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THE LIFE

LOO- AN BELT

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IIEGINNIXG WITH HIS BOYHOOD, AND 1AKI\(. ' PERIOD THE RKADKK IS CARIltED TIITtOCO i i I.A'IK REHKLMON WITH HIM A ' -ri- - - TO HIS I.IEE 0\ A KAItM N

HTS SENTECE TO PRISON' 1 */.; , .,i. ,..,,. TIIEK RE-ARREST AND TRIAE KOK II r.rK.E HAMHIUNK— His ACUMTIAI

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■'lllllll LOGAN BELT.

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UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

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THE LIFE

LOGAN BELT

The Noted Desperado of Southern Illinois.

A COMPLETE LIFE HLSTORY OF THE MOST DARING

DESPERADO EVER KNOWN TO

CIVILIZATION.

BEGINNING WITH HIS BOYHOOD, AND TAKING UP HIS LIFE FROM THAT

PERIOD THE READER IS CARRIED THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR OR

LATE REBELLION WITH HIM AS LIEUTENANT; THENCE DOWN

TO HIS LIFE ON A FARM NEAR CAVE-IN-ROCK, ILL., AND

HIS SENTECE TO PRISON FOR THE KILLING OF OLDHAM ;

THEN RE-ARREST AND TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF

LUKE HAMBRINK— HIS ACC^UITTAL AND FINALLY

DEATH BY ASSASSINATION ON JUNE 6th, 1SS7.

The Trial Herein Given was Reported for and Pub- lished IN "The Register," a County Paper Issued Weekly at Cave-in-Rock, Illinois, and Edited by Author of this Book.

A true and vividly written ^starrative

BY

SHADRACH L JACKSON.

CAVE-I.\-R0CK, ILLINOIS.

CUPYKIGHT, 1887, BY SHADRACH L. JACKSON

dfJl 11) lis}

III; Mis 'ifefct lfi<\}yv^^u{^

BIOGRAPHY OF LOGAN BELT.

CHAPTER I.

E introduce in this pen sketch one of the most remarkable characters that ever figured in Southern Illinois. In fact, the writer does not believe that a man of like char- acter ever existed. This man was Logan Belt, the very name of whom, Was a terror to all Southern Illinois and the adjoin- ing border counties of Kentucky.

Logan Belt was born in Hardin County, Illinois, October 20th, in the year 1S40. His father, Hiram Belt, was a quiet farmer in the little county of Hardin, and was also a local minis- ter of the Baptist persuasion.

Such was the father of the subject of our sketch. He was powerless to control his family, and his sons therefore, very early in life, bade adieu to the parental hearthstone and drifted al)out at will ; sometimes in Kentucky (where they had relatives), and sometimes in Illinois. Logan, however, seemed to be the "blue fowl of the brood," and invariably got into trouble wherever he went. The overbearing or "lai^ge I and small u" disposition that characterized his life throughout, after years of maturity had been reached, also displayed itself in his boyhood.

One day two neighbor boys, John and Calvin Palmer, were passing through Hiram Belt's orchard, and his son Logan seeing them, accosted them and in an insolent manner ordered them out. Young Calvin Palmer resented the untimely and uncalled for abuse, saying that he was not to be hurried, etc. This enraged young Logan, and seizing an ax crushed in the skull of young Palmer. Madame rumor soon spread the intelligence that the boy had been killed, and through the intervention of friends or relatives young Logan was hurried out of the covnitry and devel- opments in the case awaited. An indictment was found against the boy Logan but young Palmer recovered gradually, and after the lapse of a few months the bo\ desperado returned tour-fold worse in disposition, through the leniency shown in this instance

