USA > Kentucky > Garrard County > A history of the feud between the Hill and Evans parties of Garrard County, Ky. The most exciting tragedy ever enacted on the bloody grounds of Kentucky > Part 7
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NOT long after the Scott's Fork tragedy, Dr. Hill received a supply of new troops, from Washington county, known as the Washington troops, or Washington recruits. They were a set of low-bred fellows, loafers, and rioters by profession at home, and hired to fight at fifteen dollars per month, with a standing reward of five dollars extra for a scalp of the Evans party.
One evening Dr. Hill mustered his forces, and sent Dr. Evans word that he wanted to quit fighting - that he had never had any hand in the fight, and that he did not wish to have any thing whatever to do with it. In reply, Dr. Evans sent him word that he was a liar - that he was the leader of the band, and had pretended for the last three years to have a right to shoot at him - that he was now at liberty to use his pretended right, for there was not room enough on the top of the ground for both of them in Garrard county. They continued their old practice of waylaying the roads, and laying around Dr. Evans's house, shooting at any of the family, or party, whenever seen.
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In May, the grand jury indicted a good many of them for killing Sellars and Chrismon, but the county court granted them bail. After giving bail, they resumed the war with renewed
. vigor. They watched the fields, and when any of the Evans boys attempted to work, they attacked and drove them home. On this account, they were compelled to keep out a strong guard all the time. Thus, so many sentries were required that few of the party remained to till the crop. Soon, the Hill party increased to such a number that none of the Evanses could work - they could not do more than protect themselves .-- . Hence, they stayed at home, pretty well confined to the house, and did not venture out in several days.
One afternoon at dinner, during this inactivity, Sam seemed almost delirious -- the augmenting troubles bore so heavily upon his mind. He observed to the other boys, as they silently masticated their cheerless repast :---
" Boys, let us wipe up our guns and take a squirrel hunt this evening, for we must drive them devils off somehow ! We. are not able to whip the whole party ourselves, at least, so long as they can hire half of Washington county to help them, so'we " must see who will help us ! "
They put their guns in shooting order, and went over to Capt. Murphy's. They stayed there all night, and returned next morning with three or four other men -Jack May being one of the number. On Sunday morning they all left except May, and he told the Doctor :----
" I am afraid to stay at home - they have been laving around my house for some time, and shooting at me every chance. You know I have but an indifferent log cabin - they can go into it any time, take me out and serve me like they did Sellars and Chrismon."
" You are welcome to stay here, if you are afraid to stay at home," replied the Doctor.
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Reader, you have, doubtless, watched the conduct of the two : parties, with scrutiny, up to this period. The Hills, you have seen, were perfectly abandoned to all the vices to which the human race is heir - possessed of hearts dead to all the holy principles of humanity and rectitude, and minds regal lless of the mandates of honor, and uninfluenced by those higher qualifi- ..
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THE EVENTS OF BEDSTER'S DEATH. 79
cations which are characteristic of a lofty soul. They took every advantage, no matter how low and mean, waylaid the roads, besieged the house at night, and spread reports that were as false and base as the hearts that gave them birth. On the other hand, you cannot have failed to admire the straightforward and honorable course of the Evans party. By this, it is not intended to be said, that the Evans party never did anything ,wrong during the war; for it is a moral impossibility for any man, or set of men, to go through such protracted excitement and danger, without doing that which staid and sober inen might pronounce blameable. But so far as my information extends, they never condescended to practice the low tricks of which the enemy were so fond. They never laid in ambush about either house or road ; nor did they begin a fight, or intentionally place themselves in such a situation as would bring on a rencounter, Indeed, it was almost impossible for them to be guilty of such mean conduct, for their number was so very small that they were compelled to act entirely on the defensive, and had not the men to thus vigorously prosecute the war. So far as was practicable and safe, they attended to their different occupations, and never collected in bands, unless forced to do so by an attack of the enemy. But henceforth, you will perceive them act in the offensive as well as the defensive. This course of conduct was necessary for their safety, and the only means of bringing the feud to a close. Sam's remark, on an evening previous, that they would have to run the Hills off, led their minds to these conclusions, and marks a grand division in the events of our little history. Hence, from this time forth, they tried to surprise the enemy and kill them at every opportunity, for they knew this was the only way to rid the country of the pest. They did not, however, resort to any contemptible stratagems to deceive the enemy, but often went in companies to give more decisive battles.
