatening
mutterings from their friends. Sheriff
Brooks rushed his prisoners to the home
of their mother and at last reports re-
cefved here they were still guarded
there by a posse.
There has been feud between the
families for some time. Three weeks ago
shots were exchanged but no one hurt.
No Need of Troops
At Ills p. M a correspondent of the
Associated Press, who went to Grays
Station by automobile reported back by
telephone that the town was quiet and
that the news that troops were needed
by Sheriff Brooks which he had de-
handed was grossly exaggerated. The
sheriff had his four prisoners hidden at
Clinton, two miles from ,Gray's, accord
ing TO the correspondent. when the au-
tomobile arrived at Clinton Sheriff
Brooks warned the party to go no
further as ne could not guarantee protec-
ton at Grays where he said the Ether
idge and Kitctin factions had made up
their minds to 'burn and dynamite all
warning he had received.
Arriving at Gray's the correspondent
and his party found the small village
wide awake, although displaying no feel
inf nor anticipating trouble few. how
ever were fearful. No violence had been
committed and the crowds about the cor
ners and on the streets were not demon
strative.
Bodies Taken Home
Inc Vi Oltpiltu ana hOIilS GlIit-
ridge had been taken by their friends to
the home of the latter, a place two miles
from Grays station. 1t is asserted the
feud had been smouldering several days
Ten days ago, it is declared by the Ethe-
ridge faction, VIII Morton enticed ne
gro from the farm of Steve Etheridge
to his own. A week ago the men met
on the street here. Following an argu-
ment Morton fired three times No case
was made out in court. Today the Ethe-
ridges, accompanied by Clayton Kitchin,
ride up to the Morton store to bring
matters to conclusion. VIII Morton, II
Is said, agreed to fight Kitchin with his
fists. The men came together and Nor
ton called out that he was whipped. II
is then said that one of the Mortons fired
his shotgun, the charge killing Steve
Etheridge.
Some one. supposedly from an upstairs
window. fred three times at Morris Ethe-
ridge with a revolver The bullets passed
through his stomach, heart ana mouth
Sheriff Brooks rushed his four prisoners
who submitted to arrest peaceably, away
declaring they had warned the Etheridges
to keep away.