October 4, 2020

Killing of Walter Saunders and Tuck Ballard, Madison, 1877

Links to images for this post can be found with the citations at the end of the post. Due to Blogger's new interface 'update,' I can no longer nest images beside text without a huge headache.

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[March 8, 1872] -

The Race for Sheriff.

By reference to our columns it will be seen that W. G. Saunders, the present incumbent, announces himself as a candidate for re-election. Rumor is to the effect that we are to have quite a number of candidates for the office of sheriff. Why don't you announce yourselves, gentlemen? [1]



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[March 12, 1875] -

Our former popular Sheriff, Mr. W. G. Saunders, has gone into the Hotel business at Crab Orchard. He informs us that his hotel will be first-class in all its appointments, and that he will run in connection with his hotel, a livery stable, where the fastest horses and nicest turnouts can be procured. We wish him the most unlimited success, and trust that no "Civil Rights" will disturb "the even tenor of his way." Read his card elsewhere. [2]



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[March 12, 1875] -

[Advertisement]
The Crab Orchard Hotel.
Crab Orchard, Ky.,
W. G. Saunders, Proprietor.
Accommodations Unexcelled.
Excellent Bar.
No. 1 Livery Stable
Connected with the Hotel. [3]


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[I'm not aware of the circumstances leading to this judgment, but I include this article for anyone very interested in Saunders who may want to pursue this tangent for further inquiry]

[April 30, 1875] -

The securities on the official bond of W. G. Saunders, late Sheriff, obtained a judgment against him for $10,000. [4]



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[July 21, 1876] -

A report gained currency here, on Saturday, that Best, who killed Post Master Hedger, of Lancaster, had murdered Walter Saunders, of Crab Orchard. This report was contradicted by Mr. Miller, on his arrival, to the gratification of many of Saunders' relatives and friends here. [5]




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[August 18, 1876] -

P.S. -- S. H. Hickle, went yesterday evening and served the warrant of arrest on Walter Saunders, who, contrary to the general belief, made no opposition, but gave bond for his appearance on the day named. Mr. Hickle has in his possession, a letter from Mr. Saunders, greatly repudiating the idea of resisting an officer, and says at all times he will most cheerfully submit to any process of law. He claims to have been greatly misrepresented. We would willingly have published the letter requested by Mr. Hickle, but he did not arrive with it till nearly 8 o'clock, last night. [6]




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[August 29, 1877] -

THE BLOODY GROUND

Fatal Shooting at Richmond, Ky.--Two Men Killed.


Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette.

LEXINGTON, Aug. 28.

A fatal shooting affray occurred in Richmond, Madison County, yesterday evening, resulting in the death of two men and the dangerous wounding of two others. Four men came to the town to release a man named Saunders. They attacked the town Marshal and his two deputies, named Edwards. The officers fought the desperadoes, killing Walter Saunders, of Crab Orchard, and a man named Ballard, and dangerously wounding Will Kennedy, who, however, escaped. The fourth made good his escape, also. A party is now in pursuit of the two latter. The town is in a state of excitement over the affair.

To the Associated Press:

LOUISVILLE, KY., Aug. 28.-- A special correspondent of the Courier-Journal at Danville telegraphs the following: "Walter Sander, late Sheriff of Lincoln County, and his brother-in-law, Jack Ballard, were killed last evening at Richmond, Madison County, by Gus Edwards, Town Marshal, and a party of his friends. The particulars as far as I have been able to gather, are these: A younger brother of Sanders was at the Richmond Fair about a week ago, and during that time was badly beaten over the head by Edwards--Sanders and his friends say inexcusably--Edwards saying that Sanders interfered while he was in the discharge of his duty as an officer. Yesterday Walter Sanders and his friends went to Richmond to attend the trial of young Sanders for his alleged offense. After the trial a conversation occurred between Edwards and Walter Sanders at the Garnet House, during which Sanders denounced Edwards' conduct as brutal and cowardly, at the same time drawing his pistol. About this time Sanders was shot by some other person, but leveling his pistol made things lively while his strength lasted. When the firing ended Sanders and his brother-in-law, Ballard, were dead. Marshal Edwards is slightly and his brother dangerously wounded. Many shots were fired, but only the four persons mentioned were struck." [7]




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[August 29, 1877] -

DANVILLE.

Row at Richmond -- Two Men Killed and Two Wounded.

(Special Dispatch to the Courier-Journal.)

DANVILLE, KY., Aug. 28. -- Walter Sanders, late Sheriff of Lincoln county, and his brother-in-law, Jack Ballard, were killed last evening at Richmond, Madison county, by Gus. Edwards, Town Marshal, and a party of his friends. The particulars, as far as I have been able to gather, are these: A younger brother of Sanders was at the Richmond fair about a week ago, and during that time was badly beaten over the head by Edwards, Sanders and his friends say inexcusably; Edwards saying that Sanders interfered while he was in the discharge of his duty as an officer. Yesterday Walter Sanders and his friends went to Richmond to attend the trial of young Sanders for his alleged offense. After the trial a conversation occurred between Edwards and Walter Sanders at the Garnet House, during which Sanders denounced Edwards' conduct as brutal and cowardly, at the same time drawing his pistol. Abou this time Sanders was shot by some other person, but, leveling his pistol, made things lively while his strength lasted. When the firing ended Sanders and his brother-in-law Ballard were dead, Marshal Edwards slightly and his brother dangerously wounded. Many shots were fired, but only the four persons mentioned struck.

Another Report.

(Special Dispatch to the Courier-Journal.)

LEXINGTON, Aug. 28. -- The news comes here to-day of a street fight in Richmond, Madison county, which took place yesterday evening, resulting in the death of two men and the wounding of two others. Four men, known to be desperate characters, came to town in a spring wagon for the purpose of releasing from prison a man named Saunders, who had been arrested and put in jail during the Madison fair. He was one of a gang of which Grove Kennedy, who was enjoying himself so luxuriously at Crab Orchard, is a shining light. Walter Saunders, the brother of the prisoner, a hotel-keeper at Crab Orchard, headed the quartet. He was accompanied by Will. Kennedy, a man named Ballard, and another who was the driver. On entering the town, Walter Saunders attacked Edwards, the Town Marshal, trying to shoot him in the head. He missed his arm, on account of Edwards throwing up his arm. Edwards drew and fired, with the muzzle of his pistol at the head of Saunders, and blew his brains out. By this time the others had opened fire, which was answered by a volley from Edwards and his two brothers, who had come up. Shots were exchanged, and Ballard fell, shot dead. Kennedy, who was badly wounded, jumped into the wagon and was driven off by the fourth ally. Thus the casualties were Saunders and Ballard killed, Kennedy badly wounded, and one of the Edwards brothers dangerously shot. To-day a party went out in search of Kennedy, who is a resident of the county. The citizens are very much excited over the affair, and there is some talk of lynch law. [8]




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[August 30, 1877] -

THE RICHMOND TRAGEDY.

Particulars of the Bloody Affair as Furnished by an Eye-Witness.

Demonstration at Crab Orchard on the Arrival of the Bodies of the Dead Men.

THE TRUTH ABOUT GROVE KENNEDY.


(Correspondence of the Courier-Journal.)

CRAB ORCHARD SPRINGS, AUG. 29. -- As the unfortunate men who were killed at Richard last night reside in or near Crab Orchard village, the community has been today in a state of great agitation. I will give you a version of the affair which I get from an eye-witness, and which is abundantly corroborated by hearsay evidence. Last week Geo. Saunders was seriously hurt by a blow upon the skull, delivered by a policeman's club in the hands of Edwards, the Marshal of Richmond. This occurred in Richmond, and, as the story is told, the Marshal acted in an indefensible manner as to the harshness in which he treated his prisoner, whose offense was of a petty character. Saunders has been since confined to his bed from the effects of the blow. The trial for the offense, a breach of the peace, was set for to-day, and yesterday Walter Saunders, Tucker Ballard, Ballard's brother, and a Mr. Kennedy went to Richmond to attend the trial. George was too feeble to accompany them. The party stopped on their way at the springs drinking and billiard saloon; were not intoxicated; were in jovial humor, and in the course of several games which they played there was no outgiving of any serious business before them. After arriving in Richmond they separated, and several betook themselves to billiards. It was at this juncture that Walter Saunders accosted Edwards, the Marshal, and the fact that he did so while his friends were dispersed appears to be an argument that there was no combination of conspiracy to break the peace. At this point the testimony of the eye-witness begins. Saunders, meeting Edwards in the hotel, took him by the arm rather forcibly and told him that he wished to withdraw with him for a conference. Edwards hesitated, but Saunders insisted, drawing him along somewhat rudely.

They passed out the door, and Saunders demanded an explanation of the Marshal's treatment of his brother. The Marshal answered that he could not have arrested him without using the degree of force which he had exerted. Saunders retorted that he was a d--d liar. Edwards instantly drew his pistol and fired; Saunders returned the fire promptly; Edwards fired again and Saunders fell. It is said that Edwards and his brother, who had joined the party, fired upon the prostrate man, but of this there is no positive evidence. At any rate, his body bore the marks of a number of bullets. In the melee, Tucker Ballard and Kennedy rushed from the billiard room and commenced firing on the Edwards party, which now amounted to perhaps a score. Tucker Ballard was shot down, and there were, in a few moments of insane fury, two dead bodies lying near each other in the streets of the village, while two panic-stricken fugitives, one of whom was shot in several places, fled for their lives through the alleys and across the fields. Kennedy, wounded and bleeding, took his way "across country," and occasionally had the satisfaction of hearing his pursuers galloping back and forth along the road. He passed here [Crab Orchard Springs] about eleven o'clock this morning, having obtained a horse from a friend. Ballard [Tuck's brother] also returned, being unhurt. The former, by the way, is a brother of Grove Kennedy.

The bodies of the two dead men arrived about noon at Crab Orchard village, on the L. and N. Branch railroad. They were buried at sunset this evening in the village cemetery on an eminence in full view of the Springs hotels, and about a half a mile distant. I counted thirty-seven carriages and buggies in the procession. You never saw a more unequivocal popular demonstration of friendliness and respect. Saunders had been twice elected Sheriff of the county, and all speak of him as a man of generous and kindly impulses, though a most dangerous man to his enemies, being as quickwitted as he was brave. He killed one or two men (they sometimes fail to keep tally) during the two terms of his office, as I recollect, but, in both cases, it is claimed that he acted in self-defense and in the discharge of his official duty. Both Saunders and Ballard are connected with or related by blood with a large number of the most substantial citizens of the county; they had many warm friends, and it is said that the end is not yet. I have met them personally, as well as various of their friends, during my sojourn here, and I found them all polite and friendly, meeting the stranger, as is the manner of Kentuckians, more than half way.