9.9

4 THE LIFE OF EOGAX BEET.

and the general inclination among his friends to foster this blood- thirsty element of his character. The swell or braggadocio spirit that characterized his after life or Logan Belt at the mature age of 40 years was also very apparent in his youth, or Logan Belt at the age of twelve. A portrait of him at the age of sixteen truly reveals the after man. It resembles in many respects a picture once shown the author of this sketch while in the West, of a savage warrior of the plains when in full dress — the same reck- less air and defiant look of deviltry ; the same uncultured passion for tinsel show — as the youth Logan has suspended well down on his person a huge brass locket securely held in place by an awkwardly large chain of brass throw^n loosely around his neck. The long, airy and loose-fitting garments as shown in this picture verify the statement as regarded the migratoiy habits of young Belt, plainly indicating that the boy at that period was not under the special care of either parent or guardian, but was left pretty much to take care of himself. However, he managed to acquire the rudiments of a common school education, although no one seems to understand how he did it — the facilities for such being very poor at that period of the history of Southern Illinois. Being possessed of keen native ability he might have become a useful man and an ornament to the highest society ; yet his Yankee- like shrewdness only served to place him as leader among a low class of associates, and through the medium of bad blood, which seemed to course naturally through his veins, 3'oung Belt was ever bent on mischief — invariably getting either himself or com- panions into trouble. On one occasion while going to Marion, Ky., in company with a brother and another relative, young Logan after crossing the river stopped when only a short distance from Ford's Ferry, (K}^)., at the residence of a family by the name of Fritts, and dismounted tg whip one of the boys. His companions seeing that trouble was brewing rode away thinking that young Logan, seeing that he was left with odds against him would mount his horse and follow after and thus an unnecessary dilficulty be avoided. Not so, however, the boy Logan was bent on having a row and whipping somebody ; the Fritts boys seeing this, managed to decoy him into the house where a mother and sister were, and after once getting him thus caged with all means of exit debarred, the flm began in real earnest by the entire family attacking him. Young Logan was "game'' in this instance, however, and the Fritts family found to their consternation that they had caged a "tiger" in human form. But being a deter- mined set of as bad blood as young Belt they succeeded by com- bined strength in throwing him upon a bed, where a member or two of the family held him seciu'e while the remaining members played eflectively upon his person with jack knives. In the meantime the companions of young Belt, after riding a short distance away, and stopping to await the coming up of young Logan became uneasy, knowing the quarrelsome proclivities or his nature, and returned to the scene of the row just in time to

THE LIFE OF LOGAX HEI.T. C

break into the closed house and save the hfe of Belt, but not until he had been so severely stabbed as to render it necessavv that he be immediately carried back to Illinois, where for a few weeks his life was almost despaired of.

This last trouble would have proved a wholesome lesson to almost any other vouth but Logan Belt. At an early age he seems to have been impressed with the idea that he was a supe- rior personage, and that idea, as we shall prove fui"ther on, was never eradicated. In youth, he was Big Indian, on all occasions; in mature years he was Lieutenant Belt. Everything must bow submissive to his will, otherwise receive due chastisement. While a boy he scorned honest labor and managed to deadhead a livelihood among relatives, as also friends of a \o^JV type — as applicable to a civilized people. The latter looked upon young Logan as a genius, and did much toward fostering his overbear- ing principles. The word " revenge " seemed written upon the very fly-leaf of his life and characterized his every act. A familiar phrase with him was, " D — n him, Logan Belt will get even though it cost the life of a man or two to do it." And, in after years, he generally did it. Like unto Cain of Scriptorial fame, " his hand was against every man, and the hand of everv man against him. " Well does this last illustration apply to Logan Belt. But again, as touching his boyhood. From the age of fifteen to nineteen years, he was constantly scheming and hatch- ing all the low flung deviltry imaginable. One night he and companions of the same ilk, w^ould stone the dwellings of a neighbor ; another night the hen roost of a second neighbor would be visited, the chickens snatched from their perches, their necks wringed and then thrown ( generally ) in a circle around and in close proximity to the roost ; and, on still another night, a third neighbor would be v^ited — his dog killed, his fences thrown down and inclosures thrown open, or, perhaps a horse carried to the stables of a fourth neighbor where the animals therein would be turned outside and the animals carried there haltered in one corner with head down and tail draw^n through s crack and securely tied ; as in those days open, round log stables or barns were very common in Egypt, as Southern Illinois is familiarlv known — in fact, other kinds being rarely seen. And so the life of young Belt ran. A great many instances such as the aforegoing could be cited, and the names of the victims of young Belt's night raids given and the respective instances proven, but a gieat many of the parties are still living and the majority of the better classes in Egvpt " harbor in their breasts " a " deli- cacy " in and are decidedly against having their names connected in any form with the life of so black-hearted a desperado. And, in but tew instances, does the author deem it necessary to con- nect the names of reputable citizens with this vile character, as they were unavoidably thrown in contact with the Egyptian des- perado and helplesslv suffered by his hand. His chief delight seemed to be in visiting the rude log houses of worship on the

