Double Murder Supposed to be Continuation of Feud, Laurel, 1908

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Click here for a list of my other Pulaski/Rockcastle/Laurel County KY articles

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[December 1, 1908] -

KENTUCKY FEUD

IS RESUMED

(United Press Leased Wire.)

London, Ky., Dec. 1.--The Whittaker-Burns [Barnes?] feud is reopened today, following the killing of Will Merritt Barnes, aged 50, and his step-daughter, Mrs. Ellen Taylor, aged 30, last Sunday. Members of the opposing clans are heavily armed today and more tragedies are expected.

Barnes was shot by Will Tyree and Mrs. Taylor by a cousin named Barnes. Nearly a dozen have been killed in this feud within the past 15 or 20 years, all related by blood or by marriage. Three years ago two of the Whittakers were killed and the Barnes brothers were charged with the murder. A year ago a son of Will Merritt Barnes killed a Whittaker in Pulaski county but was acquitted.

Sunday Tyree and Barnes killed a Whittaker in Pulaski county. Barnes went to the home of Mrs. Ellen Taylor, where Barnes, her father was being shaved. When he arose Tyree shot him with a 45-70 Winchester. Mrs. Taylor ran for a shotgun, and Barnes filled her breast with buckshot. Both men escaped. Barnes died at 5 o'clock, and Mrs. Taylor a little later. [1]

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[December 2, 1908] -

Posse Searches For Murderers.

Lexington, Ky., Dec. 1. -- A sheriff's posse is searching the mountains in Laurel county for William Tyree and Robert Barnes, who are charged with the murder of William Barnes and Mrs. Emma Taylor.  The double murder was the result of a long standing family feud between the Whitaker, Mize and Barnes families, in which many people have been slain on both sides. [2]

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[December 2, 1908] -

WOMAN A FEUD VICTIM

Kentucky Family War Claims Two More Sacrifices.

[Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.]

Lexington, Ky. Dec. 1 -- After waiting 15 minutes for William Barnes to finish shaving and otherwise complete his toilet last Saturday, Robert Barnes, with his cousin, William Tyree, called Barnes to his front door and killed him. When Mrs. Ellen Taylor, a granddaughter, attempted to interfere and defend himself, she, too, was shot dead. It is charged by son of the dead man that Tyree killed the old man, while a bullet from the gun of young Barnes killed Mrs. Taylor.

The killing was done near the Pulaski county border, and, although Deputy Sheriff W. N. Scoville and an armed posse went from London immediately after the tragedy, the men have not been apprehended. It is said they are hiding in the hills of Pulaski county, where both have numerous relatives.

This tragedy is the result of a feud of 40 years. The fact that intervals of several years have elapsed between killings has kept it from becoming so well known as some of the other feuds of the mountains. Notwithstanding this, records show that the feud has been as bloody as the notorious Baker Howard feud, which raged for years in the adjoining county of Clay, and in which many followers on each side lost their lives.

According to the information furnished the officers by John Barnes, son of the dead man, who was sick in bed and unable to give assistance, Tyree and Robert Barnes appeared at the house and called for William Barnes to come out. They were told by Mrs. Taylor that her father was shaving. When they replied that they would  wait Mrs. Taylor became suspicious, as both men carried shotguns. Mrs Taylor warned the elder Barnes, and, to protect him she placed a shotgun within his reach. Barnes, however, allayed her fears by saying that the men did not mean to harm him, and proceeded to the door without the gun. 

Just as Barnes opened the door Tyree raised his gun and fired, and Barnes fell across the threshold. Mrs. Taylor seized the gun and attempted to open fire, when her cousin, Robert Barnes, laid her low.

Many of the most prominent families in Laurel county have engaged in the feud, among them the Whitakers, Mizes, Taylors and Barnes. Ever since the killing of William Whitaker by William Mize, 40 years ago, there has been war between relatives of the two families. At that time it was known as the Whitaker Mize feud, but time has stamped out some of the families, and since then it has been known as the Whitaker Barnes feud adn the Barnes Taylor feud, with the Warren and Arnold families also siding with one or the other of the factions and taking part in many of the killings. 

The wife of William Barnes, the latest victim was a Whitaker, and it is a notable fact that a majority of the victims have been members of the Whitaker families or families who were intermarried with the Whitakers.