A few days after the Evanses had resolved upon their future mode of carrying on the war, the Doctor wanted some of the necessaries of life for his family, and remarked to the boys, as they sat gloomily around :--
" Boys, since the Hills have possession of Lancaster, which
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prevents us from going there, will you go over to 'Squire Bruner's and get me some little things ?"
" Father we are afraid to go. We have but little ammunition and cannot begin to resist such a host as will come upon us."
" It is true that you have not an abundance of ammunition, but I will risk the chances of your whipping the whole party when commanded by such a piece of cowardice as Dr. Hill. But you can go through the woods to Richardson's ferry and cross the river before they can learn that you are out. You must not let them know that I am here alone, for they might storm the house and kill me and the little children, and I know they would not have humanity enough to spare your mother.
". "We will go, but dread it. It is certain if we do not go and get something to subsist upon, we will starve. There are only two alternatives -- we had better run a risk in getting food than meet the sure fate of starvation."
" Very well, but if the Hills learn that you have gone, they will waylay the road on your return. For this reason you had better return by way of Teeter's ferry, and thus avoid them."
The boys went and procured the necessaries as directed by their father. On their return, about dusk, they * met two of the Hill party, Nelson Sutherland, (better known by the ille- gitimate naine of Bedster,) and Jim Hill, not far from the mouth of Sugar creek, at the junction of Scott's Fork, near 'Squire Level's house. The boys saw them first, about sixty yards distant, and as Bedster was a few paces before Hill, they raised their guns and fired upon him. Bedster raised his gun and was in the act of shooting when the balls struck him, caus ing him to wheel, run about a hundred yards and fall. Jim Hill leaped into a deep ravine beside the road and fired at them with a double-barrel shot-gun, then wheeled and ran back toward the creek. They gave him a hot chase for about three hundred yards, and shot him in the hip, which brought him to the ground. They shot him again through the thigh as he fell, and would have killed him, but his supplications for mercy stayed the blood-thirsty dagger. They were more than anxious to kill :
* The Doctor is not responsible for these facts, for they were not proven in court, but I can assure the reader that the boys did kill Bedster. I gained the information from a reliable source.
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him, ut his prayers for mercy touched their hearts with com- passion.
Now look at the contrast between the two parties! When Chrismon was lying in a helpless condition with a mortal wound in his bowels, he besought them to have mercy, but they told him that they had no mercy, that he must pray to his God for mercy. When the Evanses had one of the enemy in their power, and could have plunged a knife to his heart, his implo- rings moved them to pity, even after they had sworn unrelenting vengeance.
When Bedster fell, he had a rifle, a Colt's large repeater, two single-barrel pistols, and a very large bowie-knife. The pistols and knife were worn in a belt, in regular land-pirate fashion. Upon examination, Dr. Hill said that four rifle balls passed through his heart, several went into his neck, and others struck the gun stock.
Several of the Hill party said they were near by and saw the fight, and recognized every one of the Evans party at the distance of three or four hundred yards. Others said they ran three-quarters of a mile to him, after he fell, and that he was yet alive and talked to them, telling that the Evans party killed him, and of whom the party was composed. Now we can scarcely believe this. To believe that he ran even a hundred yards after four large rifle balls had mutilated his heart, is as much as my credulity can support. But it would have been a miracle had he lived longer than a man could run three-quarters of a mile. What think you, reader ? The Hills immediately swore out a warrant and had the boys tried before two justices of the peace, Kurty and Terrel. The trial resulted in an ac- quittal, doubtless, for the want of reliable testimony.