Walter Saunders has been in the habit of driving by the springs every day or two behind a team of coal black horses, the handsomest get-up I have seen here. This morning, as a kind of set-off rather dramatic for everyday country life, a carriageful of his family passed by filing the air with lamentations at his death. Mrs. Saunders is peculiarly unfortunate, one of the men killed last night being a husband and the other a brother. [can't read italicized part]

I am sorry to see that the false news of the Lexington Press has misled the Courier-Journal as to the treatment of Grove Kennedy at Crab Orchard Springs. K. has never boarded here a day, but on two different occasions during the season he dined at the table by invitation of a friend who was a regular boarder. He behaved himself decorously, and the proprietor could not have been expected to go out of his way to do police duty for the county, and in the meanwhile offered a respectable guest. Kennedy has many friends, and they among the solid people of the county, who pity and sympathize with him. Whether they are right or not is of no consequence, but it is very certain that there would be some little trouble and risk if any one outside of these sympathizers should attempt a $500 speculation by arresting him. It is a case which illustrates the importance of the moral power with which the law clothes its ministers, by showing its absence and the results.

At the Springs we are eating, drinking, and living merry, happy as clams at high tide. [9]




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[August 31, 1877] -

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY -- WALTER SAUNDERS AND TUCK BALLARD SHOT AND KILLED AT RICHMOND.-- Intelligence of the killing of Mr. Walter G. Saunders and D. L. Ballard reached here by telegraph on Tuesday morning, and shortly thereafter nearly every man in town had gathered at the Depot to learn the particulars of the tragedy. The crowd was not long held in suspense, for in a short time the train arrived, bearing the lifeless remains of the unfortunate men, and one or two witnesses to the bloody deed. The particulars, so far as we have been able to get them are, that Mr. Sanders. Mr. Ballard, Wm. Kennedy and John Ballard went up to Richmond Monday evening to attend the trial of George Saunders, which was to have taken place the next day. It was understood that an ill feeling was held by the Saunders party against Edwards, the Town Marshal, for knocking down young Saunders with a club in making his arrest. This caused Edwards to be on the look out for trouble, so he armed a couple of his brothers to assist him, should any occur. About 10 o'clock at night Mr. Walter Saunders came up to Edwards, who was standing at the Garnett House, and taking him by the arm, told him he wanted to have a little talk with him. Edwards demanded to be let loose, and immediately drew a pistol and fired at Saunders, without effect further than to blind Saunders by the flash, who also fired, doing no damage. Edwards or one of his brothers then fired, the ball taking effect in Saunders' head, and killing him instantly. The firing was then kept up between Wm. Kennedy and the Edwards, and Tuck Ballard coming on the scene, was shot through the heart, the ball entering his back and lodging under the skin on his breast. After the blood fray two on the Edwards were found to be wounded, one severely in the spine, and Wm. Kennedy, who made his escape, is said to have been badly wounded, both in his arm and leg. The Edwards were acquitted. The Odd Fellows took charge of the bodies of the dead men here, and conveyed them to Crab Orchard, the homes of the deceased, where, after an appropriate funeral sermon by Rev. J. L. Barnes, they were lain away in their long resting places. Mr. Saunders was widely known, and although possessed of faults (and who is not?) he had many worthy and admirable traits of character, which made him many lasting friends. Our sincerest sympathies are with the grief-stricken widow, doubly bereaved by the tragic deaths of husband and brother; but human sympathy is powerless here. To Him whose care is promised to the widow and fatherless she must look for comfort. [10]






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[August 31, 1877] -

The horrible killing of Walter Saunders, at Richmond, is regretted by a number of persons here. Saunders, whatever his desperate qualities, certainly possessed many good traits. He had several warm friends at this place [Mt. Vernon]. [11]






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[August 31, 1877] -

A natural feeling of excited interest was prevalent throughout our community [Lancaster] when Tuesday's morning train brought down the lifeless remains of Walter Saunders and T. Ballard, of Crab Orchard, said citizens having met their death at the hands of the Richmond Police on Monday night. Quite a history attaches to the tragedy, but we give the affair only a passing notice. If the sadly-belied citizens of Lancaster have any cause for rejoicing in the matter, it is that some other theatre than this was chosen for the dreadful occurrence, and that we are spared the odium of another murderous conflict. All lovers of humanity must sympathize with the friends of the unfortunate men thus hurried into eternity. [12]





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[August 31, 1877] -

Mr. Walter Saunders will be greatly missed by the people of this [Lincoln] county. He was a man of indomitable courage, and while Sheriff and since the expiration of his office of his office, whenever his services were called for, he was a terror to evil doers. The occasional troubles into which he got, were always in support of his friends, for whom he was ever ready to die. A number of Mr. Saunders' acts during his official career will always be gratefully remembered by the people of the county he served. We write this not because it is necessary here, but for the benefit of those of our exchanges who are speaking of him as a desperado, &c. [13]






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[August 31, 1877] -

THE KENTUCKY HOMICIDE.

Full Particulars of Madison County's Disgrace.

THE DEAD MEN AND THEIR RECORD.

Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.


RICHMOND, MADISON CO., KY., August 29, 1877.

Richmond, in Madison County, Kentucky, is one of the prettiest little towns in the State. It is in the midst of a country as fertile as that which surrounds Lexington. Its people are cultivated, [?] in the enjoyment of much of this world's goods. It is a nest of learning, having the great Presbyterian College of the State, Central University, besides a large and thriving seminary for young ladies. The churches are numerous, and their congregations wealthy; and last though not least, Richmond is the home of the present Governor of Kentucky, Hon. Jas. B. McCreary. But notwithstanding those advantages, it is liable, and has been ever since the war, to occasional outbreaks that which but recently brought disgrace upon this charming little town.

With regard to this last affair, the accounts which have been given and published have made the matter appear worse than it really is, though that is bad enough.

THE FACTS.

On Thursday evening, during the fair at Richmond, some young men became unruly, and raised a disturbance in the Richmond Hotel billiard room. Among them was George Saunders, a brother of Walter Saunders, of Crab Orchard. The Marshal of the city, Gus Edwards, was called in by the landlord to quell the disturbance. While within the billiard room the officer beat young Saunders over the head very severely with a leaded cane, or walking stick. The justice of this treatment of Saunders by the officer is the question out of which grew the late fatal affray, but, as the matter has not yet been investigated by the Court, no legal evidence can be given on the point. It is said by the friends of Edwards that, while the officer and his deputy were in the act of removing one of the disturbers of the peace, George Saunders, who was very much intoxicated, came behind with a knife uplifted to stab Edwards in the back; that the Deputy observing him, seized his arm, whereupon Edwards turning around beat Saunders in the manner described. The friends of the latter say that the officer, going into the billiard room and finding a party of young men behaving uproariously, at once, without further cause, reads a murderous attack on Saunders with his leaded stick. Whether from fear of the a general attack from the numerous friends of Saunders, who had come with him from Crab Orchard and Lancaster, or under an impression that his force was insufficient to make the necessary arrests, Officer Edwards retired and returned very soon with a posse of special police. By this time most of the young men who had been making the disturbance had been prevailed upon to go to bed. Saunders had been taken into the wash-room of the hotel to have his wounds cleaned of blood. With him was a Mr. Tuck Ballard, a relative, who was well known to be as brave and determined as man could be. When Edwards appeared with his posse to arrest Saunders, Ballard placed himself at the door of the wash room with a loaded pistol in his hand and declared that George Saunders should not go to jail, and that he would kill the first man who laid a hand upon him. The police retired and warrants were issued for the arrest of Saunders for breach of the peace, and for the arrest of Mr. Tuck Ballard for carrying concealed deadly weapons. Officer Edwards was not allowed by Ballard to serve the warrants, and the Coroner was called into service. The men were to appear next day, Friday, for their examining trial. That night Ballard telegraphed to Walter Saunders, at Crab Orchard, that his brother was dangerously, perhaps fatally, injured by the attack made by Edwards, and asking him to come up to Richmond. The fact of the sending of this telegram became generally known, and it was feared that Walter Saunders would bring up a party and not only remove his brother, but avenge the assault upon him. A number of special police were sworn in, who armed themselves with shotguns and prepared for the expected invasion. Walter Saunders came, but without a party at his back. He came to attend the examining trial of his brother. For some reason the Commonwealth's Attorney procured a continuance until the next day--Saturday--and being unable then to procure his witnesses the trial was postponed until Tuesday last, for the double purpose of allowing the Commonwealth to prepare her case and to enable Walter Saunders, who was a hotel keeper at Crab Orchard, to attend his business during the intervening week, which was race week at that place, and during which time he would be unable, with out great inconvenience, to attend the trial in the interest of his brother, who was in no condition, on account of his wounds, to take care of himself.

It was to attend this trial that, on Monday evening, Walter Saunders, William Kennedy, Tuck Ballard and John Ballard came up from Crab Orchard in buggies. Mrs. Saunders, the wife of Walter, came on the train, went to the Richmond Hotel, and notified the landlord that her husband and friends were on the road and would want supper. They arrived shortly afterwards, and, after having their horses put up at a livery stable, waited for supper.

THE FIGHT.

After supper, about 9 1/2 o'clock, Walter Saunders proposed to Kennedy that they walk around to the Garnet House, on the next street. The two started off together, leaving Tuck Ballard at the Richmond Hotel, John Ballard having previously gone to the Garnet House to play billiards. As Saunders and Kennedy walked down the street they peered into the faces of two men sitting outside the bar room of the Garnet House, and being apparently satisfied that they were not the men of whom they were in search, they went on and passed two men who were sitting about a dozen steps off, upon the steps of the ladies' entrance to the hotel. Immediately they stopped, turned around, and Saunders, stepping up to one of them, asked his name. He answered that it was Edwards. It was, in fact, the Marshal, Gus. Edwards, sitting with his brother Dan. Saunders then took the Marshal by the right arm, and jerking him off the step, said, "You are the man that beat my brother. I want to talk with you." Edwards, who was trying to reach his pistol, said, "Let me go, and I will go with you anywhere," and turned his hand to see who was around to render assistance. Saunders said: "Look at me, damn you: I want you to talk to me." Dan Edwards, who, up to this time, had been kept from interfering by Kennedy said, "Let him loose." Saunders asked, "what the hell he had to do with it." Dan Edwards replied that the Marshal was his brother. The Marshal then called for his brother John, who was across the street, all while trying to reach his pistol, which he at last succeeded in doing, and instantly fired under Saunders' chin, without, however, striking him. Then a second shot was fired, and Saunders fell dead, having been shot through both temples. The Marshal claims that he fired the fatal shot. The testimony at the Coroner's inquest showed that his brother Dan had done it. Kennedy immediately commenced firing, being engaged by the brothers, Dan and Gus Edwards. John Ballard came running from the billiard room, through the bar room to the street, and standing in the doorway fired, some of the witnesses say two shots and some one. He then turned and ran out through a back way and made his escape. About the same time John Edwards had arrived on the scene and was wielding his weapon. Tuck Ballard, who was on his way to the same locality, when the shooting commenced, ran up and entered the bar room floor. He received a shot in the back, just as he reached the doorway, and fell dead in the room. Kennedy having exhausted his pistol, ran and made good his escape to the Richmond House, where he found John Ballard, and the two started on foot for the country and escaped.

