Subject: [KENTUCKY-LEGENDS] A FEUD IN EDMONSON COUNTY, KY
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 06:51:05 -0500

A FEUD IN EDMONSON COUNTY, KY

Jim Tomes of this list sent me two newspaper
articles on a feud that took place in Edmonson
Co, KY. I will quote directly from the newspapers.

The first article is from the Lexington Herald:
“ONE DEAD, TWO INJURED AFTER ATTACK ON HOME. Five
Arrested After Feud Battle in Brownsville – Trial Dates Set:

BROWNSVILLE, Ky., May 30. (1922).
– Startling Renfro is dead, his sons, Lon and
Herbert Renfro, possibly fatally wounded, his two
other sons, Charlie and Fred Renfro, and his
nephew, Eldon Parrish, are in jail today as a
result of an attack on the home of William Tomes,
near Big Reedy, this county, Sunday.

Willie Tomes, charged with the
murder of Startling Renfro, and Tomes’ father,
Anderson Tomes, charged with the shooting of
Renfro’s sons, also are under arrest. The Renfros
and Parrish will have their examining trial
Friday and the Tomes’ trial comes up Saturday.

The trouble is alleged to have
begun Saturday, when Lon Renfro and Willie Tomes
had a difficulty in the road which ended in a
fight. Renfro went home and, it is said, gathered
his brothers, father and cousin, and went to
Tomes’ house. They shot at the house and hurled
stones until the front of the place began to cave in.

Tomes’ wife and baby left by the
back door. Tomes replied with a pistol and the
elder Renfro fell dead, according to reports.

In the meantime Anderson Tomes,
hearing the shooting at his son’s home, armed
himself and went to the scene. He says the
Renfros began to fire at him and he replied, wounding the two younger Renfros.”

The second article came from the
Baltimore (MD) Sun, 31 My 1922, page 1: “KENTUCKY
FEUDIST KILLED IN BATTLE. Two Others Perhaps
Mortally Wounded And Home Shattered By Gunfire.

Brownsville, Ky., May 30
(Special). In a pitched battle fought last night
near Big Reddy, Edmonson county, a house
was demolished by gunfire and rocks, one man was
killed, two wounded, perhaps mortally, and a
woman and her baby escaped death by fleeing
through a rear door when her ammunition was
exhausted. Seven men have been arrested on
charges of taking part in the conflict.

The participants were members of
the Renfro and Tomes faction, long-time enemies.
Starling Renfro, father of four boys In the
fight, was killed by fire from the home occupied
by William Tomes and his wife and bby. Lou Renfro
and Tomes previously had met in the road and
exchanged words. Later Lon Renfro, accompanied by
his father and three brothers, Charles, Fred and
Herbert, armed themselves, went to Tomes’ house and called on him to come out.

Tomes opened fire and, joined by
his wife, succeeded in keeping the besiegers at
bay until the building was demolished. Just
before the structure collapsed Mrs. Tomes,
finding her ammunition exhausted, seized her baby
and fled through a rear door to the home of
Anderson Tomes, father of her husband.
She panted out her story,
whereupon Anderson Tomes armed himself and
started to his son’s rescue. Upon his approach,
it is claimed, the Renfros opened fire on him,
which Anderson Tomes returned, wounding Lawrence
and Herbert Renfro and putting the other brother
to flight. The Tomes family escaped without injury.

Sheriff D. W. Anderson made a
posse, went to the scene and arrested the two
Tomes, the four Renfros and Eldron Parrish, who
is alleged to have accompanied them in their onslaught on the Tomes land.”

Now, I need the rest of the story!
What happened at the trials? Who was charged or
was the case ever heard? If you have any
information, please write me privately!