Some incidents before the Vendetta

In 1862, Marshall T Crain and John Sisney had gotten into a fight.  Then they got into another fight at Mrs Clements, when John hit Marshall with some brass knuckles.  After the fight ended they agreed to stopping being friends and to end it.

The first trouble in the Vendetta which all started over a card game.

On 04 Jul 1868, Felix G Henderson and some of the Bulliner boys stopped at a saloon about 1½ miles east of Carbondale due to the rain. Soon there was a card game going and George Bulliner Jr started betting on the game and starting trouble.  George Sr, George Jr and David Stancil winded up getting into a fight with Felix, which ended up with Felix getting beaten up pretty bad.  The barkeeper' wife and James Russell broke it up. Felix didn't know the Bulliner's and had cut David Stancil in the fight.  The next day Stancil sent Eli Farmer to apologize to Felix for him.  James Henderson told Felix, she shouldn't have been in the saloon,  Felix went off to William Hindman's and met up with George W Sisney.  The next week Felix met George Bulliner Jr in David Stancil's field and want to fight, nothing came of this.  Then in Sep, three of Bulliner's ricks of hay were mysteriously burnt.  The following week George Bulliner's cotton gin was burned with 100,000 pounds of cotton inside.

The second trouble in the Vendetta were over a bunch of oats

In 1869, Samuel Brethers was living at the Bulliner farm and sharecroped a part of George W Sisney's land.  Samuel sold his oats to Sisney for his rent on the land and also to David Bulliner, then left for Texas. There was a law suit over the oats in which George Sisney won the suit.  On 26 Apr 1870 George W Sisney and David Bulliner met in Sisney's blacksmith shop, George beat David with a shovel.  David ran and got his father (George), and brothers John and Monroe Bulliner.  John and David shot Sisney four times in the leg.  George Sr Bulliner arrived and stopped his boys from going any further.  All of them were indicted in Sep 1870 and fined $100 each.

The third  trouble in the Vendetta were over a woman

In 1872, Thomas J Russell and John Bulliner began dating Sarah Stocks, John won Miss Stocks. Later in Nov 1872, another fight broke out between Marshall T Crain and John Sisney with Wm J "Big Jep" Crain and George Sisney Jr as strickers, no one was hurt in the fight.  On 15 Dec 1872, at the company store in Carterville, there was a dog fight that happened with the Crain boys dog.  At the same time James Henderson just happened to be in the store.  "Big Terry" Crain started arguing with Elijah Peterson, then want to fight James Henderson. The fight was broken up and no one was hurt. Now you have the true beginnings of the Vendetta, which up to this point was simple alot of fist fight and not much blood shed.  These fights drew the Crains and Bulliners against the Hendersons and the Sisneys.

25 Dec 1872, the Carterville Riot

John Sisney along with Wesley and Marshall Crain were at the Company store in Carterville.  Sisney said something to Marshall, who then hit Sisney.  Milton Black started to step in when "Big" Terry Crain said to leave it alone.  Then Milton and Terry got into a fist fight, where Milton knocked Terry down three times.  Then the other Crain boys went after Milton.  About that time George Sisney showed up and called for a fair fight.  Someone knocked George Sisney to the floor and Warren Crain jumped on George.  They finally took the fight outside and it ended.  For some reason Wesley Council hit George Sisney.  John & George Sisney went with Milton to his store.  "Big" Terry came after Milton but George Bulliner stopped him.  Then the Sisney's and Milton went over to the hotel, where "Big" Terry tried to arrest Milton Black.   Some of this group were arrest and a trial was set for 30 Dec 1872 at Crainville.  So on this day the Hendersons, Sisneys, Bulliners, Crains, Wesley Council, Thomas J Russell, some of the Stotlars and a few others had a battle.  Thomas Russell went after John Bulliner at William Spence's store.  James Henderson handed Thomas a brick to hit Bulliner with.  Then both Russell and John Bulliner drew guns, at this point David Bulliner stepped in and James Henderson also drew his gun.  The Bulliner went into the house with some of the Crains.  Samuel and James Henderson wanted to get the Crains.  James Henderson then called out George Bulliner for beating Felix Henderson.  Bulliner started outside but was stopped by William Spence.  Off this mess Marshall Crain was indicted for assulting John Sisney but nothing ever came of the ordeal.  In Feb 1873, 20 men were in court for the riot, but the information was quashed.  Later Thomas J Russell was in Crainville at William Spence's store and met 3 of the Bulliners. Thomas then went to Carterville and got James Henderson.  While going to Crainville they ran into George Bulliner Sr and made a truce to stop fighting.