Among those killed within the last five years have been William I. Whitaker, by Lou Bolton, Elisha Whitaker, by James Mize, and Henry Whitaker and John Farmer, killed by each other in a duel. Harvey Mize killed his wife and her brother, Ray Whitaker, because of the brother's objections to the marriage. Lum Whitaker was killed by J. W. Woodall, Roy Whitaker, by two of the Barnes boys, and Julius Warren, who married a Whitaker, killed James Arnold and his son, Harland Arnold, who were henchmen of the Barneses. Just why Robert Barnes killed Mrs. Taylor is not definitely known, although it is believed to be due to the fact that she married a Taylor, his enemy, and then attempted to kill the slayer of her grandfather. [3]

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[December 2, 1908] -

MURDERERS AT LARGE

They Are Being Pursued in Mountains by Sheriff's Posse.

LEXINGTON, KY., December 1. -- A sheriff's posse is searching the mountains in Laurel county to-day for William Tyree and Robert Barnes, who are charged with the murder last Sunday, of William Barnes and Mrs. Emma Taylor.  The double murder was the result of a long-standing family feud between the Whitaker, Mize and Barnes families, in which many people have been slain on both sides.

According to the story told by Barnes's granddaughter, Tyree and Robert Barnes appeared at the home of William Barnes on Sunday, and, without giving William Barnes a chance for his life, shot and killed him.  Mrs. Taylor appeared on the scene with a shotgun, but before she could fire she received the contents of a gun fired by Robert Barnes.

The men then made their escape to the mountains.

Many Killed in Feud.

LEXINGTON, KY., December 1. – At least a dozen persons have been killed during the last five years in the Whitaker-Barnes feud.  Among the deaths in the Whitaker, Mize and Barnes families and their relatives were the killing of William Whitaker by Tom Bolton; Elisha Whitaker by James Mize; Willie Whitaker and John Farmer, who killed each other; Harvey Mize killed his wife and dangerously stabbed her brother, Ray Whitaker; Lum Whitaker was killed by J. W. Woodall; Roy Whitaker by two of the Barnes boys; Julius Warren, who married a Whitaker, killed James Arnold and his son, Harland Arnold.

The wife of William Barnes, one of the victims of Sunday's tragedy, was a Whitaker.  Most of the victims of the feud have been of the Whitaker family. [4]

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[December 2, 1908] -

40-YEAR FEUD REVIVED.

Man and Woman Slain in Mountains of Kentucky.

Lexington, Ky., Dec. 1.--A sheriff's posse is searching the mountains in Laurel County today for William Tyree and Robert Barnes, who are charged with the murder last Sunday of William Barnes and Mrs. Emma Taylor. The shooting was the result of an outbreak of a feud of forty years' standing between the Whitaker, Mize and Barnes families, in which many persons have been slain on both sides.

William Tyree and Robert Barnes appeared at the home of William Barnes on Sunday, and without giving him a chance for his life shot an killed him. Mrs. Taylor appeared on the scene with a shotgun, but before she could fire she received the contents of a gun fired by Robert Barnes. The men then made their escape to the mountains.

At least a dozen persons have been killed in the last five years in the feud. Among the incidents in the Whitaker, Mize and Barnes families and their relatives was the killing of William Whitaker by "Tom" Bolton, Elisha Whitaker by James Mize, "Willie" Whitaker and John Farmer, who killed each other, "Harve" Mize killed his wife and dangerously stabbed her brother, Ray Whitaker; Lum Whitaker was killed by J. W. Woodall, Roy Whitaker by two of the Barnes boys, Julius Warren, who married a Whitaker, killed James Arnold and his son, Harland Arnold.

The wife of William Barnes, one of the victims of Sunday's tragedy, was a Whitaker.  Most of the victims of the feud have been of the Whitaker family. [5]



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[December 3, 1908] -

OLD FEUD OPENED: --London, Ky. Nov. 30. – As a result of a revival of the feud between relatives of the Whitaker, Mize and Barnes families another double tragedy has been enacted in the killing of William Maret Barnes, a farmer, fifty years old, and Mrs. Ellen Taylor, who was a Barnes, aged thirty-two years.

The slayer of Barnes is alleged to be William Tyree.  Robert Barnes, a cousin of William Maret Barnes, killed Mrs. Taylor.  The shooting occurred yesterday near the Bunch Postoffice, not far from the Pulaski county line.--Louisville Herald. [6]

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[December 3, 1908] -

The killing of William Barnes and Mrs. Ellen Taylor is a new chapter in the Laurel county family feud. [7]

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[December 4, 1908] -

On Sunday morning Will Merritt Barnes was shot by Will Tyree, and Mrs. Ellen Taylor, step-daughter of Mr. Barnes, a few moments later was shot by a cousin, Bob Barnes.  The shooting occurred at the home of Mrs. Taylor, near the Pulaski county line, and is the result of an old feud.--London Democrat. [8]

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[December 10, 1908] -

Man Hunters Scour Hills.