The Hills kept pretty closely forted up all summer. They staid principally at Dr. Hill's in Lancaster, but made frequent excursions through the country in search of the enemy. The houses of Fred and Bill Hill were also converted into forts, rendering convenient service as military stations, forts, arsenals, magazines etc., when they chanced to go out on an expedition. Since they thus had possession of Lancaster, Dr. Evans could not go there to prosecute his suits against them, but they could prosecute him, or party, and not even permit him to be at the trial. 6
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While ont on these scouring expeditions they were usually drunk, at least the majority of them were, and would shoot at people who happened to resemble any of the Evans party. They shot at a certain doctor several times, supposing him to be Dr. Evans-and a young man, resembling one of the boys, was in imminent danger, for pistols were frequently presented at him, and bowie-knifes often glittered in the light, ready to make sad havoc with an innocent victim. In fact, no one was certain of personal safety in such a condition of affairs. They knew not how soon a ball from some drunken marksman, might sap their heart's blood, nor could their feelings be free from fear that a revengeful assassin might spring from his covert and make a life pay the forfeit of some careless expression, or & just desire to put an end to the feud by bringing both parties rigidly to justice.
In view of these facts, the people held a public meeting in August, at Lancaster, to devise means to put an end to a war so dangerous to themselves, and so detrimental to the character and prosperity of their county. It had such a powerful influ- ence upon the community that several men removed from the county to get rid of the excitement and danger. And its in- fluence was equally as powerful abroad, for if a Garrard man happened to be crowded in a street or any public place, if he : wanted elbow-room, all he had to do was to tell those near him that he was from Garrard county. The knowledge of this simple fact would procure him all the room that he could desire, for they feared to be near Garrard people, having heard so much of their wide-spread fame for a warlike and fierce dispo- sition. The meeting passed a resolution that they would hence- forth, strictly execute the law on both parties. There were several gaseous speeches on the occasion, but their weight if they had any, was not felt, for buncombe speeches are usually as light as hydrogen.
Dr. Evans then wrote a letter to Dr. Hill, proposing to settle the difficulty -- stating that if they, the Hills, would give bond and security to keep the peace, the war should cease. Dr. Hill wrote back in reply that he would not leave the settlement of the feud to Dr. Evans's arbitrary dictation, but that ho would leave it to some of the good citizens to say what should
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be done. "Accordingly, they respectively chose two men to act as arbitrators. This committee wrote several propositions, or articles of agreement, before they could get one to meet Dr. Hill's approbation. They were honest and honorable men. and very anxious to settle the difficulty, hence, they kept changing the propositions till they finally succeeded in getting one that Dr. Hill would sign. They then carried the proposition down to Dr. Evans, to get his signature. When he read it he re- marked :-----
" I might as well sign away my life at once. It only binds us upon our word and honor. Now, you know that these Hills have no veracity, and that they are as devoid of honor as the devil is of righteousness - and you know, furthermore, that we will preserve inviolate any stipulation entered into by me. Their pledge is worthless, for they have no honor to pledge ; and if they have, I would not trust them. I want stronger bonds than their mere promise. The article binds us to lay down all arms, and use none under any pretext whatever. From this, their design is very evident - it is a scheme to take my life, while I am totally unarmed. They would not observe it, but would shoot me down at first sight. But if you say I. must sign it, I will do so."
After this exposition of the nature and consequences of such a stipulation, they did not desire his signature. Dr. Evans went to town the next day and tried to get a reconsideration. The arbitrators chosen by the Hill party at first agreed to a reconsideration, but afterward refused, being advised by Dr. Hill. Dr. Evans then consulted his friends to know whether he should sign the articles of agreement as they stood. They advised him not to do it. This circumstance gave the Hills & favorable opportunity of spreading false reports - making loud pretensions that they were anxious to settle the feud. These reports had some weight with the people, and in some degree turned the tide of public sentiment, for they, apparently, were supported by facts.
The regular time for court soon came on, and the grand jury indicted the boys for killing Bedster.