Not soon after this, James Henderson was out by Vincent Hinchcliff's place when one of the Bulliners threatened to kill him.  In the summer of 1873, Marshall Crain and John Sisney were in Carterville threatening to shot each other, but nothing came of this.  States Attorney Jennings, had this bunch  arrested four times but charges were quashed each time. The fifth time they were arrested some of the Crains were convicted.  The other side had their trials moved to Jackson Co and were acquitted.  During the trial George Sisney got into it with Wesley Council.

The next real incident in the affair happened on 06 Nov 1873 at an election in Eight Mile Prairie.  Thomas J Russell, David Pleasant and David Bulliner got into a fight over the old feud.  James Norris, who worked for the Bulliners, was also involved.  It came to the drawing of guns but someone stopped them before anyone was hurt.  12 Dec 1873, George Bulliner was on his way to Carbondale, when assassins were waiting for him along the road.  He was shot twice in the leg and 44 times in the back at the Jackson Co line, the shooters were unknown.

27 Mar 1874, shooting at the church

Monroe and David Bulliner, who was 25, were coming home from church, when 2 men shot at them.  David was hit and died. Mrs Stancil was also shot while coming from the church. She survived.  According to Erwin, George and David Bulliner were taken to TN for burial. Charged with the crime was Thomas J Russell and David Pleasant (age 22).  Jordan Halstead and Samuel R Crain had writs of arrest against them by constable JV Grider.  After the murder, Gordon Clifford aka "Texas Jack" talked with Thomas J Russell and then left town. David Pleasant's case was noilled (dismissed) and he left the county.  Thomas J Russell requested a change in venue from WN Marshall to George W Young.  WW Clemens and Milo Erwin were Russell's attorneys and the case was dismissed as they had another warrent for Thomas J Russell issued by George F Crain JP.  The venue was again changed to William Stover (Justice of the Peace) in Eight Mile.

31 Mar 1874 Trial of Thomas J Russell

David Bulliner Sr came up from TN for the trial.  Two witnesses said they saw Thomas Russell at the church that night. Five other witnesses swore that Russell was at home that evening about 2 miles away.  Of the witnesses whre Hope Russell and Amanda Bulliner, both age 16.  Monroe Bulliner was only a few feet away from the shooters but could not identify them.   Sarah Stocks swore to threats she held made. The Russells, Hendersons, Sisneys and friends their to get Thomas out if convicted.  The States Attorney (Jennings) ran off.  The defense thought the Bulliners would kill Thomas J Russell if he was turned loose.  The sheriff had 25 men to guard Thomas Russell.  Calvert finished up the trial in Jennings place and the court found Thomas J Russell not guilty.  So the family and friends took off with Russell. In the mean time Jackson Co had sent a warrant to keep Russell as they wanted to try him for the murder of George Bulliner, but before this was noted, Russell had disappeared and was not found.

A few days after the trial John Russell (Thomas' brother) came to see Erwin and Clemmens on an unrelated matter, a posse began following them to see if they could find Thomas Russell. Then a group went out to scout the county for trouble.  Vincent Hinchcliff arrested Gordan Clifford and held a mock trial and placed him in jail. He had come to Wmson Co in 1873, possible from Kansas.  He posted bail and disappeared.

15 May 1874, murder of James Henderson

Due to the situation, James Henderson was afraid someone was going to kill him, so he had little Frank Jeffreys watch in the field while he worked. James and Frank laid down for a little rest in the field on the afternoon of the 15th.  Thomas Wilson saw some men coming into the field, where they shot James several times.  James lived for 8 days after the attack, naming his killers as James Norris, John Bulliner, and  Manuel or Monroe Bulliner.  James wife became a lunatic and died 01 Jan 1875. The next day Jason Ditmore, who lived 1 mile west of the Hendersons was shot by unknown persons but recovered. As was John Rod a few miles north of Eight Mile.  25 Aug 1874 John Bulliner was arrested in Crainville.  He and James Norris were indicted for the murder of James Henderson. John Bulliner had 4 witnesses saying he was in TN at the time of the murder.  John was acquitted.

