In 1867 Horace Sims stabbed John Latta in the thigh while in a fight with him at Sims' Mills, on the Saline. Latta bled to death from the wound, and Sims was tried and aquitted on the ground of self-defence, he being on the under side when the cutting was done. During this year John Cheneworth was killed in the woods near his house in Herrin's Prairie, and was not found until several days thereafter. William Chitty and one of his sons were arrested for this murder, but released on account of there being no evidence against them. At the Nov election in 1868, in Grassy Prec, William Stanley was killed in a shooting scrape between the Stanleys and Cashes. Isaiah Cash was accused of the crime, but the evidence was not sufficient to convict him. The same year a boy by the name of Rogers stabbed Charles McHaney, while in a gith with him, 5 miles east of Marion. He was acquitted on the ground of self-defense. On 01 Dec of that year (1868), William Barham, a young man said to be afflicted with lunacy, shot and killed Andrew J Lowe in Marion. Barham was put in jail, from which he escaped in Sept 1869. 5 years later he was apprehended in TN, brought back to Marion, tried, found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to the penitentiary for 1 year. In 1869 Samuel Cover shot and killed Philip T Corder in Marion, and was afterward tried and acquitted on the ground of self-defense. The same year George Mandrel, a lunatic in Northern Prec, slew his father with an ax. In 1870 Thomas P White, a citizen of Herrin's Prairie, went one day to buy a yoke of oxen 2 miles from his home, and was seen returning by a neighbor, and has never been seen since. It is supposed that he was assassinated.
In 1871 Martin G Walker, living about 7 miles NE of Marion, was killed on his farm by a ruffian, who beat him on the head with a gun barrel. A neighbor by the name of John Owen was arrested for the crime, tried and sentenced to the penitentiary for 25 years, but was pardoned before his term expired. His son confessed on his death-bed that he committed the murder for which the father was being punished. The same year Frank Goodall killed Valentine Springhardt in a mill in Marion by striking him on the head with a large wrench. Goodall gave himself up, and was afterward tried and acquitted. In Apr 1872, Isaac Vancil, an aged man living on the Big Muddy, was ordered to leave the country or suffer death; but not obeying the order a band of 10 en in the disguise of Kuklux went to his house on the night of 22nd, took him about a mile down river, hung him, and left him hanging, where he was found the next morning. Several men were arrested for this crime and tried in Franklin Co on change of venue from Wmson, but none were found guilty. The same year James Myers was shot while hauling wood near his house on the Eight Mile. His stepson, Samuel Tyner, was arrested for this offense and admitted to bail, and ran away before the death of Myers, which occurred soon thereafter. Tyner has never been apprehended. In Aug 1872, Ricahrd Allison shot and killed Samuel Absher in Rock Creek Prec. Allison ran away and has not been found.
The following year (1873), Francis M Wise and William Newton, of Saline, quarreled about a mule trade which they had made, when the former shot and killed the latter, and then made his escape and has never been arrested. In 1874, Horace Carter shot and killed William Willeford, in Union Prec, while attempting to arrest Richard Hilliard. Carter was a constable, with a writ, and was shooting at Hilliard, and accidently killled Williford. He was tried and sentenced to 1 year in the penitentiary. The judge, jury and citizens immediately sent a petition to the Governor, which secured his release after one hour's confinement in prison. The same year Dock Burnett and James Gibbs, two young men, engaged in a fight 7 miles south of Marion, and the former stabbed and killed the latter. Burnett then ran away and has never been apprehened. In Sep of the same year Stewart Culp, a citizen of the county, was shot and killed in his wagon while on his way hime from DeSoto. His murderer has never been discovered. Also the same year Samuel Keeling shot and killed William Meese in Northern Prec. He was afterward arrested and tried in Saline Co on a change of venue from Wmson, and sentenced to prison for life. The next homicide in the county was that of Capt James B Murray in Marion. Murray made an attack on Leander Ferrell. Several shots were fired, one of which was received by Murray causing his death. Ferrel was tried in 1876, and acquitted on the ground of self-defense. In the summer of 1876, John Kelley and Samuel Lipsy engaged in a fight at Carterville, and the former stabbed th latter causing his death. Kelley was tried and sentenced to 6 years in the penitentiary. This brings the catalogue of homicides and crimes down to the existence of what was known as the bloody Vendetta.