THE LIFE OF LOGAN ISELT.

eve of services being held and arrange the furniture in comic style, draw rough caricatures of the divine who was to preside, and sometimes leave the church in such indecent style that ser- vices could not be held at all until the same had been thoroughly cleansed with soap, water, etc. Deeds of this character most revolting were thus committed by the youthful desperado — all under cover of night, this being his favorite time for '• oper- ating," as he styled it. Thus it was through his entire life, his darkest deeds were done at a midnight hour.

As stated, his chief aim and delight in life was to make a show, astonish the natives, and inspire all with the idea that he was Logan Belt, and like unto him, not another. He would startle his youthful companions by selecting a tree or stump and essay to rid it of its surplus bark by butting it in sheep-like fashion, or, by taking a run from a certain point in order to lend more force to his novel battering ram of human flesh. The reader can, as he goes along, draw his own conclusions of Logan Belt in youth and Logan Belt in maturer years. The author's intention is only to give the many incidents connected with his restless and checkered career, and, if he should choose as a finis to the work to sum up his acts and paint him as the author knew him, in a separate chapter, the picture will only be drawn as facts alone reveal the man — nothing m'ore will be added and nothing will be omitted.

But we pass briefly over his youth, giving merely a running sketch, his after life being of most import to the reader. Sufiice it to say that young Belt was ever skipping from trouble, first to Kentucky and then back to Illinois. A depredation would be committed in Egypt, whereupon he would flee to the " Dark and Bloody Grounds " to escape punishment by the strong arm of the law. Ere long, however, he would commit some deed in violation of the laws of Kentucky and another skip from justice would follow. In youth he depended altogether upon time to rust the wheels of justice ; in mature manhood he relied solely in scaring ofl^ and killing oft' important witnesses. Those that could not be frightened into fleeing the country were killed, and thus the ends of justice defeated.

On the 13th of Januarv, A. D., i860, Logan Belt was mar- ried to Miss Mary Frailey, daughter of William Frailey, living some seven miles north of Cave-in-Rock, and owner of a small grist mill known as the " old water mill," on Rock Creek. Two brothers of Mrs. Logan Belt, Alexander and William Frailey, are also figurative characters embraced in this work, as men- tioned by a newspaper correspondent sent into Hardin County to write up the Belt troubles.

Logan Belt in the Rebellion.

CHAPTER II.

N date of July i6th, 1S63, Logan Belt enlisted in Com- pany D, 4Sth Kentucky Volunteers. Being- an Illinois Company, but raised for a Kentucky Regiment, Com- pany D., joined the Regiment at Marion, Ky., August 24th, 1S63, where they went into camp and officers were selected. Logan Belt was selected as Second Lieutenant. Thomas Smock, also of Hardin County, 111., was before the company, but the friends of Belt claimed that he was best entitled to the posi- tion on account of the services rendered by him while the com- pany was being made up, etc. Before leaving Hardin County for Marion, Ky., a ballot was taken at Dunn Springs in order to ascertain w^ho would be the probable choice of the Company for Second Lieutenant. Some twenty men of Company A were present, and as they were stationed at the lower end of the line Belt walked down close to them, realizing that they would vote for the man nearest them, which they did. Thus an impression was thrown out that Belt was elected over Smock through unfair means. This is all a mistake, however, as Belt was the choice of the Company. But a great many afterward saw the blunder made in selecting him as such officer.