Lexington, Ky.--A sheriff's posse is searching the mountains of Laurel county for William Tyree and Robert Barnes, charged with killing William Barnes and Mrs. Emma Taylor, as a result of a family feud.  The feud has been under way for 40 years, and many people have been slain on both sides.  In the past 10 years, however, the Barnes and Taylor families have left off killing each other until this latest outbreak.  [9]

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[June 1, 1909] -

Accomplice In A Killing Gets Five Years In Pen.

LONDON, Ky., May 31. – The jury in the case against Robert Barnes, charged as an accomplice in the killing of Will Merritt Barnes last November, rendered a verdict in which they gave the defendant five years in the penitentiary. [10]

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[April 2, 1915] -

Oscar McIntyre and William Tyree who were charged with the murder of Albert Kock at Bernstadt in Laurel County seven or eight years ago were caught in Pine Bluff, Arkansas by Deputy Sheriff Herman Scoville, of Laurel County last week.  Tyree is also facing a charge of murdering William Maret Barnes, in Laurel County, near Yaho, in 1909. [11]

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[1] "Kentucky Feud is Resumed." Daily Capitol Journal, Salem, OR. December 1, 1908. Page 1. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn99063957/1908-12-01/ed-1/seq-1/

[2] "Posse Searches For Murderers." The Winchester News, Winchester, KY. December 2, 1908. Page 4. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86069133/1908-12-02/ed-1/seq-4/

[3] "Woman a Feud Victim." The Sun, Baltimore, MD. December 2, 1908. Page 1. Genealogybank.com.

[4] “Murderers At Large.” The Times Dispatch, Richmond, VA. December 2, 1908. Page 1. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038615/1908-12-02/ed-1/seq-1/


[5] "40-Year Feud Revived." New York Tribune, New York, NY. December 2, 1908. Page 1. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1908-12-02/ed-1/seq-1/

[6] “Old Feud Opened.” The Citizen, Berea, KY. December 3, 1908. Page 1. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052076/1908-12-03/ed-1/seq-1/


[7] Excerpt from "Kentucky Kernels." The Paducah Evening Sun, Paducah, KY. December 3, 1908. Page 4. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052114/1908-12-03/ed-1/seq-4/

[8] Excerpt from "In Neighboring Counties." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. December 4, 1908. Page 1. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052021/1908-12-04/ed-1/seq-1/


[9] "Man Hunters Scour Hills." Owingsville Outlook, Owingsville, KY. December 10, 1908. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86069620/1908-12-10/ed-1/seq-3/

[10] “Accomplice in a Killing Gets Five Years in Pen.” The Lexington Herald, Lexington, KY. June 1, 1909. Page 10. GenealogyBank.com.

[11] The Mount Vernon Signal, Mount Vernon, KY. April 2, 1915. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86069561/1915-04-02/ed-1/seq-3/


See also:
"Feudists Make Woman a Victim." The Evening Statesman, Walla Walla, WA. December 2, 1908. Page 2. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085421/1908-12-02/ed-1/seq-2/

"Double Murder Result of an Ancient Feud." The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, UT. December 2, 1908. Page 1. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045396/1908-12-02/ed-1/seq-1/

"Double Killing Results from Old Family Feud." Dulth News-Tribune, Duluth, MN. December 2, 1908. Page 4. Genealogybank.com.

"Foul Feudist Murders." The Salt Lake Herald, Salt Lake City, UT. December 2, 1908. Page 5. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1908-12-02/ed-1/seq-5/

"Feudists Shoot Women." The Spanish Fork Press, Spanish Fork, UT. December 3, 1908. Page 1. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058245/1908-12-03/ed-1/seq-1/

"Man Hunters Scour Hills." The Hickman Courier, Hickman, KY. December 10, 1908. Page 2. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052141/1908-12-10/ed-1/seq-2/

"Feudists Shoot Women." The Garland Globe, Garland, UT. December 12, 1908. Page 2. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058179/1908-12-12/ed-1/seq-2/


"Man and Woman Killed." Le Meschacebe, Lucy, LA. December 12, 1908. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86079080/1908-12-12/ed-1/seq-3/
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