The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-11-18
Henry Aliens Death Is
Mysterious.
MS EATHER-|N-LAW TEST|f|ES
Alleged Leader OF P0sSum
Hunters Found Hanging
In Lonely Spot.
COMMUNITY is APPREHENsIyE

Greenville, KY, Nov. 13.-Green-
vile and Muhlenberg county were
cast into furore of excitement
-sarly to-day when news came here
that man had been found hanging
to tree near Hillside this morning
Sheriff Robert Wickliffe received a
call asking him to come to Hillside
and cut the man. down. He went
Immediately and found the body of
Henry Allen, about 80 years old,
dangling to limb just back of the
mine of the Advance Coal Company.
He cut the body down and notified
the Coroner.
This morning as Jethre Jackson
was on his way to his work at one
of the mines he found the body
dangling to a tree. 1t was clad in
underclothes and shoes. Aliens
hands were tied behind him. He
was hanged by piece of ordinary
rope, a part of which had been used
to tie his hands behind him.
Sheriff Wickliffe, after taking
down the body, returned to Green
vile and later, with w. III. Gray,
County Attorney, and some Deputy
Sheriffs, returned to Hillside to hold
the Coroner's inquest
The Coroner's inquest held this
afternoon failed to elicit any, addi-
tional information. Charles Daniels,
father-in-law OF Allen, testified that
someone called Allen at his home
last night and asked him to come
out. Allen put on a pair of Daniels
shoes, he testified, and went out and
did not return. Daniels testified
that he did not make any inquiry
about the whereabouts of Allen until
about 8 O'Clock this morning. He
says he heard some scuffling when
Allen went out of the house. but
made no inquiry until he heard that
Allen was hanged.
Sheriff Wickliffe said tonight
that he proposed to break up the
present reign of lawlessness in Muh-
ienberg county at all hazards. He
said that he would patrol the Hill
side country tonight and every
night until law and order prevails
in Muhlenberg county.
Judge j. ]. Rice stated that he
would offer a substantial reward for
the apprehension, arrest and convic-
tion of the guilty persons. Just who
are responsible for this latest out
rage no one seems to have even the
remotest idea. II is reported
automatically that late last night a
band of armed men was seen in the
outskirts of Central City and that
they fred number of shots, but did
not enter town. 1t is also report |
ed that they whipped couple of
men there and that they came into
town from toward Hillside. The
hanging of Allen occurred in the
early part of the night. and 1t is
argued that the crowd which was in |
Central City was from the neighbor-
hood of Hillside, and that It may
have been implicated In the hanging
of Allen.
i. Allen was In Greenville most of
yesterday and was seen to leave
about dark or little after. He was
under Indictment here for conspir-
ing and banding together with others
for the purpose Of intimidating. anr
was said to be one of the leaders In
the band of "Possum Hunters" who
are charged with committing so
many depredations in this county
lately. Just why he should have
been hanged and by whom is a mys-
terry. The only suggestion heard
is that he may have had trouble
with the others OF the organization
which resulted In their infiicting the
extreme penalty. No other explana-
ton appears possible at this time.
The whole thing has thrown the
community, already apprehensive.
into fever of anxiety. Other out
breaks ar feared momentarily.
Destroy Triples In Mclean.
Island. KY, Nov. l5.--Eight
ajght riders. or 'ossum hunters"
Invaded Mclean county last night
and set fire to a coal tipple near
here owned by Shelby Gish. of Cen