09 Aug 1874, two men tried to kill George Sisney.  Timothy Edward Cagle, an orphan age 19, and James Norris were arrested.  Timothy ran off to New Orleans but returned to Wmson Co in Mar 1875 and turned himself in.  This case was dismissed when Sisney was later murder. Later this same month, Felix Henderson and Monroe Bulliner met in Marion and agreed to met later in Carterville to end the feud, but the other Hendersons said no.  So Felix showed up anyway as did Vincent Hinchcliff, Monroe and John Bulliner.  Vincent said they did not kill Felix's uncle John. (It was his uncle James). He then said the Hendersons were doing all the killing.  Felix said he was not involved in any murders.  Hinchcliff and Bulliners wondered were Samual Henderson was at the time.  After a long talk, they agreed to stop the fighting.  Samuel Henderson was never heard from again.

04 Oct 1874, murder of Vincent Hinchcliff

Vincent was out seeing a patient, when he was shot 16 times near his home.  Robert (his brother) heard the shots and came running.  Two men were seen about 3 miles away.  Felix G and Samuel Henderson were indicted.

Summer of 1874 to maybe 1875, there were 15 men according to Erwin from Carrier Mills, who called themselves "Regulators", who were in Wmson Co to take care of things.  Several people were beaten, about 15 people told to leave the county.  23 Oct 1874, 20 men visited Henry D Carter and shot up his house.  A few days later 52 men according to Erwin, showed up at the County Line Church (present day Corinth Twp) and demanded Carter leave. Carter wrote to the governor and he wrote to Jennings to enforce the law.  That was the end of the matter, some men in this group were thougt to be in the Vendetta bunch

12 Dec 1874

George Sisney and George Hindman, both shot at while in the house.  Marshall Crain said he did it, but this was doubtful as there were four sets of prints found. He also said he tried to kill Milton Black, waylaid John Sisney and near killed Worth Tippy.  In Apr 1875 Timothy Cagle was indicted, case dismissed.

01 Jan 1875

Felix met Monroe Bulliner in Carterville.  Monroe wanted to know why Felix was asking around the McNiel House about him. Felix said he wasn't.  A crowd got involved and they all got on the train to Crainville.  Monroe and Felix settled the argument, Monroe getting off in Crainville and Felix in Marion. A friend of Monroe's had been asking about him, it was later found out.  In Marion, Felix went to see JDF Jennings the States Atty to see if he was being indicted for the murder of Vincent Hinchcliff.  He was told he was and that he should go home, seems at the time Felix lived 5 miles north of Marion. Anyway Jennings  went and told the story that Felix had tried to kill him, but Erwin says this is not true, as he was Felix' lawyer at the time. Monroe Bulliner, Westley Council, JM & Hugh McCarty and John Moore were indicted for the riot on the train, all acquitted in Nov 1876.  In Feb 1875, they tried to arrest Felix but he ran and they tried to shot him but he got away. He went to KY and in Apr 1875, returned and gave himself up.  A trial was set for Oct, but 15 men said they saw him at a church 12 miles away when Hinchcliff was murdered. The case was dropped.

After Vincent Hinchcliff died, everyone was on edge. A series of letters were sent to the Farmer's Advocate, threatening everyone and mainly States Attorney Jennings.  These letters were signed Big Pete of the Woods. Mr Brown's boy tried to convinve Erwin that CH Dennison had wrote the letters and produced a manuscript of the letters, it was clear to Erwin, that Jennings had been writing the letters.  He also sent Samual Dunaway and other wealthy men letters saying he was going to kill them.  Then told these men he knew who was writing the letter and for $5000 he would have them killed. A bit later, Jennings stole $900 from the county and ran off in Apr 1875, making his position vacant.  JW Hartwell was elected.  BO Jones of Massac Co introduced a bill to get $10,000 for Wmson Co, a committee was against this and it was reduced to $3,000. AC Nelson was the representative at the time.

Things were quiet for a while til later in the spring of 1875, when some blinds were found near the Bulliners place to try and kill John but his brother Monroe found them. On 04 Jul 1875, Someone shot at Marshall Crain's house in Crainville.  He got back in the Vendetta.  He hired John Bulliner to kill George Sisney.  Marshall would take care of John Sisney.  Marshall and his wife went to Samuel Music' and told him to swear for Marshall in the matter.