CASUALTIES

Walter Saunders fell dead, at the edge of the pavement opposite the ladies' entrance to the Garnet House, and lay there for half an hour. He was wounded in no other part of the body than the head.

Tuck Ballard was shot in the back, the ball passing through his heart. It is not known who shot him, but a man named Huston[?] Corneilison, a witness at the inquest, admitted having taken part in the affray, and it is believed by some that he killed Ballard. Corneilison was a special policeman.

John Edwards was shot twice, once in the arm and once in the hip, in the lumbar region. This wound is considered very dangerous.

Dan Edwards received a shot in the breast, the ball not going into the cavity, but passing around under the skin to the armpit, from which the ball was extracted. The wound is slight.

William Kennedy was grazed by the shot in several places, but suffered no injury. The sleeve of his coat, and his pants, were shot through, and a piece was shot out of the sole of his boot. Beyond this he escaped marvelously. John Ballard escaped without a scratch.

AFTER THE BATTLE.

The ladies' hall and doorway of the Garnet House bear witness to the engagement. Three shots penetrated the door, one cut a slice out of the plastering on the wall, and another ranged along the hat rack, nipping the iron hooks, and still another cut a very round hole in the glass place of a door. The bodies of Saunders and Ballard were taken to the Richmond House, where they were laid out, and at three o'clock in the morning were conveyed to Crab Orchard. The funeral took place Tuesday. The friends of Edwards represent that the people there were pleased at what had taken place, while those favoring Saunders think the people of Crab Orchard are much incensed over the affair.

WHO ARE THE PARTIES?

Walter Saunders, who was first killed, was considered the handsomest man in Kentucky. He stood six feet three inches, and weighed two hundred and ten pounds. He was formed with wonderful symmetry, and was as graceful in motion as man could be. From reports he was a perfect Adonis. He courage was never doubted. He is variously reported to have killed from two to eight men. That he killed two is certain. The notorious highwayman and murderer, Bridgewater, was one of them. Saunders at that time was Sheriff of Lincoln County, and going with a posse to arrest Bridgewater and meeting with resistance, he shot him.

Saunders was at the head of the mob, it is charged, when burned the house of Sellers, a Republican, in Lancaster, when the Federal troops were called upon for the protection of a number of colored people confined in the burning building. This charge, however, has never been proven. It was the common belief that Saunders was the head of a gang numbering about one hundred, who were ever ready to do his bidding. It is the fear of this supposed gang that protects Grove Kennedy in Crab Orchard, the home of Saunders, and it was this gang of which the citizens of Richmond stood in dread, when they heard that Saunders was coming up to revenge the assault of his brother. On the body of Saunders was found a postal card, which, however, was not put in evidence before the Coroner's jury. It was dated at Richmond and postmarked there. It reads "Walter Saunders, You G-- d-- scoundrel; you said you could take Richmond; come on, G-- damn you, we are read for you." There was no signature. It is quite probable that the reputation Saunders bore led to his death. Although his grip of the Marshal's arm was secure enough to leave the blue prints of the fingers and thumb three or four days after, yet had he intended to go to extremes he might easily have killed Edwards when they first met. Saunders' wife became extremely ill when the shocking intelligence of her husband's sudden death reached her, and it is thought that her nervous system has been so much shaken that she will not recover.

The other parties to the affray with Saunders are all credited with having "killed their men," but the reports are not reliable. Will. Kennedy is undoubtedly of a family that will shoot, and the Ballards have never been known to show the white feather, but, on the contrary, have been ready to fight "at the drop of the hat."

The citizens very much deplore the occurrence, and are somewhat divided in opinion as to where the blame rests. Many good men think Saunders was murdered, while, on the other hand, substantial citizens, and particularly the town authorities, maintain that Edwards did only his duty throughout the whole business. The end is not yet. The fight will certainly be renewed. It was expected last night, but Old John Robinson's circus amused the boys, and probably drove fighting out of their minds. But it will come.

SPECTATOR. [14]




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[August 31, 1877] -

{Another Account.}

The Richmond (Ky.) Tragedy--Great Religious Revival
at Stanford--Kentucky Crops, Drouth, &c.

On Monday night last, about 10 o'clock, a serious and fatal difficulty occurred at Richmond, the county seat of Madison County, Kentucky, between Edwards, the Town Marshal of that place, aided by two of his brothers, on one side, and W. G. Saunders, ex Sheriff of Lincoln County, Kentucky, aided by his brother in-law, Tuck Ballard, and William Kennedy, on the other, which resulted in the shooting and instant killing of Saunders and Ballard, and the slight wounding in the arm and leg of Kennedy. The origin of the tragedy was substantially as follows: Last week, during the stock fair at Richmond, a brother of Saunders, aged about nineteen years, is said to have behaved improperly on the Fair grounds, whereupon Edwards, acting Marshal, knocked him on the head with a stick and seriously injured him. This fact being communicated to W. G. Saunders, the dead brother, who was at his home in Crab Orchard, Kentucky, he repaired to Richmond with his friends, Ballard and Kentucky, to investigate the matter. A difficulty between the two parties was then apprehended, but it did not at that time take place. Meantime, young Saunders, who had been knocked senseless at the Fair grounds, was arrested and held for trial on a charge of a breach of the peace, his trial fixed for Tuesday last, and he gave bond for his appearance. Being too unwell to appear, his brother, W. G. Saunders, and Ballard and Kennedy again went to Richmond to have the trial postponed. Before the day came, however, the fatal tragedy came on. The Edwards brothers were sitting in front of a hotel in Richmond when Saunders and his party walked up to or near them, and W. G. Saunders took hold of the arm of Marshal Edwards and said: "Mr. Edwards, I wish to have a talk with you." Edwards replied, "Let my arm loose and I will walk with you." This Saunders did not do, and a brother of Edwards stepped up then and told Saunders to let his brother's arm loose. Saunders then asked, "What have you to do about it?" The response was, "He is my brother, damn you, let him go," and immediately fired a pistol ball through Saunders' brain, killing him instantly. Ballard then ran up into the hotel door, and as he did so was shot in the back, the ball passing through his heart, and he dropped dead in the doorway. Someone also shot at Kennedy, and hit him in the arm and leg, producing only slight flesh wounds. He is walking about, and was present at the burial, the following day, of two of his comrades. Kennedy, after the shots he received, ran through a house, swiftly pursued by the Edwards party, and made good his escape, else he too would now be sleeping in the cemetery at Crab Orchard. Kennedy, I learn, is a brother of the notorious outlaw, Grove Kennedy, a fugitive from justice, who has killed four or five men and attempted to take the life of others. His last victim was his uncle, whom he shot last spring, at Lancaster, Garrard County, Kentucky. Wm. Kennedy, the comrade of Saunders, is a bold, bad man, as I learn. Saunders has killed three men, namely: Holmes, at Crab Orchard, in 1865; the notorious Jim Bridgewater, of civil war infamy, in 1866, and a man named Bethurum in 1874 or 1875, all in this [Lincoln] county. He was tried for each case and honorably acquitted, the proof being that he acted in self-defense each time. Ballard has been in a number of affrays, but never killed any one that I can learn of. But little sympathy has been expressed for these men so far as I can see.

Saunders was a splendid type of the brave and dauntless Kentuckian, standing six feet three inches in his stockings, and weighed about 185 pounds. he was an officer in the Confederate army, Sheriff of this (Lincoln) county, and at one time bore a fine reputation for courage, and always considered a man of honor in his business relations, although his securities on his official bond had to pay considerable money for him, owing to 'laches' caused by a desire to befriend the luckless debtors against whom he held debts and executions for collection. He left a young wife and two small children, who have the hearty pity and sympathy of the public. May the winds be "tempered to the [??]."

Ballard was a man about twenty five years of age, and unmarried Kennedy has a wife and several children. "He that taketh the sword shall perish by the sword" is a Biblical maxim which has been abundantly verified to this unfortunate tragedy. The people fear that the end is not yet. The Saunders and Kennedy families, as well, also, the Edwards family, are numerous and bold. The pistol, that great and potent arbiter among the chivalry of Kentucky, will not be allowed to rust in the belt, and ere long, doubtless, other victims will be added to the long roll. We of the peace partly[?] could wish otherwise, but it would be "hoping against hope." The law has no terror for such men as carry deadly weapons. [ibid 14]






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[August 31, 1877] -

The Richmond Tragedy -- A Full Report
from Our Special Correspondent.

RICHMOND, KY., Aug. 28, 1877.

Thursday night, August 16th, during the week of the Fair at this place, a difficulty occurred between Geo. Saunders, of Crab Orchard, and the Marshal, A. J. Edwards, of this place. The Marshal, we learn, attempted to arrest Saunders for misbehavior, when he drew a knife and tried to cut the Marshal, and the Marshal struck him a severe blow on the head with a hickory stick. J. T. Ballard and several others then drew their pistols, and the Marshal retired. The next day, however, they surrendered to an officer, and were released on bail to appear here today for trial. The next day after the above occurred, Walter Saunders (brother to George) and Will Kennedy came up in a buggy. While here Walter Saunders abused the Marshal, and, it is reported, threatened his life. All of this occurred during the week of the Fair.


