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Archiver > KYCLAY > 1999-08 > 0935444383


From: "Jess Wilson" <>
Subject: Re: [KYLAUREL-L] Re: [KYCLAY] RECOLLECTIONS OF BREATHITT.
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 17:39:43 -0400


Linda,

As I do not know your family name, I don't think I should
discuss mountain killings with you. Anyway, I would not touch a
1928 killing in Breathitt County with a ten foot pole. I have
made it a rule to never write about any trouble that happened
after 1900. Writing about more recent trouble might " wrinkle
someone's horn."

I have in my collection a goodly number of stories about the
happenings in "Bloody Breathitt", one feud where I was kin to
both sides. My cousin, Ned Callahan stood with Judge Hargus and
watched for Curtis Jett to kill my cousin, James Marcum, as he
came to the courthouse door. Callahan and Marcum were cousins to
each other, This trouble was almost a hundred years ago.

James Marcum was a grandson of Mary Wilson and Thomas Marcum,
that married, December 30, 1800 in Stokes County, North
Carolina. Ned Callahan was a grandson of Mahala Wilson and
Isaac Callahan, the fiddler that was hanged in 1817, that
altered events in the Wilson family that resulted in my being
born a hundred years later.

The last place I bought dress shoes was in a Richmond, Kentucky,
at the Jett Shoe Store. The owner said that his great uncle,
Curtis Jett, spent his last days upstairs over the shoe store.
After 90 years we felt comfortable talking about his kin killing
my kin. If that killing had happened in 1928, I would never
have mentioned the subject.

JESS WILSON
POSSUM TROT ROAD
MANCHESTER KY 40962.----------
> From:
> To:
> Subject: Re: [KYLAUREL-L] Re: [KYCLAY] RECOLLECTIONS OF
BREATHITT.
> Date: Monday, August 23, 1999 10:17 AM
>
> Hi Jess,
>
> I have a question for you on Breathitt County, hope you can,
if not help,
> maybe steer me in a direction.
>
> My grandfather was murdered in Breathitt County in 1928.
>
> Does your Recollections of Breathitt County go to 1928? Does
it cover local
> crime? His name was Elijah Sandlin son of Willis, he was
married to Maxaline
> Gilbert daughter of Kenis. I have alot of Elijah's
information, but, would
> like the "stories" on what lead to his murder. I know who
murdered him,
> would like to know why. I have the facts on both of their
families, would
> just like a few stories.
>
> Thanks
> Linda

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