The first move of the Regiment was to Princeton, Ky. This Regiment never saw active service, and only did guard and skirmish duty. During di-illing exercises Lieut. ( Logan ) Belt took but limited stock and that was forced out of him by supe- rior officers. In regimental drill Maj. Hoyt would give command to Regiment, and Lieut. Belt was not sufficiently skilled in or acquainted with military tactics as to give orders to his company that would accord with the general order or aid in the execution of the desired movement.

He was inefficient to exercise duties required of him, and he seemed to feel his inability by keeping aloof and avoiding all drilling and other exercises. He was a total failure in everthing that did not personally interest and financially benefit Lieut. Belt. As a soldier puts it. "pure cussedness was Belt's forte." He could successfully steal a fine horse and smugsfle him throuo-h to his

8 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

home in Egypt, where he could also have him disposed of at hand- some figures. A part of these stolen animals were kept for him by various parties until his return home at the close of the Rebel- lion. His wife was left in the care of her father, (widely known as old Billy Frailey), and to whom was entrusted the keeping of several mules and horses and some two hundred dollars cash. His brother-in-law, Asa Mott, also cared for and disposed of a great deal of his ill-gotten property. A total of eighteen horses and mules were captured and run to Egypt by confederates. These confederates were to be largely rewarded upon Belt's return, but a man that will stealthily take a part will also take all if the opportunity^ presents itself. Thus, but very few of Belt's confed- erates received anything for their services. But it is not deemed necessary to give each particular incident of a stolen horse or mule, and owing to limited space we content ourself with noting a few of the most important as we go along. While at Princeton, Ky., ravages were from time to time being made upon the citi- zens of Princeton, and an order was issued from headquarters ( Louisville, Ky. ) by Gen. Burbridge making assessments on rebel citizens for damages or loss incurred through the depreda- tions of the guerillas. Logan Belt was detailed to notify them to report to Gen. Burbridge, or in other words to summon them to appear at headquarters and pay the assessment. Again we wish to portray to the mind of the reader the harshness of Logan Belt's nature, and the empty domineering or swell-head disposi- tion possessed by him. Instead of going to these resident rebels ( a great many of whom were perfect gentlemen, who were thus being called upon to make good the losses occasioned by the depredations of a criminal class of free-booters, with whom they were in no wise connected ), and quietly informing them of the orders from headquarters, and in A soothing manner make them to feel that he was merely discharging a painful duty devolving upon him through the orders of superior officers, and thus allaying to some extent the bitter feeling existing in their bosoms against the North, he only kindled the spark of wrath into a sweeping flame of hate and added insult to injury by call- ing his vindictive nature into play, using abusive language, etc. By way of illustrating the aforegoing and verifying our state- ment, it is only necessary to give as a sample the following incident : Going one day to the residence of a wealthy Ken- tuckian, for the purpose of requesting him to personally appear before Gen. Burbridge, at Louisville, and pay the assessment due, he found the gentleman mentioned confined to liis room very ill. This man, whom Belt could see was very sick, endeavored to have himself excused, or the date for his appearance at head- quarters deferred. This, however, was not sufficient grounds for Lieut. Belt to excuse a rebel ; go, he must, and that at once. In vain did the sick man plead with our heartless desperado. Belt would not excuse him, neither would he appoint another day for him to visit headc^uarters, nor even obtain orders of Gen. Bur.

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 9

bridge to appoint a committee to receive the assessment, but with assumed authority the sick man was hurried off to Louis- ville, being cursed meanwhile by Belt for being a rebel. There is honor to be maintained even in warfare, but Belt knew it not. There is generally a spark of humanity found in the heart of the vilest desperado, yet such a spark ne'er smouldered in the black heart of this character or Logan Belt.