Last night Walter Saunders, Will Kennedy, and J. T. and John Ballard arrived here in buggies to attend the trial which was set for to-day. They had been in town about and hour when Saunders and Kennedy went around in front of the Garnett House, where the Marshal and his two brothers were sitting. Saunders approached the Marshal, and asked his name; he told him. He asked if he was the Marshal, and he said, "Yes." Saunders then took hold of Edward's right arm with his left hand, and said, "Come out here, I want to talk to you." Edwards said, "Let me loose, and I will go with you anywhere." Saunders, still holding Edwards, said, "You d--d s-n of a b---h, you struck my brother." Just then Edwards' brother, Dan, stepped up and told Saunders to let his brother loose, but he did not do it, then the firing commenced. Saunders was killed instantly, one bullet taking effect in the side of the head and another under the chin. J. T. Ballard was also killed, the ball entering his back. Kennedy, it is said, was wounded in the arm and leg, but he and John Ballard made their escape. John Edwards was seriously wounded, and Dan Edwards slightly wounded.

While the good citizens of the town regret that the difficulty occurred, they believe that the Marshal and his brothers (his deputies) acted in self-defense, and will sustain them in the discharge of their duties. [15]









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[September 4, 1877] -

THE RECENT RICHMOND TRAGEDY.

Two accounts of the Bloody Affray in Which Walter Sanders and "Tuck" Ballard Were Killed and Others Wounded.

SKETCH OF THE DEAD DESPERADOES.


(Correspondence of the Courier-Journal.)

RICHMOND, KY., Sept. 3, 1877. -- I am induced by the humorous erroneous reports furnished the Louisville, Lexington and Cincinnati press of the killing of Walter Sanders and Ballard at this place, to give you a truthful account of the affair. All the printed reports are wide of accuracy in many particulars, and in justice to a good and brave officer, and that this community may have the reputation abroad of being law-abiding and law-enforcing instead of lawless and desperate, I ask that you publish what is here written. I write from a purely impartial standpoint, having neither partiality for, nor prejudice against, any of the parties concerned.

ORIGIN OF THE DIFFICULTY.

During the last fair, more than two weeks ago, a young man by the name of George Sanders, another named D. T. Ballard, usually called Tuck Ballard, and some others, all residents of Lincoln county, were in the saloon of Jarman's Hotel, in Richmond. They had all been drinking freely, and during the evening Sanders became involved in an affray with some one in the saloon drawing his knife, and making use of very noisy and bad language. About this time Marshal Edwards was called in. He arrested one of the parties, and while taking him toward the door he was struck at several times by Sanders with a knife and cursed. He expostulated with Sanders in vain; and finally, failing in all else, he struck him one blow with his walking-cane, knocking him down, thereby succeeding in quieting the crowd for the time. This was the whole of the first difficulty, and all reports that Sanders was brutally and unmercifully beaten are untrue. As soon as possible warrants were issued and served upon the parties by the Coroner, they refusing to allow the Marshal to do so without further difficulty. The trial was set for the next morning, and in the meantime Sanders had his brother, Walter Sanders, summoned by telegraph from his home in Crab Orchard. On Friday, Walter Sanders arrived in Richmond with his two brothers-in-law, Tuck and John Ballard, and William Kennedy, all desperate men and willing to do the bidding of their leader. They all came well armed and with the evident and avowed intention of taking the law into their own hands. By this time the Marshal, under the instruction of the Trustees of the town, Judge Chas. H. Brock, Messrs. J. W. Crooke, William Jarman, W. K. Litcher and C. F. M[???]y, had collected a posse of ten or fifteen citizens, and had deposited a number of shot guns in the vault of the Circuit Court's office for use in case of necessity. Sanders and his party after their arrival, sometimes together and sometimes apart, but always within available distance, strutted over the town with their arms plainly visible. At one time they were on the Fair Grounds, and when appeared to have no difficulty there where were thousands of ladies and children, Sanders declined to make any promise except upon condition that the Marshal should not be allowed to come upon the ground. Finding during the day that there were a number of guns in the Clerk's office, he went over and demanded of the Clerk to know by what authority they were there, conceiving, perhaps, that it was offense against him for the town to provide means of its protection. While standing in the door of the Clerk's office, Sanders saw Edwards standing a short place away, when he began cursing him in an outrageous manner, and endeavoring to precipitate a difficulty. His time, however, had not come yet. With commendable prudence Edwards declined to say anything, and thus frustrated his designs. It being impossible to get a jury during the fair, the case against George Sanders was continued until Tuesday last, on motion of Sanders, the week intervening being race week at Crab Orchard. After the continuance Sanders and all his party left, all the citizens hoping and many believing they would not return, as their bonds were worthless.

RETURN OF SANDERS TO RICHMOND.

On Monday night, however, Walter Sanders, Tuck and John Ballard and Bill Kennedy returned to Richmond, arriving about nine o'clock P.M. in buggies, and quietly putting up at Jarman's, but not registering their names. Getting supper, the party proceeded down Main street to Second, Walter Sanders stopping once or twice to raise the hats of one or two parties sitting on the streets. This he did in order to identify his intended victim. Proceeding down Second the party went into the Garnett House, and, after taking a drink, part went into the billiard-saloon, while Sanders and Bill Kennedy returned to the street. After maneuvering a while the latter two started toward the ladies' entrance to the hotel. After having passed the steps leading up to the entrance, Sanders got sight of Edwards and his brother, Dan Edwards, sitting on the stoop. Immediately he turned, walked up to Edwards and grasped him roughly by the right arm, and, at the same time, after asking his name, jerking him up and telling him to come along with him. He asked him also why he had struck his brother. Edwards replied that he had struck his brother in defense of himself, and that if he would let go his arm he would go with him. Dan Edwards, who had risen from his seat when his brother was jerked up, then told Sanders to release his brother, and Sanders replied by asking, "What have you to do with it?" Just then the firing began, which resulted in the death of Walter Sanders and Tuck. Ballard, and in the wounding of Bill Kennedy, Dan. Edwards and John Edwards, the latter of whom had come from across the street to the assistance of his brother. During the firing the two Ballards -- John and Tuck -- came up and participated in the fight, the former shooting from the inside of the hotel and running out the back way. Kennedy was the last of his party who left the field. Finding himself alone, he ran, stricken with terror, into the saloon of A. C. Buchanan, where he hid behind a counter until he found an opportunity of escaping. It may be of some consolation to Kennedy to know that he ran from two men, one of whom was badly wounded, and neither of whom had a load in his pistols. Search was afterwards made by the Sheriff for Kennedy and Ballard, but neither could be found. They turned up, however, next day, at the burial of their dead comrades. I have not attempted to give the order of the shots nor the location of the wounds, that has perhaps been given correctly heretofore.

MOB LAW.

Some of the accounts of the affray have gone as far as to say that there would have been danger of mob law had Kennedy and Ballard been caught. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. I was on the ground during the first flash of excitement, within ten minutes of the occurrence, and while all of the two or three hundred present were prepared and determined to support the majesty of law and uphold the Marshal, there was not the slightest talk of lynching anybody. Walter Saunders and Tuck Ballard were beyond the power of the mob, and Bill Kennedy and John Ballard were well on their way to Crab Orchard.

WALTER SAUNDERS.

You readers can not appreciate the tragedy without some knowledge of Walter Saunders and his party. If everybody lived around and about Crab Orchard and its vicinity, it would be superfluous to record the events of Saunders' calamitous and bloody life. Apparently about thirty seven in years, standing six foot four, symmetrically formed, weighing 230 pounds, with a muscular development equal to that of Yankee Sullivan [a well-known 19th cent. bare-knuckle boxer], and having the port and, to some extent, the manners of a gentleman, Walter Saunders would have made a splendid and appreciable addition to the celebrated regiment of giants collected by the father of Frederick the Great. During his career he killed three men, and, as accounts have it, was an active participant in the death of several others. His victims -- I name them without reference to the order of their taking off -- were Holmes, whom he cut to death with a knife; Bridgewater, whom he shot while playing drafts, and who was a brother to the noted Augden Bridgewater, now imprisoned at Frankfort, and one Betherrune [Bethurum]. Of all these killings he was acquitted, and perhaps rightly sow, but they left him a desperate man, amiable enough to his friends, but the mortal terror of his foes. After failing as Sheriff of Lincoln, to which office he was twice elected, he settled down to keep a small hotel in Crab Orchard, and was living there up to his death, liked by many and feared by more.

His house has generally been understood to be the refuge of lawbreakers, and it is undeniable that he was the friend and protector, at his death, of two notorious outlaws -- Grove Kennedy, who murdered his uncle at Lancaster, and Holmes, who killed in cold blood one of the best men in Lincoln, the late Colonel Napier. I have no desire to paint Sanders blacker than he was, and I ought to say that he had the friendship of many good people who knew him, and he possessed many qualities which, if had had a better start, might have made a popular, law-abiding and useful citizen.

TUCK. BALLARD.

Tuck. Ballard was born and reared in Madison county, but for several years past he has been living in Crab Orchard. He also had killed two men, one a soldier in the United States army, and the other a citizen. He was the brother-in-law of Sanders both ways, he having married Sanders' sister, who died several months since, leaving one child, and Sanders having married his.

WILLIAM KENNEDY.

I am not disposed to treat Mr. Bill Kennedy with much consideration. He had no earthly pretext for his visit to Richmond, and it is hoped he will not come again. It will not be prudent, William, for you to do so. If you have an unconquerable fondne[s]s for displaying your contempt for the laws of your country, I would suggest to you -- bear in mind my friendship -- that there are healthier localities for your exploits.

WILL KENNEDY & CO RETURN?

Most all of your correspondents have expressed the opinion that there would be a renewal of the difficulty. I do not believe so. The people here intend to preserve the peace and enforce the law, and there is no division of sentiment about it. The whole moral feeling of the community is with the Marshal, and he will receive all necessary physical support. Richmond is the seat of a [?]sity, and the home of a people who intend there shall be no power among them above the law. Nobody here, outside of the near relatives of Sanders, reflects on the Marshal, and it is Richmond's honor, instead of "Richmond's disgrace," as the Commercial had it, that her officers unflinchingly did their duty. [16]







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[September 4, 1877] -

Another Account.

(Correspondence of the Courier-Journal.)