On the same day of the indictment, I presume, the Doctor and his sons went to a public sale. They met there Joe
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Murphy, one of the Hill party. who pretended that he wished . to become friendly, But the Doctor would hold no conference with him, believing that he wanted only to get a good oppor- tunity to shoot. He told Murphy's friends if they would go his security that he had no malicious design in thus trying to make friends, that he would come to terms of conciliation. But his friends would not go this security. The Doctor then told them that he did not want Murphy to speak to him, nor come near enough to shoot. Murphy swore to his friends that he had no weapons of any kind whatever. But this was soon proven false, for he was seen behind a tree trying to shoot one of the Doctor's sons. His friends told him that he had better leave the place and go home. He swore by G-d if he had to run away from a place on account of Dr. Evans, he would go home, arm himself, and kill every one of the Evans party that he could find. Accordingly he went home, got his riffe, and concealed himself in a cornfield near the road, which it was supposed the Doctor would pass on returning home. But fortunately he did not get to his ambush till the Doctor had passed.
While the Doctor was yet at the sale, the sheriff approached him, and said :
" I am sorry that your boys have come here to-day, I have an indictment against them, and it is my duty to take them."
" There they are," replied the Doctor, "you can take them. We have been dodging from the Hills, but we do not intend to dodge the law, or its officers."
" It will not make much difference with the boys anyhow, for your lawyers are making arrangements to have their trial on next Wednesday."
: " They will go with you now, or at any future day you may propose - they are not afraid of the law. But you must let them carry their arms to defend themselves against the Hills."
" I would like to have them on next Wednesday at the trial."
" Very well, we will meet you in Lancaster on that day, if you will say nothing to the boys about it. To mention it to them would do no good, but make them a little uneasy perhaps, and unruly."
The Doctor went with the boys to Lancaster, according to
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promise, but the Hills put the trial off till Saturday, pretending not to be prepared to prosecute it. When he found that the trial had been deferred till Saturday, the Doctor asked the sheriff to let the boys go back home with him. The sheriff replied :
" I cannot possibly let them go. The Hills are already slandering me for letting them have too much liberty."
" Do you not believe that the boys will return on Saturday ?"
" I have not a shadow of a doubt on that point. But rather than be slandered, as I know I will be, if I let them go, I would rather keep them here in the hotel and pay their board myself."
" You can let them go home with a guard - I will board guard and all for nothing. The Hills know that I will have to attend the trial on Saturday, and they will attempt to kill me if I venture to come alone. I am afraid to go home by myself, for it is impossible for me to get there without being shot at. You have no reason for detaining them here, for you know they will come at the time appointed, as certain as the decrees of heaven."
" You know it is not pleasant for an officer to be slandered on account of not performing his duty. They must not go !"
The Hills expected Dr. Evans to return that evening, and intended to waylay the road, and left Bill Hill, the Doctor's brother, in town to watch him, and give the signal of his departure, that they might be ready for his approach. The Doctor finally set out for home, but rode so briskly that Hill did not have time to give the warning till he had passed. Thus, had Bill Hill been a little more expedite, the Hill party would have been ready, and Dr. Evans death would have been almost inevitable. But Providence disposed otherwise.
. I am of opinion that the sheriff had no good reason to support his conduct toward the boys. If the boys were subject to his custody, it seems evident that he should have lodged them in jail, instead of in a public tavern. If he had the power to let them remain at a tavern, he had the power to let them go home under a guard. But correct actions could scarcely be expected under such prevailing excitement.
Now, as the Doctor had succeeded in getting home, it was a matter of much doubt whether he could return to Lancaster
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.on the appointed Saturday, for the Hills had all their plans mature, and all their men well trained in their respective parts of the expected tragedy. But at the appointed time several neighbors came in to accompany him, and do the office of guard. Ifis company was also augmented by several witnesses in the pending suit, and those of his party not in the custody of the sheriff. The company was about to set out without their rifles, .but the Doctor begged them not to be guilty of such folly.
" You had better take along your long guns, for we will be attacked, and some of us killed before we get to Lancaster."