The Regiment next' moved to Russellville, Ky., where they drilled during early part of winter of 1S63. Before leaving Princeton, however, Lieut. Belt sent a fine gray mare to Asa Mott to be taken care of for him. What became of the mare the writer will show further on. Suffice it to say that this was another " pressed " horse, while '• pressing " animals for the U. S. Government he was not wholly unmindful of Logan Belt's financial interest, and accordingly "pressed" the finest ones for Lieut. Belt. The third move was to Bowling Green,. Ky. While encamped on Barren River a little incident happened which the author desires to give simply to show the general character of Belt. One day while a government drove of mules were passing through to Louisville, Ky., and when in the act of swimming them over the river they had the misfortune to mire several fine mules — some of them being greedily swallowed bv. the treacherous sands of the river's bed, while others barely stuck in a blue coarse mud. Of the latter, the officer in charge told the boys if they would rescue the mules from a watery grave they might have them. Accordingly a young man named Wm. Boyd, who was a teamster, pulled a very fine young mule out of the mud. The mule was nearly dead when rescued, and it was several weeks ere his muleship was his former self, and this only through the kindest treatment. Mr. Boyd was an excellent young man possessing a philanthropic disposition, and the same spirit that prompted him to save the dumb beast also prompted him to care well for it, so that in six weeks the animal looked altogether different. Lieut. Belt, however, had his •' weather eye " open, and as soon as the mule was again in fine condition captured. him and sent him home. Virtually stole the animal before its owner's eyes, as he had an opportunity to send him to friends in Egypt, and so himself boldly took a halter, placed it upon the mule, and had him led away in open day. Teamster Bovd well knew Lieut. Belt's desperate character, and therefore thought it was better to lose the animal than his own life later, should he cause Belt any trouble over the " abduction of a mule." Two other fine mules were sent home while encamped on the Barren. This was during latter part of the winter of '63 and '64. Wm. Boyd, the teams- ter here spoken of, is well known to manv of our readers, having returned home with his Company to Hardin County, and having oft repeated the story which we now relate. There are also sev- eral living witnesses to this incident, but we care not to reveal their names in this work, and would not have used the name of the deceased were it not just as it is — he is lying under the

lO THE LIFE OF LOGAN BE LI.

mould. Boyd was a bold, fearless man, however, and numerous persons now residing in Hardin County have heard this same story from his lips. The living witnesses do not care to have their names associated with Belt unless it was absolutely neces- sary, and we certainly deem it not.

Before proceeding farther, we give the names of a few of the officers, the names of whom will be used hereafter while sketch- ing Belt's life during the great Civil War. The First Lieutenant was John Tyer, also from Hardin County, Illinois, Orderly ( or First ) Sergeant, Geo. W. Jackson, from aforementioned place, and a gentleman known only to us as Lieutenant Gregory, of Company A. But we stop with this last for the present. If it had not been for these three men Lieut. Belt would never have gotten his credentials in shape so that he could have been mus- tered out. He could not have made a satisfactory report or set- tlement with U. S. Government, so illitei'ate was he. They made intercession for him at various times when arrested. They well knew Belt was crooked and that his " ways were dark,'' but they leaned this much toward him through that pity known only to soldiers. Belt was of their Company, had gone out with them and thereby hangs the tale. Tyer was appointed Qiiartermaster and the duties of this office confined him closely, so that he after- ward knew but little of Belt's army record, and perhaps knew but little before, as he was a man who attended strictly to his own individual affairs, and concerned himself not as regarded the affairs of other men. The Adjutant was a gentleman named Wm. Shuler. The Regiment was put on detached duty from Clarksville, Tenn., to Louisville, Ky., along the L. & N. Railroad. Company D was divided and principal part was stationed at Cave City, Ky., and the minor part of the Company was on detached duty at Bacon Creek, in Hart County, Kentucky, guard- ing a railroad bridge. This was in April, 1S64. At this juncture it will not be amiss to give the only instance in which Logan Belt w^as ever known to turn over captured property to the govern- ment. He was in command of the detachment at Bacon Creek. One day a report came into camp that a few guerrillas were at a farm house a short distance away, whereupon Lieut. Belt sent four men out to surprise and capture them. They found the three guerrillas as per report and cut short their rendezvous by firing upon them. The guerrillas returned the fire and fled. The suprising squad of four then immediately captured the horses of said guerrillas and promptly turned them over to Qiiartermaster at Munfordsville. While guarding this place Lieut. Belt had a horse that was constantly breaking into the fields of an old gen- tleman living one mile from camp. Although a man of generous proclivities, still he did not wish his corn destroyed when it was entirely unneccessary that it should be, so he mildly waited upon Lieut. Belt and informed him quietly of the depredations of the animal upon his fields of corn. Belt insultingly told him to help himself ; the man of silver hairs — for he was seventy years of