RICHMOND, KY., Sept. 3., 1877. -- On Thursday evening, August 16, an altercation occurred in the billiard hall of the Richmond Hotel, in which several young men were engaged, among them young George Sanders, of Crab Orchard. The Marshal, Edwards, together with two or three assistants, who stood in the room, and just what occurred there is not publicly known, no judicial investigation having yet been had. Enough is known, however, to justify us in stating that George Sanders was struck a most severe blow on the head, fracturing his skull. This ended the affair for the time being. On the Saturday following, the time set for the trial, excitement ran so high and the condition of Sanders was such that the court deemed it prudent to postpone an investigation until Tuesday, 28th ult. Accordingly, on Monday evening, Walter Sanders, brother to George, Wm. Kennedy, D. L. Ballard and John Ballard came to Richmond for the purpose of attending the trial, young Sanders still being confined to his bed in a precarious condition and unable to be present; and we will state just here for the information of all interested that D. L. Ballard (or "Tuck," as he is familiarly called here) was a brother to John Ballard, a brother-in-law to Walter Sanders, and a party himself to the breach of the peace warrant. Wm. Kennedy is from Garrard county, and was the firm friend of the Saunders. This explanation will justify the presence of these gentlemen in Richmond on this occasion. Soon after their arrival, having had supper, the parties became separated, Mr. Sanders going toward the Garnet House, on Second street, Mr. Kennedy alone accompanying him. Seated upon the stone steps leading to the dining room of the Garnet House was Marshal Edwards and his brother Dan. Sanders seeing there the man who had dealt his young brother the fearful blow which would probably result in death, approached, and, taking him by the arm, requested that he take a walk with him, as he wished to have conversation or "talk" with him. To this the Marshal demurred, and asked that he loose his hold upon his arm, at the same time drawing a pistol with the unencumbered hand, with which he attempted to shoot Sanders, the charge passing up and entirely missing its aim. At this juncture Dan Edwards approached the parties and demanded [that?/first?] Sanders let go his hold upon his brother, and almost simultaneously with the demand presented a pistol to the head of Sanders and fired, the ball passing directly through the brain and out upon the opposite side, causing instant death. Sanders fell with pistol in hand and never spoke. The Sheriff of the county, N. B. Deatherage, soon arrived upon the scene, going at once to the body of Sanders and secured his arms, two pistols, with not a shot discharged from either, showing very clearly and beyond all doubt that Walter Sanders had not fired a shot. This was in evidence before the Coroner. A general firing, lasting probably twenty seconds, now ensued, participated in by Marshal Edwards, his two brothers, and rumor has it other special policemen on the one side, and Wm. Kennedy on the other. John Edwards and Dan were both wounded, each in two places, during this firing, as also was Kennedy, who received a flesh cut in one arm. D. L. Ballard, who was not present until some time after the reucounter had begun, hearing the shots, hastened to the spot, and when entering the bar-room of the hotel received the death-shot from behind, and fell to the floor, and, with an involuntary "O, Lord!" expired at once. Upon examination, it was found that he carried a pistol upon his person, the chambers of which were all loaded, not a shot having been discharged. Thus it will be such that upon the side of Sanders no firing was done, save by Wm. Kennedy. Very soon after the occurrences above recited, John Ballard and Wm. Kennedy, in some way, made their exit from the town, comparative quiet reigned, and the dark pall of death hid from view one of the darkest, bloodiest tragedies ever enacted in our town. With the desolated widow and little orphan children of Sanders I sympathize; with the relatives and friends of Tucker Ballard also, and lastly with the fair name of our people and our town, in thus being compelled to receive another stab at her reputation as an orderly and moral little city, with an intelligent, law-loving population. In detailing this matter it has been my steady aim to write it up impartially and truthfully, without fear or favor, and I am fully satisfied that I have succeeded. If I have erred, as is the lot of all men, it has not been done intentionally.

VERITAS. [ibid 16]




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[September 10, 1877] -

STILL ANOTHER.

A Reverend Doctor's Account of the Great Pistol Tragedy at Richmond.

AN APPEAL TO FIVE COUNTIES.


(Kentucky Presbyterian, Sept. 7.)

The bloody tragedy which occurred here last week is deplored by all good citizens of the place. Not, however, as derogatory, when the facts are known, of the character of the people of Richmond as peaceable and orderly community nor as censurable on the part of the officers of the town. The fatal result to two men and the wounding of three others under any circumstances is matter for regret, and the notoriety which such a bloody issue gives to a town, however justifiable, is not desirable. The regret is the greater as the men who lost their lives, though living elsewhere, were closely connected with a number of excellent people of the town and the county, who are greatly grieved by the occurrence. We write this with the very kindest consideration of the feelings of these good citizens, but with justice to the other parties engaged, and with fidelity to the town whose good name -- and possibly its peace -- requires a faithful statement of facts and of the sentiment of the community about the matter. Our relations to the public here, and to many families in other parts of the State, give us a special interest in everything that concerns the order and the honor of the town; and as journalists in the community, duty demands of us a just and reliable account of an occurrence of such lamentable interest.

A number of accounts of the tragedy have been published, all of which contain much error or are deficient in statement of facts necessary to a just judgment of the case; and most of them seem to have been written in the interest of the desperate men who broke the peace of our quiet and orderly community, and paid the penalty with the lives of two of them. Nothing as yet has appeared defending the town and fairly representing the sentiment of our people. The article in the Courier-Journal from Crab Orchard is a partisan account defending the assailants of the Richmond Marshal, and even commending the outlaw Grove Kennedy, for whose arrest the Governor of Kentucky has offered a reward of $500, who has walked unmolested about Crab Orchard protected by the men who lost their lives here and other desperate men banded with them. The article in the Cincinnati Commercial was evidently inspired by hostility to the Marshal of Richmond. In addition to a very unfair account of the tragedy, it perpetuates a gross slander upon the town of Richmond. After a statement of the various attractions of the place, the writer says: "But notwithstanding these advantages, it is liable, and has been ever since the war, to occasional outbreaks like that which but recently brought disgrace upon this charming little town." Now,t he people of no place in our country value more highly its good name, or have been at more pains to deserve and to preserve it. Ten years ago they organized their sons into a military company and put guns in their hands, to add the officers of the law, and thoroughly abated the lawlessness with which the town was occasionally molested from the settlement in the streets of their difficulties by parties from the country. Until this foreign invasion by lawless men, no such tragedy has occurred in our streets in many years. And there is no town of its population in any part of the land which is freer from violence, whose people are more orderly or more determined to uphold and protect its officers in the discharge of their duty.


It is very important that the survivors of the party which came to Richmond, and their allies (of whose renewal of the assault upon the authority of the town, the accounts in their interest give vague intimations), should not be misled by such accounts and misconceive the sentiment of our people. Richmond is proverbially a hospitable town. Its people are attentive to strangers; none having reasonable claims upon their hospitality will be disappointed. But it is an orderly and law-abiding town. Strangers who conduct themselves properly will not come in contact with its peace officers. If they violate law they must submit to arrest. If they come back in bands for violence, to assail and murder our officers for discharge of duty -- then nothing else remains, and let them not be deceived -- they will be "welcomed with bloody hands to hospitable graves." We trust that there is no probability of a renewal of the assault which terminated so disastrously to the party which made it; but the best prevention we know is this assurance of the inflexible purpose of the people of Richmond to maintain and defend the administration of its law.

The following are the essential facts respecting the deplorable occurrence:

During the Richmond fair, the Marshal was called into one of the hotels to suppress a disturbance. In an attempt to arrest a man whom he found with a pistol in his hand, he was resisted by a man, Sanders, from Crab Orchard, with a knife, from which he narrowly escaped. To protect himself, and in order to make the arrest, he struck the party resisting a severe blow upon the head with his stick. Another man, Ballard, from Crab Orchard, resisted the arrest of Saunders with a drawn pistol. Walter Saunders, brother of the man struck, a notorious desperado of Crab Orchard and a leader of a band of reckless and desperate men, the terror of towns of the region, the protectors of Grove Kennedy against the authority of the State of Kentucky, was telegraphed for by Ballard. The next day Saunders came with a number of his band. The police were promptly strengthened by the addition of twenty well-armed men. The men, Saunders and Kennedy, insolently visited the Circuit Court Clerk's office, which adjoins that of the Sheriff, where he had ascertained that arms had been deposited, from which he was ordered out by the intrepid clerk as soon as his business was known. His object was not more for inspection tan to provide for cutting off access to the arms in the assault he seemed to be meditating upon the Marshal, who sat in the court-yard. The Police Judge of the town was approached by one who was a friend of the Saunders party, but a man solicitous for peace, and urged to dismiss the offending men with a light fine, and warned that otherwise a bloody difficulty would occur. The fearless Judge gave a counter notification that the law would be executed at every cost. Saunders repeatedly passed the Marshal, uncer[t]ain whether to risk the assault, and cursed him in his hearing. The assault was averted for the time by the assurance Saunders had that it would probably result in the death of himself and all his party.

The trial of the younger Saunders and Ballard, owing to the absence of witnesses, was postponed, and for the accommodation of the elder Saunders, was fixed for Tuesday of last week. The younger Saunders being seriously hurt, was removed to Crab Orchard. On Monday, although there is a railroad connection between Crab Orchard and Richmond, Walter Saunders, William Kennedy (brother of Grove Kennedy, and like his little brother under indictment in Garrard county for murder), John Ballard, and Tuck Ballard, arrived at Richmond in buggies, at 9 o'clock at night. They took supper at the Richmond Hotel without registering. They counseled together, and matured their plan, and came near making difficulty with a citizen whom they incorrectly suspected of eaves-dropping. About 10 o'clock Saunders and Kennedy went around to the other hotel, where they had ascertained that the Marshal was sitting upon the steps to the ladies' entrance -- John Ballard having previously gone around into the same hotel. What was Tuck Ballard's place, and from what point he came into the affray is not known. Saunders asked the Marshal his name, and, receiving answer, with his left hand grasped the Marshal's right arm, and told him to come out, he had something to say. The Marshal told him to let go of him and he would go with him anywhere. Saunders cursed him, and, being a very powerful man, dragged him from the steps, maintaining his hold like a vice upon his arm. Edwards, a brother to the Marshal, and a Deputy Marshal, told Saunders to let go his brother, drawing a pistol. Kennedy confronted the younger Edwards, also drawing a pistol. A violent struggle was taking place between Saunders and the Marshal. Each succeeded in getting out a pistol, the Marshal with difficulty, his arm being pinioned above the elbow. A flash, and another, and another; Saunders falls in the street, shot upward under the chin and through the temples; and the younger Edwards receives a ball upon the chest, turned by a heavy pocket-book and glancing around over the breast-bone, doing no serious damage. The two Edwardses and Kennedy continued the firing in the street. John Ballard appears firing from the door of the hotel. A third Edwards, also a Deputy Marshal, appears and takes part in the street. Tuck Ballard is first recognized with a pistol in hand, pursuing a citizen into an adjoining house, mistaking him for one of the other party. He enters the hotel in the midst of the firing, and receives a shot in the back and falls dead upon the floor. Neither he nor Saunders succeeded in firing a shot. Kennedy and John Ballard fled, the one pursued by the Edwardses till their pistols were exhausted, and escaping temporarily into an adjoining building; thence to his hotel, where he met John Ballard, who had escaped back through the other hotel. The two then made their way together through the fields several miles to friends who furnished them with horses. The Marshal escaped unhurt. The only wound received by the second Edwards was that which has been stated. His closing was riddled by bullets. The third Edwards was shot in the arm and very seriously in the hip. It is thought he will recover. Kennedy was wounded in the arm. John Ballard was not hurt. There is no proof that any shots were fired except by the persons we have named. One witness, a Deputy Marshal, declined to answer the question whether he had did any shooting.

