The Detroit times., 1914-01-10
SETTLERS PLAY
CARDS TO PICK
ROBBER SLAYER
Ozark Feud Story Brings Out
Details of Strangest Game
Ever Played
VICTIM HAD TERRORIZED
THE VICINITY FOR YEARS
After Killing Three Men, Slayer
Gets Sentence of 10 Years
in Prison

OZARK, Mo, Jan THE Missouri
supreme court has affirmed the judg-
ment sentencing 10 the state peniten-
tiary for homicide. James Miles, who
is noted as the man who killed Capt.
Nat Kinney. notorious as the leader
OF the Bald Knobbers.
Twice Miles pleaded self-defense
and won. That was quarter OF a
century ago. Out OF the hills OF Ia
ney county he emerged year ago
nursing an old grudge that many
years OF life as II farmer had failed
TO conquer. Miles took the trail that
led 10 his third killing, and he will
be gone from his old haunts in the
Bald Knobber country for the next
to years.
Years ago Miles sold Enoch Rush
a gallon or mountain dew" for S125
The debt was never paid, the revenue
men stamped out the Illicit traffic
and Rush forgot that he owed Miles
| money.
Miles entered Rush's shop last Au.
gust and a quarrel ensued, Miles shot
Rush dead, adding the third notch TO
his gun.
He surrendered and was sentenced
90 10 years in the penitentiary.
On hearing that the court OF last
resort had decided against him he
said he was ready TO start for prison.
The killing OF Capt. Kinney by
Miles forms one OF the most interest
ing chapters in the annals OF Mis-
souri,. Kinney was held in awe be-
cause. OF his powerful influence and
his persecution OF settlers who did
not do his bidding. People in the
Bald Knobber-infested regions prayed
/ for the time when Kinney would die.
! Sentence OF death was pronounced
on the CHIEF of the Bald Knobbers in
! one Of the most remarkable games OF
cards ever played Miles has always
been credited with having proposed
the game that decreed the death OF
! Kinney. The reign OF the Bald Knob
! bers had reached the stage where life
1 In Christian. fancy and Stone coun-
ties was intolerable Those whose
names were enrolled on the secret
parchments Of the clans had nothing
TO fear, but woe 10 those who had
the lot OF eXecutioneer.
One night in 1883 six men rode
through the woods and assembled al
the Old Billy Herndon farm. They
were to decide which of the six should
kill Capt. Kinney For lack of any
other Idea for designating the man
who was TO do the deed Miles pro
posed a game OF seven-up. the two
losing players to play for the first
seven points. The low man was 10
execute the sentence OF the strange
court.
AT the conclusion of the game II
was found that Miles and Bob Cog
burn were the two low men. In the
| dim light OF a lantern Miles and Cog
burn began playing for the seven
points. Cogburn won and Miles drew
the lot OF executions.
a killing by Kinney short time
before the game was played served
TO aggravate the situation. During a
Christmas entertainment in church
at Taneyville a young man read q
verse which made sighting reference
TO the Bald Knobbers.
Not long afterward Kinney rode
into Taneyville one Sunday morning;
the young man who had cast a re-
Election on the bald Knobbers was
| teaching the Sunday school lesson.
Kinney went TO the church and shot
the teacher dead and then mounted
his horse and rode away.
Mills shot Kinney In store. and
with his brother he was arrested,
tried and acquitted.