" Oh, it will look too bad for a company of armed men to ride into town in this manner ! It will prejudice the people against you, and have an unfavorable influence in the boys' trial."
" If you don't take them, I will not go, for we will have bloody work before we get there --- some of us will be killed ! " " Why don't you take long arms then ? "
" Because I can use short arms better. I cannot yet well use my wounded hand. If you don't take them, some of us will be killed as sure as the sun shines." ,
" If any body gets killed, it will be you."
.. "I know they will shoot at me, but you know they are marksmen not remarkable for precision, and might do a bad piece of work for some of those near me."
The Doctor could not prevail on them to carry any long guns, and they started off with only small arms. When they had gone a few hundred yards, he called them together to hold a council about the mode of defence, should they be attacked. As they had ever considered him their general, they left the matter with him. He told them : -
" It is far better to fight bravely than to run cowardly. In the one case you have a chance to kill an enemy, in the other, only a chance to get killed yourself. If they attack us, the the first one that sees where the shots come from, must fire in that direction, then the whole party will gallop up near enough to shoot with our small arms. When we get within pistol shot, we must jump down behind our horses and fight with the bravery of the world-renowned Spartans. If we do this they will get the worst of the battle."
They rode along without any molestation till they got nearly
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to Lancaster, within sight of Dr. Hill's house. As they approached, they noticed a considerable stir and excitement about the premises. There were a great many people in the road, going to hear the trial. 'Squire Kurtz, Hackley, and Dr. Tillett were riding along abreast --- Dr. Evans rode up on the right hand side, (the house being on the left,) and observed : ---
" Good morning, gentlemen ! I believe I will take shelter behind you till we get past the fort. They certainly will not kill three clever men to get one bad one ! "
" Oh, I reckon there's no danger ! " - replied one of them. " Yes there is danger, and considerable danger too. If we give them only half a chance you will hear the battle's roar."
When they had passed the house some distance, far enough to be out of danger of balls coming from thence, the Doctor fell back into his own company, with James Brim on his right side and Jesse May on the left. As soon as he resumed his position, he heard a gun fire. The report was very singular, apparently deadened by being in a hole in the ground. The Doctor thought that it could scarcely be shot at them, but checked his horse and turned to see if he could discover the locality of the shooter. At that instant another gun fired, which convinced the Doctor that they were shooting at him and his company. He then commanded his company to charge on the house - at the same time wheeling his horse in that direction. But to his consternation, when he looked to see if his company obeyed the command, he saw them all running away, save Bill Murphy, who was looking up into a tree, believing them to be up there concealed in the leaves. At that instant another gun fired, and he observed to Murphy : -
" Let's go away from here, we can't see where the shots come from ! "
The Doctor wheeled his horse and galloped up the road. At that instant two more balls were fired at him. James Brim and Jesse May were riding on some distance ahead. When the Doctor overtook them, May observed : -
" Doctor, they have hit me - they have killed me !"
" I hope not, Jesse. Hold on and ride fast !"
" Indeed ! indeed they have, Doctor - they have killed me !"
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They were all in a brisk lope, but May checked his horse and reined him to one side of the road, and was apparently falling. The Doctor rode up to his side and caught him as he was falling, but at that moment another gun was fired at him. As Hackerly was near by the Doctor asked him to take care of May, if he pleased. - that they would not shoot him. When Hackerly turned to May another gun fired.
The Doctor's sons at the tavern, heard the shooting and ran down to meet them. The Doctor told them to go back, that they had no arms, but to go back and arm themselves with rifles, then hunt for the concealed marksmen. They went back. Mav was carried into town, but did not speak another word after the Doctor left him, and died in half an hour. James Brim had a ball pass through the breast of his coat, but it did not cut his flesh.
There were two of the Hill party, Ples Huffman, and one of the young Hills, stationed in an old well. near the road, to shoot at the Doctor as he passed. This accounts for the dead sound of the gun's report. Dr. Hill and Joe Murphy were lying behind the fence, and covered over with weeds that had been cut down a day or two before. Others of the party were scattered along the fence towards town.
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