These are the leading facts developed in the investigation by the Coroner of this bloody struggle of the Marshals of Richmond with the desperate men who defied the law of the town, who leagued with others have held other towns in terror, and were able to make a fashionable watering place and a railroad town [Crab Orchard] a safe asylum for a man [Grove Kennedy] for whose arrest a large sum is offered by the State, and for others charged with murder and other worst of crimes.

The information brought out through the occurrences of this bloody tragedy in our streets, presents a marvelous state of things in the very heart of Kentucky -- the existence of an organized gang of desperadoes, the bands of many of whom are stained with blood, a number of them under indictment for murder, defying the law, protecting each other against arrest, pursuing with their vengeance all who resist their violence, holding in terror a great region of the State. Freeborn men of Kentucky, how long shall this state of things exist to the shame and disgrace of our great Commonwealth? Men of Lincoln, of Garrard, of Boyle, of Mercer, of Madison, will you not assert your manhood, and bring these red-handed men to justice, or drive them from your soil? [17]






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[December 14, 1877] -

LINCOLN COUNTY.

The Parties Charged with the Crab Orchard Outrages Hold to Answer -- Desirable Conclusion to a Series of Disgraceful Crimes -- Personnel of the Prisoners.

A CHAPTER OF LAWLESSNESS.


(Correspondence of the Courier-Journal.)

STANFORD, KY., Dec. 12. -- As telegraphed you, the trial of the parties charged with the latest of a long series of outrages at Crab Orchard came this afternoon to a sudden and much-desired end. After nearly four days spent in the examination of Commonwealth witnesses, the defense declined to introduce any testimony, probably for the very good reason that they had none, and the argument for the case began. Short and able speeches were made by W. H. Miller, Esq., Judge M. C. Saufley and County Attorney Fountain Fox Bobbitt for the Commonwealth; and by Col. Tom P. Hill, R. M. Bradley, Esq., and J. B. Jones, Esq., for the defense. The result was that Geo. Saunders was held to answer the charge of burglary in the sum of $4,000. Robert James was then brought in, waived an examination and had his bail fixed at $2,000. The two negroes, James Banks and Sam Humber, likewise waived an examination and had their bail fixed at $1,800 each. None of the parties have given the required bond, and it is not likely that they will, as this is only the first step on the hard way that opens up for these transgressors.

THE OFFENSE

for which these parties have been held to answer the certain indictment of the next grand jury, which will be impaneled the third Monday in April, has been already laid out in extenso before the readers of the Courier-Journal. Aside from the fact that it was the straw that broke the long-burdened back of pubic patience -- that it was the capstone to a disgraceful monument to the submission of a vast majority of good men to an indignant minority of very mean ones -- there is nothing in the Crab Orchard robbery to lift it above the common run of wholesale burglaries. On Saturday night, December 1, the grocery and provision store of John Buchanan, a very old and upright citizen of Crab Orchard, was broken open, and shoes, clover seed, tobacco, wheat and freshly butchered hogs to the amount of $800 taken therefrom. On the next morning a posse of citizens, of whom the prisoner, George Saunders, was one, made a faint attempt to find the stolen plunder, but failed. The people all over the county were aroused by the long continuance of such outrages, and on Monday morning Capt. T. G. Moore was appointed a special deputy to continue the search with a posse taken largely from this place. Late that night Deputy Lasley found the stolen plunder hid in corn shocks and under a bluff on Saunders' farm. The hogs had in the meantime been cut up and prepared for salting. Circumstances not necessary to detail here pointed to George Saunders, W. R. James and the two negroes, James Banks and Sam. Humber, as the guilty parties, and on Tuesday they were arrested by Will Saunders, Town Marshal of Crab Orchard and a brother to one of the accused. He turned them over to Judge Carson and had another Marshal appointed to take charge of them, as he naturally felt a delicacy in acting under the circumstances. The arrest of Saunders amounted to little more than an obsequious invitation to favor the court with his presence if agreeable to himself, as he continued to cary his arms and had the freedom of the town, and used it to the extent of being quite demonstrative of his objection to the indignation offered him. He even went so far as to present a pistol to the nose of old man Buchanan, the man robbed, and informed him that he was not to open his mouth about the affair. An effort to disarm Saunders led to a trial of physical strength, in which he was finally overpowered, but his friends collected in considerable numbers, and made so open threats to avenge the mistreatment that the little guard telegraphed to Stanford for aid, which was promptly sent in two detachments, one on horseback and one on the train. Both parties arrived about the same time and determined to put an end to the difficulty by tying the parties and bringing them to the county jail. All submitted quietly except Saunders, who attempted to brain the Sheriff with a poker, and was given moral support by his friends, who cried out, "Don't tie him, don't tie him." For a few moments matters took on a squally look, but upon Saunders promising to submit, and some respectable citizens pledging themselves for his good behavior, he was allowed to come to the jail unmanacled. They were all safely landed here, but Saunders continued very defiant for several days.

At the same time the above parties were brought down, David Payne was arrested and brought with them, and, as there were threats against the witnesses in the case, Deputy Lasley and posse remained behind and arrested a number of witnesses and brought them to this place [Stanford]. Threats were openly and freely made by the friends of the accused that they would be rescued, and County Judge Lytle at once put a large body of citizens on guard, and procured needle-guns from Frankfort to add to their efficiency. This had the desired effect, and though they hung around town for several days and talked very largely, the friends of the arrested [? .... fold in paper, cannot read two lines....].

THE MIDDLETON MURDER.

At the November term of the Circuit Court the two negroes above-named as charged with the recent robbery were tried for the murder of George Middleton, at Crab Orchard, in December of last year, and one of them acquitted. Middleton was one of the best citizens of Crab Orchard, and greatly respected by the better class of both whites and blacks. He had great influence with the latter, and had refused on several occasions to allow them to be made the tools of the Saunderses, Tuc. Ballard and the others of the disreputable band that controlled affairs about Crab Orchard. Either this fact or his knowledge of some of their criminal acts made him obnoxious to these men, and they were on the lookout for an opportunity to put him out of the way. Middleton had built a church at Crab Orchard, and on several different occasions gave festivals to assist in paying for it. On one of these occasions the two very disreputable negroes, Jim Banks and Sam Humber, mentioned above, created a disturbance, and Middleton had them arrested. Shortly after, in December of last year, at a similar festival in the church, after several suspicious attempts on the part of Banks and Humber to inveigle Middleton out of the building, he was fired upon through the window and mortally wounded. A few nights after the shooting, twenty or more shots were fired into the room where the friends were sitting up with Middleton's corpse, several of the balls passing through the coffin and the dead body in it. Banks and Humber were indicted and tried for the offense, though Tuc. Ballard swore before the grand jury investigating the case, that he knew the negroes were innocent of the shooting. Banks was cleared and Humber released without trial. The murder of Middleton remained a mystery, save in the suspicions of a few; but while working up the recent burglary evidence was stumbled upon that implicates Geo. Saunders, Tuck. Ballard (killed in Richmond), David Payne, Bud Broaddus, Sam Holmes, the fugitive murderer, and others, as the perpetrators of the cowardly and bloody deed. The case will come on for trial to-morrow, and some startling developments are promised.

PERSONNEL OF SOME OF THE PARTIES.

Geo. Saunders, held for the burglary in the unusual bond of $4,000, and to be tried for the murder and two or three thefts of stock, is a mere youth in appearance, and not yet twenty-one years of age, and had run off with and married a Miss Rebecca Stephenson, only three or four weeks prior to the commission of the burglary for which he is held to answer. He is a brother of the notorious Walter Saunders, ex-Sheriff of the county, and is the identical youth who was cracked over the head by marshal Edwards, of Richmond, last August, an affair that led to the killing of Walter Saunders and Tuc. Ballard when they came to his rescue. He is a very bad egg, and from present indication will get his dues either in the penitentiary or on the gallows.

W. R. JAMES,

who is held for the robbery only, is a fine subject for a Murphy orator to expatiate upon. He is of a good family, and is connected with some of the wealthiest and most prominent people in the State. Nature endowed him with a bright mind, which education further polished, but whisky brought him to poverty and disgrace. He has been until his arrest the Crab Orchard correspondent of several papers, and furnished the Cincinnati Enquirer with its special in regard to Grove Kennedy’s exploits of the past summer.

DAVID PAYNE

is an illiterate man, rough and vicious, but a fine gun and silversmith, and could cut out of the old trap of a jail here with a fine-tooth comb were other obstacles removed.

BUD BROADDUS

is a handsome fellow, with an eye piercing and bright as that of a bird of prey, and follows agriculture as an avocation and deviltry as a vocation. He is married, and his wife, a sister to Wiatt, the Rockcastle-county murderer, is doubly to be pitied.

SAM. HOLMES, THE SO-CALLED FUGITIVE,

is about thirty years old, and appears to be a permanent and perambulating disgrace to Lincoln county. He is unmarried, desperate in character, and protean in personal appearance. His father was a wealthy farmer, and at the close of the war young Holmes found himself the unhappy possessor of ample cash, which he invested largely in whisky. In September, 1869, he came to Stanford and got on a drunk. At that time Thomas Napier was Sheriff of this [Lincoln] county. At the breaking out of the Mexican war he [Napier] went out as a private volunteer and rose, with many wounds, to the rank of Lieutenant. He came back covered with honorable scars, and was, at the next election, sent to represent Lincoln in the legislative council of the State. in 1862 he closed a second term as County Judge, and with the late Col. J. Warren Grigsby, of Boyle, raised a regiment and went into the Confederate service as Lieutenant Colonel, and fought gallantly through the four-years' war. In 1867 he was elected Sheriff, and was universally esteemed as a courageous and efficient public officer. Coming into this place on the fatal September day, he heard a pistol shot, and following the sound found young Holmes to be the offender. Ed. Davidson, the then Town Marshal, was sent to head off Holmes, and Napier, unarmed, followed after. They came upon Holmes and attempted to arrest him, but he fired two fatal shots upon Napier, the old hero of many a battle, and seriously wounded Davidson, who still lives to tell the story. Holmes escaped, a wanderer in many lands, and after spending $11,000 for his father, returned about the time of that father's death, four or five years ago. Since then he has lived in this county, has lain drunk on the public highway, and that two, while there was a reward of $1,000 by the county and $500[?] by the State, and $500[?] by relatives of the murdered man offered for his capture. He is in the county to-day, to the shame of his people. Grove Kennedy long stalked impudently over this county and despite the officers of the law and drew down upon Lincoln the sneers of people all over the land. His crime is white as driven snow beside that of Sam Holmes.