THE LIFE OF I.OGAX HELT. II

age — humbly took his leave begging Belt to care for the horse and not allow his standing crop destroyed. The animal was still allowed to trespass at will upon the grounds of the nice old gen- tleman who had in his modest way begged that it be not allowed. At last forbearance ceased to be a virtue even with this good old father of three score and ten, so coming into camp one early morn he informed Lieut. Belt that he must keep his horse out of his fields. Belt cursed him and again told him to help himself. In response the man of 3'ears and gray hair firmly told Belt he would shoot the horse the next time he broke in upon his premises. This was too much for Lieut. Belt ; his dignitv as an officer was wounded, so in a rage he knocked the old gentleman down, kicked and unmercifullv beat him, and would ^^erhaps have killed him outright had not some of the detachment inter- ceded for the helpless victim of Belt's wanton cruelty. At this inhuman treatment of an old man just on the verge of the grave, the boys of Belt's command were greatly incensed at their leader, and Belt was accoixlingly reported. Belt was arrested and a hearing of the case by officers from the Colonel's office at the station on the creek. Just a hearing and the case against him was dismissed, through the leniency of Capt. Charles E. Van Pelt and others. The evidence w^as of a serious nature and all against him. The daughter of the old gentleman had come up to camp with him, and was tliercfore a witness against Belt, as also were several of the detachment. Here was an aggravated case : Imagine, dear reader — yes, picture if you can, the scene of a young man in the capacity of an officer, willfully maltreat- ing a fellow being whom the blighting frosts of seventv winters had rendered physicallv infirm ; meanwhile an intelligent little daughter was wringing her hands and plaintively pleading for her father. No one but a deperado, whose heart was calloused o'er bv the committal of many crimes, could have with-stood the sweet young voice and tear-stained face of that lovely girl as she piteously interceded for her aged parent. Yet all this did not move the flintv heart of this monster in human form. He was Lieut. Belt, and Lieut. Belt's v\^ill must not be crossed. Here was the coveted moment in which to inspire his small detachment with awe, and cause them to dread even the name of Lieut. Belt, and as we have stated he lost not the opportunity. This, though a cowardly act, had the desired effect upon the men under him ; it proved conclusivelv his cowardly, yet vindicative spirit, and it behooves them to watch him, lest they should be gotten into trouble on his account. If his dictates were aKvays obeved trouble vs^as likely to ensue therefrom, and if they were disobeyed then the life-long displeasure of Lieut. Belt was incurred, and the}^ knew not but that life itself would at some time pav the penalty. The reader can at once see that it was the treacherous revengeful spirit of Belt that was most feared by his associates even in war. The consequences were always considered. Indian-like, he was ever stealthily maturing plans whereby he

