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Archiver > KYPULASK > 2005-06 > 1118410947


From: "Eric James" <>
Subject: GILLILAND
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 09:42:47 -0400


The following are from the research files of Eric James, publisher of
STRAY LEAVES, A JAMES FAMILY IN AMERICA SINCE 1650, www.ericjames.org

From the Mountain Echo 1891:

There is some excitement in Pulaski county caused by the arrest of several
parties, charged with belonging to an organized gang of thieves and
desperadoes, of which Dr. Gilliland, father of the Gilliland boys who were
lynched for the murder of Sheriff McHargue, is said to be the leader, should
Doc Gilliland be captured it is feared there will be another lynching."

From the GILLILAND family bible:

"Decease of JAMES HARVEY GILLILAND and JOE SIRAH GILLILAND - September 15,
1891. 'They was took out of the jailhouse and mobbed by a most of
blackhearted murders. It was unjust and I know it. Ma, Pa knows it, our God
knows it. I believe their should are resting in heaven today, for I know
they were not guilty of the crime. They was right here with us when the gun
was fired. Their souls are blessed'."

From a scrapbook by Thelma Hayes-Herrin, a newspaper clipping, probably from
a local paper:

"Two Murderers Lynched."
"The GILLILAND brothers who killed McHARGUE, HANGED" Somerset, Ky. Sept.
16, 1891...The GILLILAND brothers, JAMES H. and JOSIAH were lynched this
morning by a mob for the murder of Sheriff MCHARGUE of Pulaski Co. last
Saturday." (Ed note: There is a one day discrepancy in the date. The
brothers were hanged on Sept. 15th.)

From a Gilliland Family Genealogy

JOSIAH GILLILAND and his older brother JAMES HARVEY GILLILAND were lynched
for the murder of Sheriff JAMES MCHARGUE.

JAMES HARVEY GILLILAND had been guilty of many crimes, and apparently four
murders. Two of them were J. STIKES and H. BOBBITT.

Sheriff MCHARGUE came home and found his daughter LOUELLA in the corncrib
with the GILLILAND boys. Sheriff MCHARGUE was killed on September 12, 1891.
The Governor of Kentucky appointed JOHN WATSON to finish out the term of
Sheriff, and BOB ELROD was his deputy. GALEN GILLILAND and family lived on
the Wellborn-Mark Road in a log house across from BROWNIE HANSFORD. The
house apparently had a false room running the entire length where
counterfeiting equipment was kept. The law suspected that GALEN (Ed Note:
Galen Elliott Gilliland Jr.) was involved with the killing as well, and went
looking for them all.

The GALEN GILLILAND home was down the road and around the bend from a large
sinkhole covered with vegetation. GALEN and his father were working in the
fields when they heard the sound of horses coming around the bend. They hid
in the sinkhole so as not to be seen. Meanwhile BABE BOBBITT ran his horse
so hard to warn the Gillilands that the horse fell over and died. Needless
to say, he did not make it! GALEN and his father...watched the vigilantes
from their hiding place, and it is said they could identify every one of
them. They never said anything so as to avoid trouble for themselves.

The mob found JAMES HARVEY about the house, and JOSIAH asleep in a room
upstairs. They took the brothers to town where the worst happened. There are
many rumors about where the lynching occurred. The most reliable is that it
took place where the Farm Bureau Insurance office is now located.

Before the lynching, the mob allowed one last prayer. While young JOE was
praying, it is alleged that the school superintendent ELI FARMER kicked
young JOE in the face. Both boys claimed their innocence and when they
failed to convince the mob, JAMES asked for mercy for his brother. JAMES
admitted his past deeds and said he deserved the penalty, but JOE should be
spared since he was entirely clear. The hangman was surely convinced, for he
loosened JOE from his ropes - - - apparent misgivings arose, for they again
bound JOE.

ROSCOE GILLILAND, their brother, (Ed Note: George Roscoe Gilliland
1871-1952) took a wagon to town where he found them hanging. He cut them
down, placed them in the wagon and took them home to bury them in the GALEN
GILLILAND cemetery...

Mr.. H.C. MCQUEARY, in a letter dated 12/8/1967 said that the GILLILAND
bros. were caught in the crib by the sheriff. This is wrong because MARTHA
RANDALL said the boys were at home when the sheriff was shot. This leads to
SCOTT SMITH as the amorous adventurer.

Who killed the sheriff ? . . . Several sources, including Mr. MCQUEARY, say
that the sheriff's daughter killed her own father when he caught her in the
corn crib . She was in the corn crib with SCOTT SMITH, who was wearing a
gun, which she grabbed, and shot her father.

LOUELLA MCHARGUE (Ed note: Daughter of Sheriff McHargue) lived to an old
age, and lived out of state when she died. It is alleged that she confessed
to killing her father on her deathbed, probably in preparation to meeting
her maker.

Statement of Ronald Lee Gilliland

On Sept. 23, 1994, I went to Evelyn Debord of Somerset, Ky. She is the
daughter of a girl who was raised by Ross Gilliland (Ed note: George Roscoe
Gilliland), the brother of James Harvey and Josiah Gilliland, the brothers
that were lynched in Somerset in 1891. I obtained from her a list of the men
who were involved in the unjust murders of the Gilliland boys. They were Eli
Farmer, Bob Eldridge, Jim Farrell, Walter Elrod, Unidentified Wales, Cam
Williams, John Bobbit, Ben Catron, Dudley Denton, Jim McKinney, Larkin
Jackson, and Jim Jasper Sr.

(s) RONALD LEE GILLILAND

From a Gilliland Family Genealogy:

It's difficult to obtain the names of the mob who wrongly put the GILLILANDS
to their death that night, for their descendants are still numerous in
Pulaski County. Eli Farmer was the most prominent of those involved. Eli
was born Jan 5, 1857 in Stab, Ky. He quickly rose through the grades and was
granted a teaching certificate in 1878. He taught 6 months, then became
superintendent of Pulaski County schools in Jan 1844. Eli was elected to the
House of Representatives of Ky for 1888-1890. He died in March 1947. We must
remember that all accusations are allegations, for the witnesses are all
gone! After a successful career Eli supposedly became a destitute salesman
riding his horse door to door selling his wares. He was so greatly hated
that he wasn't even welcome to spend the night in jail.

The story goes that on his deathbed, he screamed to his family that he was
burning up and asked his family to hang a sheet between him and the
fireplace to keep from burning up. The story goes to this day, that Eli
crossed his boundary into Hell while still alive to pay for his sins.

####



-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 8:14 AM
To:
Subject: [KYPULASK-L] Gilliland


"Stanford Interior Journal
29 September, 1891
Pulaski County is again in the throes of intense excitement. A detective
employed to ferret out the members of the desperate gang of outlaws, which
exists in the eastern pat of the county, two of whom were lynched for the
assassination of Sheriff McHargue, succeeded in arresting Wm. And J.H.
Moore, who are cousins of the Gilliland's, and from them obtained a
confession, which implicates Doc Gilliland, father of the lynched assassins,
his three sons and a number of others. Warrants for 16 were issued and
several of the men captured and lodged in jail, where they are guarded to
prevent either rescue or lynching. Several large robberies have been
traced to the gang, which is said to include Dr. Bentley and other more or
less prominent citizens."
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Does anyone know who "Doc" Gilliland cited above, is .. ? Any assistance
would be appreciated ... Cheers, Ron


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