THE SOURCE OF THESE TROUBLES

finds its head and front in the unpunished crime of Sam Holmes, sheltered by the protecting arm of Walter Saunders and his henchmen. Saunders is dead, and concerning the dead we are cautioned to speak no wrong, but, in justice to the living, the truth should be told. Walter Saunders has been represented as a gallant soldier, sans peur, sans reproche ["without fear, without reproach"]. He was, I am reliably informed, never in either army. At the close of the war, in 1865 or 1866, the notorious Federal guerrilla [actually, employed by the Freedmen’s Bureau], Jas. Bridgewater, brother of Og. Bridgewater, now in the penitentiary, was the terror of this country. A very laudable effort was made to rid the country of this scourge. Walter Saunders, a man of undoubted personal courage and a certain personal magnetism, headed a band for this purpose, but was foiled by an attack by Bridgewater, who put the party to flight and wounded Saunders. Open war between the two parties followed — a case of sauve qui peut ["run for your life"] — and Saunders surprised his opponent and killed him at a game of drafts, across the street from where I write. Half in gratitude for the riddance, the people elected Saunders Sheriff a first and second time, but he failed before the close of his second term, and his bondsmen had to make up the deficiency of ten or twelve thousand dollars. Up to the time of his deposition from office, Saunders had been a terror to evil doers, but chagrined by his fall, he began, though not guilty of absolute criminality himself, to gather about him a clan who afforded protection to criminals. He rented a hotel at Crab Orchard from Buchanan and James, the former the old man recently robbed, and the latter an uncle of the James accused of the robbery, and failing to give the promised bond for rent, most shamefully mistreated Buchanan, whom he accused of suing out a writ of ejectment. By means of personal violence he quashed the proceedings, and died with his boots on with a portion of the debt unpaid. He informed his successor to the shrievealty [?] that he could not arrest certain parties about Crab Orchard until he (Saunders) should first consider the case, and give his consent. Grove Kennedy, when he escaped from Lancaster, took refuge at the house of Walter Saunders; Sam. Holmes, while a fugitive from justice, resorted to the same haven, and thus the band that was so long, but is no longer, a terror and a disgrace to Lincoln county, was nurtured into life in her own bosom. For years this band ruled there as

IMPERIUM IN IMPERIO, ["government in power"]

and the remainder of the people, though a thousand to one, yielded to this autocracy of bad men. Like all other evils, it worked its own cure, and the outraged sense of justice, whipped by the scorn of “outside barbarians,” arose to self-vindication upon the simple straw of the burglary of a village store. Heretofore, and even in the incipiency of this case, there has been a system of terrorism about Crab Orchard, and it was worth a man’s life to testify against a member of the clan. John Buchanan has been for two years subjected to a system of robbery through terrorism. Men whom he knew would never pay, would serve themselves the “Kentucky treat” — “charge that to me,” or a sycophantic wink that meant “I’ll take this, and you just grin and bear.” Honest, honorable men went before the grand jury and testified to facts that would have sent villains to the penitentiary or gallows, and then cried off from the finding of an indictment because their lives would pay the penalty. Walter Saunders, Tuc. Ballard & Co. were the backbone of this state of affairs, and much as Richmond, of the neighboring country, has been reviled therefor, her cold lead broke the vertebral column of this horrid mammal of crime. Madison got the head, and now Lincoln is preparing a sacrifice of the body. I know that this is not a complimentary recital; I know that certain rural and metropolitan roosters will charge me with slandering, through the Courier-Journal, the great old Commonwealth of Kentucky, but they snuff the battle from afar, and I refer them to W. P. Walton, of the Interior Journal of this place, one of the gamest rural roosters in the land, whether I have set down ought in malice, however much I may have extenuated.

THE INTERIOR JOURNAL

has stood up squarely in all these years of public cowardice — stood bravely and squarely to an extent that has drawn out threats of assassination from members of the clan. The mass of these people are beginning to-day to appreciate it; and that is one of the favorable signs visible in old Lincoln to-day.

And now that I am giving credit to whom credit is due, let me speak a word for

LUCIEN M. LASLEY,

who lives in the midst of these dispersed desperadoes, but has taken his life in his hands and struck what I believe to be a death blow at the root of all this evil. Such men need the moral support of public journals and all good men. The chance they take is that of the black and white bean — if they convict the parties and break down the organization they are safe; if not, a midnight assassination, a startling headline in the press and all is over with them.

J. A. LYTLE,

County Judge, Republican though he be, is also entitled to all credit. Now that he has the people to back him, he has stood so firm in the matter that the accused, who swore him off the bench and substituted Esquires R. Carson and — Cash, builded wiser than they knew and jumped from the frying-pan into the fire. To

W. H. MILLER,

an attorney at the bar, and for the preceding term Circuit Court Clerk, belongs much of the credit for the issue of these troubles. He has aroused the people, gone boldly into the inbottom[?]. He has taken a leading part in the prosecution, and, come weal or come woe, will see the matter through.

“HOW MANY MEN HAVE BEEN KILLED

in Lincoln county since the war?” I asked of a prominent citizen and office-holder. “Not less than one hundred,” was his reply. “Oh, not half that number,” put another citizen. “I’ll be the oysters for the crowd,” was his reply, “that I can count up that number.” This led to an off-hand count. Seven were counted up that died with their boots on since the present year was ushered in, and it was declared that that was below an average. Nearly twelve years have passed since the war, and the wager was declined. It was declared and agreed to that more of Lincoln’s citizens have bee killed since than during the war, and one man who lives here, but has a farm near Crab Orchard, expressed himself delighted with the present awakening of justice, because it would double the value of his land. In justice let me say, the people of Crab Orchard precinct did not kill all nor a half of that hundred men. The friction of whisky under belts that carried pistols has spilled this blood all over the county.

SPEAKING OF PISTOLS,

reminds one of shooting, and to prevent that in the court-room bayonets are locked across the thresh-hold, and every one who enters is searched for the concealed cause of so much of Kentucky’s trouble. Prisoners are brought to and from the jail amid a constellation of twinkling bayonets, and one can not go a square on the street at this moment without being accosted with, “Halt! Who comes there?” All this looks bad and sounds bad in this peaceful and free Christian Commonwealth; but it is the beginning of the end of that demoralization of a war, the single campaign of which Voltaire has said breeds more evils than all other causes beside. E.G.L. [18]





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[December 29, 1877] -

William [Kennedy] also figured in the Richmond tragedy when Walter Saunders and Tuc. Ballard lost their lives and Marshal Edwards and brother were wounded, and almost miraculously escaped himself with five abrasions of the skin by as many pistol balls. Two indictments were found against him on account of this affair, and he is under $3,000 bond to answer at the next spring term of the Madison Circuit Court. [19]





---

[January 21, 1878] -

THE LATE WALTER G. SANDERS.

His Widow Comes to the Defense of His Character.

The following letter, having been directed to Stanford, came to hand only a day or two since. It speaks for itself:

(To the Editor of the Courier-Journal.)

CRAB ORCHARD, Dec. 27, 1877. -- In the communication of the Courier-Journal's correspondent from this place some statements were made that I would like to see corrected. The remarks, no doubt, were based upon information received from a third party. I state what I know to be true, as regards to the personnel of Walter G. Saunders.

On the 21st of December, 1869 -- before the holy man of God -- I breathed vows that made me the wife of W. G. Saunders. From that day to this I have never had the shadow of a cause to regret the step then taken. He was my husband, in whom I trusted; never did he give me a harsh word, never a look of impatience. He was a devoted father to the children God gave us, and now, that his voice is hushed in death, his right arm powerless, can I remain silent when a stranger says my husband was a desperado -- the leader of a gang? No! Though feeble my pen, it must speak, and you owe it to the widow and these fatherless children to make the correction public.

Grove Kennedy was at our house several times last summer, but not secreted here. I heard Mr. S. say more than once: "Grove, I am your friend, but if the arm of the law lays hold of you beneath my roof I am powerless, for I can not evade the law."

Sam Holmes never stayed a night in our house, never ate a meal at our table.

My husband went to Richmond last August -- the 27th day -- to inquire into the cause of the trouble his brother became involved in during the fair. Mr. Saunders had no intention of having a difficulty. I, with my two little children, went to Richmond the same day by train. We went for a visit of several days. I took material in my trunk for a suit for Mr. Saunders. That night he was basely murdered, and now the insurance authorities are trying to defraud me of my just rights, and such sensational talk as that in the letter of the 14th may assist them in doing this.

Since my bereavement I have been living in the retirement of a boarding-school, and answer the article now for the sake of Walter, Jr., and Ella May, who nightly in their prayers lisp a prayer for paps, and pray the Lord to take them to him when they die. When the world brands their father as a desperado, I want them to see the contradiction by their mother.

Mr. Saunders claimed no perfection, but he had a noble heart. He was a brave, loyal man. He was a true friend, an affectionate husband, son and brother, and a devoted father. Respectfully,

Mrs. Maggie Saunders. [20]




---

[May 3, 1878] -

DIGGING FOR THE DEAD. -- It has been whispered around for several weeks, that Sam Umber, one of the negroes charged with being engaged in the robbery of Mr. John Buchanan's store, at Crab Orchard, last November, had given information of a terrible murder that had been committed by Walter Saunders, Tuck Ballard, George Saunders and Sam Holmes, in August 1876. His story was that a man, hailing from Tennessee, tall, and wearing full whiskers, stopped at the Saunders' Hotel in the month mentioned for supper, and to have his horse fed. After supper he got on his horse intending to ride as far as Stanford, but the above parties discovering that he had money, followed him a short distance down the pike, and after shooting him robbed the body of $165 and took possession of the fine horse he was riding. He further stated that he had been employed to dig the grave, which he did, in the old Cemetery, on the West of the town, and helped the party who brought him thither to cover him up. Thinking there might be something to his story, a committee of the grand jury, viz: 'Squire J. S Murphy, Capt. B. F. Powell, W. C. Bailey and Jos. McAlister, with the negro and a guard of fifteen men, visited Crab Orchard last Friday, but after digging around in various places designated by the negro without making any discovery, returned to Stanford, the negro having finally admitted that he had deceived the party as to the place of burial, because George Saunders had threatened him in jail before he left, that if he showed the right place he (Saunders) would see that he was killed at once, but if he would not tell he would reward him with $1,000. We doubt whether there is much dependence to be placed in the statements of the negro, but enough corroborating testimony was found to induce the grand jury to make a thorough investigation.

