Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-05-03
COAIBING KENTUCKY FEUDIsTs.
Judge Hiram johnson Orders Clean.
ing Up of Mill Creek Section.

Manchester, KY, April 25.-Feud-
lists Of Clay county, who few short
months ago were ready to shoot op-
posing clans on sight, have joined
hands with each other, and with the
civil authorities, to clean up Mill
Creek, following the action Of Cir
cult Judge Hiram j. johnson, who
yesterday issued warrants for the
arrest Of two hundred residents Of
the mountain territory. All persons
IN the Mill Creek territory over IL
years Of age will be taken into GUS
tody by the posse in Judge Johnson's
drive to stop lawlessness in the
mountains Of Kentucky. The posse
men are combing the hills and bring
ing in prisoners. Reports made from
returning officers are to the effect
that many Of those for whom war;
rants have been issued have volun-
tarily surrendered and are coming
into Manchester. Others are planning
to leave the county, and some have
intimated that they will not come,
according to the officers. Judge
Johnsons instructions were "to
bring the men in,' and he announced
that he was going to clean up Mill
Creek If it required the assistance
Of 1000 soldiers.
After issuing sixty warrants Judge
Johnson decided upon the wholesale
plan and ordered all residents over
IL years Of age arrested. Tim and
George Phillit and the Ponder bro
theirs, who were leaders in the fight
against one another In the feud
Which ragged in the Little Goose
neighborhood until the last term OF
court are members of the posse seek
ing out the alleged law-breakers.
The trouble that was started in
and about Mill Creek began Thurs
day, when John Taylor, who had
been summoned as witness in a
land suit, was shot to death from
ambush. Deputy Sheriff Pitt Stivers
later that day was sent into the
ncighborhood with four others to
serve warrants for persons wanted
III connection with the shooting and
other cases. They were attacked by
16 men in ambush. Mr.. Stivcrs was
shot from his horse, and three Of the
horses in the party stopped bullets,
their riders escaping by hiding until
darkness fell.
Deputy Sheriffs D. w. White, Jr.,
and Robert Hacker, members of the
party, reported that "moonshining is
rampant in the Mill Creek section"
They said the ambushers who at
tackled them were armed with high
powered rifles and large calibred pis-
tolls.
A conspiracy among the Mill Creek
residents to thwart the law has cx-
istcd for several months, they de-
clare. Those who are in the conspi-
r"cy have agreed to prevent arrests
OF members by force of arms and, if
necessary, to kill officers who might
attempt to make arrests, the officers
said.
The plotters have agreed among
themselves that they will kill any
who oppose their illegal practices,
according to the two deputy sheriffs.
Judge Johnson gave instructions
when he issued tho Wholesale war;
rants that every dwelling and oft
house in the neighborhood of Mill
Creek be searched and all the high
powered rifles and large calibre pis-
tolls be taken into court.
Jail Filling with Feudists.
Manchester, KY, April 2G.-With
Tho county jail filled to capacity and
the home Of Jailer John Harris shell
tering a large number Of women
prisoners, the Mill Creek section Of
Clay county was quiet to-day. In
Compliance with Circuit Judge Hi
ram J. Johnson's order for the arrest
Of every person over 10 years Of age
in the Mill Creek territory, the Jail
now houses 135 men and many more
are under bond to come before the
grand jury to testify regarding the
murder OF witness and the wound
ing Of a deputy sheriff.
Deputy sheriffs who visited the
Mill Creek territory to make arrests
made affldavits yesterday that there
was an organized band there to vio-
late the laws, and, II necessary, to