The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-07-02
KENTUCKY FEELS SAFER

ard-Eyersoles vendetta that waged
for Ave years or more. At least forty
persons we're killed. Knott county on
the north was the scene Of the Jones
Wright feud war Of ten years dura-
ton.
Detective John w. Wright, Of
Letcher county, who has done more
to bring the Ku Klux Khan war to a
close than any other man in the state,
commanded the forces on the Wright
side in this memorable conflict.
/ Several skirmishes were fought
over the Knott border in Letcher
county during the war-the war
which put more than thirty people
sleeping on the hillsides,
From the organization of the ku
Klux Khan in Letcher county in the
year 1880 up to 1S92-a reign of
twelve years-many murders and
robberies were committed.
During these years spirit of con-
tention was being waged between DR..
NJ. B. Taylor, once a noted mountain
physician and Cal and Hanan Flem
mings, brothers on one side and the
family of Ira Mullins, seven strong,
on the other. 1t was one beauti-
full summer morning, June 10, 1892,
that the enemy, DR.. Taylor and Elem
mlngs, lay in wait In a secluded spot
near the public roadway on Cumber-
land mountains, leading across into
Virginia. For days they lay in
wait.
The Mullins were driving in wag-
on. At length they quietude of the
mountains were wrought in con-
fusion. its stiffness reverbcrated by
hundreds OF rife shots from the out
laws, and the lives Of six of the fam
lily of seven were forfeited Here is
the scene that met the eyes Of the
| hundreds who were called to the
mountain trail:
Ira Mullins, the head Of the house
hold, lay gasping for his last breath
across the breast Of his devoted wife,
who was dead. Two balls had pierced
her heart. Nearby lay the PROSTATE
form of Eva Mullins, the 17-year-old
daughter. One ball had pierced her
forehead. On the opposite side lay
two sons and daughter-in-law dead.
John Harrison Mullins, years old.
the only surviving member, jumped
from the shackly old wagon just as
the firing was begun and fled for his
life.
Shot after shot was fired at him as
he disappeared into the underbrush.
Two balls pierced the crown of his
hat and a third cut his suspender in
twain.
Today, with tears trickling down
his cheeks. John Harrison Mullins re-
cites the experiences Of that day,
while now and forever, even after
death, he swears, Mullins is an
avowed enemy of the Ku Klux Khan.
He has sworn by higher power that
he will fight them to a finish for all
time. and like most mountaineers,
Mullins has been true TO his words,
his convictions. Time nor change
can effect nothing in this case.
Three months later 1t became
known that DR.. Taylor and the Flem-
ings were Ku Klux Khan members,
were avowed enemies of the Mullins
family and had been since the day
before the day of the battle. Sever
al notable circumstances were shown
that these men we're guilty of the
murder of the Mullins family, and
must be proved so, otherwise dark
blot would be cast upon the officials
of the two commonwealth, Kentucky
and Virginia.
Wise county and the state of Vir-
ginia offered rewards of $500 for
each outlaw, while the state of Ken
lucky and Letcher county put on
another $500 for each. Detectives
and county sheriffs began systematic
searches.
For months the search was kept
up. At length the outlaws were
found near Camden, on the Gauley
river, Greenbrier county. w. Va,
heavily fortified.
The officers knew that to charge
on them meant death, as they had
a wagon load of munitions stored in
their retreat. At length charge was
made, which resulted in glorious
victory for the officers Dr. Taylor,
the decided leader, was captured.
Cal FlemIngs was captured and Han
an Flemings was wounded, and he
gave up in the thickest of the bat
tie.
They were brought to Wise Court
house, Va, and placed In county Jail
amid the most intense excitement
that was ever known there. In Jan
uary following they were tried in the
Wise county court.
DR.. Taylor received a death sem
tence, while the two Flemings broth
ers were each given life sentences in
the Virginia penitentiary. In Octo-
Der, the same year, DR.. Taylor was
hanged for his participation in the
crime Of the Mullins family, thus the
chapter in one of the most exciting
murders in the history of the Ku
Klux Khan depredations was closed.
The hanging of Taylor and the life
sentences Of the Flemings inspired
new life and hatred in the veins of
the remaining Ku Klux Khan mem
bers, but for a time there was quiet
in the camps.
Two years later, however, the Ku
Klux Khan faction showed a member
ship Of perhaps 200 in Letcher coun-
ty alone, while each of the adjoining
counties contained more or less Ku
Klux Khan members. From 1895 to
the spring Of 1900. more than al
most the whole OF the mountains
peaceful homes were pillaged, far