P. S. The Grand Jury having obtained further evidence in the murdered man story, a committee, with a guard and the prisoner, went up to Crab Orchard again on Wednesday, but made no discoveries. A slight show of resistance was made toward the party by a crowd of men who objected to the search, but fortunately for them, there was no collision. The action of the men is regarded as very suspicious, and many, who at first gave no credence to the story, are now convinced that there is something in it. Certainly, if a man has not been murdered, no one could take offense at the Grand Jury for doing a duty they were sworn to perform. [21]




---

[May 31, 1878] -

CONTINUED. -- The cases against W. F. Kennedy, for malicious shooting at Richmond, when Walter Saunders was killed, were called this week at Lexington, where they had been taken by a change of venue, and continued for the defendant till the 4th day of the next term. The Lexington Press speaks of his attorney, Col. W. G. Welch, as one of the most promising young lawyers of the State. [22]


---

[October 26, 1878] -

THE MURDER OF SAUNDERS.

-- We clip the following from the Richmond correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial. It differs from any other version we have had in the matter, and, if true, shows that the Edwards were not so much actuated by a desire to protect themselves and preserve the peace as they were to gain a reputation for bravery, but committing an uncalled for murder: "A witness has late[l]y come forward who was present throughout the fight in which Walter Saunders met his death, saw it all, and was the only person who did. He was seated in a chair in such a position that escape was impossible. That he was there is now generally believed. His version of the conversation between Saunders and Marshal Edwards represents the former as speaking in a mild and conciliary tone, without bravado or threat. He also states that Gus Edwards shot Saunders under the chin, and that he ran as soon as Will Kennedy commenced firing. This young man's name is Jarman, a brother of the proprietor off the Richmond House. He states other facts and particulars which might, on a closer legal investigation, become important. The young man Corneilison, who took part in that fight on the side of the Marshal, and afterwards claimed to have killed Kit Ballard, departed from his home very suddenly about a month ago, and telegraphed from a Western town for his trunk. He not unwisely considered Richmond an unsafe place for one of his war-like propensities." [23]


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[November 22, 1878] -

The case of W. F. Kennedy, growing out of his participation in the difficulty at Richmond, when Walter Saunders and Tuck Ballard were killed, were set for trial at Lexington, yesterday, where they had been taken by a change of venue. [24]



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[November 23, 1878] -

The trial of Wm. F. Kennedy in the Circuit Court was ended to-day. The court instructed the jury, who retired without hearing argument, and in five minutes returned a verdict of acquittal. Some persons thought that there was a danger of a difficulty between the Edwardses and the friends of Kennedy, but nothing of the kind has occurred or is likely to occur, though perhaps it would not be conducive to peace to leave the parties alone together. [25]



---

[November 29, 1878] -

ACQUITTED. -- Wm. F. Kennedy was acquitted at Lexington, last week, of the charges arising from his participation in the affair at Richmond, in which Walter Saunders and Tuck Ballard were killed. There was no argument of counsel, and the jury was but a few moments in making its verdict. [26]



---

[November 29, 1878] -

A UNPROVOKED ASSAULT. -- Last Saturday, Lucien Lasley was called to Crab Orchard, on business with Capt. T. G. Moore, and while standing talking with him in the middle of the street, Will Saunders, who had been walking up and down the pavement in an excited manner, went to where the gentlemen were, and taking Lasley by the lapel of his coat, applied the vulgar and rough epithet to him, and told him that he had to acknowledge that he was just what he had called him or suffer the consequences. Lasley told him that he was unarmed, but he would see him in the lowest regions of -- before he would make any such as an acknowledgment. Saunders, who had had his right hand in his pants pocket all the time, cocked his pistol and had it nearly in readiness to send a ball through Lasley's heart, when Capt. Moore seized his hand and prevented him from doing the terrible deed that he contemplated. At this juncture, old Arch Carson, no doubt, to curry favor with Saunders and his ilk, rushed on Lasley with a drawn knife, and used the same words to him that Saunders had done. Mr. Reuben Bronaugh took him in charge, and Carson, to show that if he did not release him, that he would carve his d--n head off. Mr. Bronaugh immediately let him go, and told him to proceed with his carving, but the old man's courage began to ooze out of the ends of his fingers when confronted by a man who had an equal show with himself, and he very wisely concluded to desist. A large crowd had gathered by this time, when Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Will Kennedy, seeing the great danger that Mr. Lasley was in, came to his rescue, and under their protection he reached Capt. Moore's house. Thither the crowd, headed by Saunders, followed, and Saunders making other demonstrations toward Lasley, Capt. Moore went to him, told him he was acting very foolishly, and asked him to leave, which he finally consented to do, and after the excitement had subsided, Capt. Moore took Mr. Lasley in his buggy and saw him safely home. To Capt. Moore and those estimable ladies, and Mr. Bronaugh, Mr. Lasley undoubtedly owes his life, and all good people will join in awarding them the highest praise. Saunders' action was most reprehensible and completely kills the good opinion that his previous conduct since his brother George got in to trouble, had created on his behalf. It shows his feelings, and his last Saturday's doings will redound, not only to his own injury, but infinitely to the damage of his brother. In palliation of his outrage, our informant states, that Saunders, with others, had been making merry over the acquittal of Will Kennedy, who had arrived that morning, and that at the time he attacked Lasley, he was under the influence of liquor. Be that as it may; it speaks no good of a man, whose pent up passion finds expression only when he is drinking. The severest penalty of the law should be inflicted on Saunders, the more so, as he occupies the position of Town Marshal of Crab Orchard, and makes his attack under cover of that office. Mr. Lasley's conduct we learn from Capt. Moore, was the coolest and bravest that he has ever seen shown by any man, and he makes no hesitation in saying that "he is a man, every inch of him." Mr. Lasley has incurred the wrath of the law-breakers of Crab Orchard and elsewhere, by his manly efforts in bringing George Saunders and others to justice, and to him is mainly due the astonishing revelations that twelve months ago caused the people of this county to rise in their might in behalf of law and order. The same people stand in readiness now to protect Mr. Lasley, in all his lawful and commendable doings, and we would advise Saunders et id omne genus ["and all that sort"] not to incur their wrath, nor cause their second uprisal. In justice to Mr. Lasley, we state that the statements contained in this article were not obtained from him, but from a gentleman who witnessed the affair and who is in every way reliable. [27]


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[2] Excerpt from "Home Jottings." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. March 12, 1875. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1875-03-12/ed-1/seq-3/ Source [2] Image

[3] Excerpt from Advertisements. The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. March 12, 1875. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1875-03-12/ed-1/seq-3/ Source [3] Image

[4] Excerpt from "Circuit Court Items." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. April 30, 1875. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1875-04-30/ed-1/seq-3/ Source [4] Image

[5] Excerpt from "Pulaski County News." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. July 21, 1876. Page 2. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1876-07-21/ed-1/seq-2/ Source [5] Image

[6] Excerpt from "Local News." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. August 18, 1876. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1876-08-18/ed-1/seq-3/ Source [6] Image

[7] "The Bloody Ground." Cincinnati Daily Gazette, Cincinnati, OH. August 29, 1877. Page 1. Genealogybank.com. Source [7] Image

[8] "Danville." The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY. August 29, 1877. Page 1. Newspapers.com. Source [8] Image

[9] "The Richmond Tragedy." The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY. August 30, 1877. Page 3. Newspapers.com. Source [9] Image

[10] "A Terrible Tragedy." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. August 31, 1877. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1877-08-31/ed-1/seq-3/ Source [10] Image

[11] Excerpt from "Rockcastle County News." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. August 31, 1877. Page 2. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1877-08-31/ed-1/seq-2/ Source [11] Image

[12] Excerpt from "Garrard County News." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. August 31, 1877. Page 2. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1877-08-31/ed-1/seq-2/ Source [12] Image

[13] Excerpt from "Local News." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. August 31, 1877. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1877-08-31/ed-1/seq-3/ Source [13] Image

[14] "The Kentucky Homicide." Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, Cincinnati, OH. August 31, 1877. Page 5. Genealogybank.com. Source [14] Image Part One; Source [14] Image Part Two

[15] "The Richmond Tragedy." Kentucky Advocate, Danville, KY. August 31, 1877. Page 2. Newspapers.com. Source [15] Image

[16] "The Recent Richmond Tragedy." The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY. September 4, 1877. Page 3. Newspapers.com. Source [16] Image Part One; Source [16] Image Part Two; Source [16] Image Part Three

[17] "Still Another." The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY. September 10, 1877. Page 1. Newspapers.com. Source [17] Image Part One; Source [17] Image Part Two

[18] "Lincoln County." The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY. December 14, 1877. Page 2. Newspapers.com. Source [18] Part One; Source [18] Image Part Two

[19] Excerpt from "The Kennedys." The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY. December 29, 1877. Page 2. Newspapers.com. Source [19] Image

[20] "The Late Walter G. Sanders." The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY. January 21, 1878. Page 3. Newspapers.com. Source [20] Image

[21] "Digging for the Dead." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. May 3, 1878. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1878-05-03/ed-1/seq-3/ Source [21] Image

[22] Excerpt from Column 2. The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. May 31, 1878. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1878-05-31/ed-1/seq-3/ Source [22] Image

[23] "The Murder of Saunders." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. October 26, 1877. Page 2. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1877-10-26/ed-1/seq-2/ Source [23] Image

[24] Excerpt from "Local News." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. November 22, 1878. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1878-11-22/ed-1/seq-3/ Source [24] Image

[25] Excerpt from "Lexington Locals." The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY. November 23, 1878. Page 4. Newspapers.com. Source [25] Image

[26] Excerpt from Column 2. The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. November 29, 1878. Page 3. LOC. Source [26] Image

[27] Excerpt from Column 3. The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. November 29, 1878. Page 3. LOC. Source [27] Image

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