12 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

could gain revenge and 3'et not be proven positively an actor in the dark drama. To show that a cowardly spirit reigned within the man, we have only to relate another little incident which occurred while at this place, -though we refrain from giving name of party concerned outside the character of this book. One day a hog had been troubling the boys of a certain mess while preparing their frugal meal. At last they became tired of it and one of them, a lad about 19 years of age, shot it in the leg inflicting a mere flesh wound but sufiicient to make the porker squeal. Belt heard the hog squeal and immediately began to utter threats against the man who did the shooting if only he could find him out. No one said anything ; this seemed to license our Lieutenant to say a great deal more, which he did, much to the discomfort of all. Finally he became so much enraged that he had the boys drawn up in line and the roll called, whereupon he put the question direct to all but the last man. No one knew anything about the matter ; threats of heavy penalties were profusely made, but no one seemed to regard them till after Belt had reached a finis in his tirade of abuse. When he had ceased speaking a young man ( the very same one to whom Belt had not put the question regarding the hog ) stepped out of the ranks with the cool remark : " Mr. Belt, I am the man that shot that hog ; if you have anything more to say let us hear it, and I assure you we can settle it quickly." The boy threw his gun carelessly upon his left arm and stood demurely tapping its stock with the fingers of the right hand while awaiting a reply from Belt. The movement was a quiet l^ut yet a decided one. The firm resolute look in the boy's face and the flashing eyes told a true story of deadly inten- tion, which Lieut. Belt was not slow to see, and not heeding the boy's remarks quickly dismissed the line of men before him, and turning upon his heel left the scene without further remarks upon the hog question. While at this place Belt shipped a great deal of ill-gotten plunder home, and which consisted of dry goods, clothing, soldiers' shoes, groceries, etc. He compelled one cer- tain man now living in Hardin County, Illinois, to box up these stolen goods and ship them to Asa Mott, then a resident of Hardin County, and a brother-in-law to Belt. At last this man became afraid the constant stealing by Belt would be detected and he refused to pack and ship any more of the goods. Belt threatened him, but it availed nothing. Lieut. Belt had then to pick another man. The writer can prove all of this, and more, upon good authority. Two very large boxes were at one time shipped to Cavc-in-Rock, 111., via Louisville, Ky., and a promi- nent citizen of the county sat upon one of the boxes in Louis- ville. Also a large box of coftee, tea, sugar, blankets, etc., were shipped by him from Cave City. While the} were still at Bacon Creek the report that rebel soldiers were in the vicinity again came into camp. I3elt took tour or five men and went to capture them. But it turned oxit that thev were Union soldiers of

THE LIFE OF I.OGAN BELT. 1 3

another company and that it was only their horses that Belt meant to surprise and capture, which he did, securing two verv fine horses which were immediately run out of that section bv confederates and were soon securely stabled in Hardin County, Illinois. These soldiers were on their way home and perhaps never knew who robbed them of their horses.

Here we introduce to the reader a character known as Louis Franklin, of Crittenden County, Kentucky. Franklin had killed a rebel in Kentucky and was thrown into jail therefor. He broke jail, however, and fled to Hardin County, Illinois, where, in the year 1863 he was living on what is now known as the Isaiah Gustin farm, just one mile north of Cave-in-Rock, 111. In this same year he enlisted in Company D, along with Logan Belt and others. He became closely allied with Lieut. Belt, they being bosom friends. Franklin was a man who knew no fear, and to arouse his ire meant to place him as a deadly foe against the per- sonage who did it. Vet, in justice to him, it must be said that he was not the man to take undue advantage of his opponent and was in every respect a man of cool, collected mind. His com- rades respected him for his bravery. We introduce him to our readers in order to correct an erroneous impression that has gone out to the effect that Franklin was killed by Belt. But Lieut. Belt and Franklin were firm friends, as heretofore stated. A short sketch and the reader will be left to his own thoughts again. Lieut. Belt left Bacon Creek and went to Cave City where he was placed second in command of the Post. A command had been issued that the boys should not take any more roasting ears, but shortly after the order had been given an officer came down into camp early one morning only to find the camp kettles steam- ing and' the boys, as usual, cooking roasting ears. " Who stole those roasting ears? " was the inquiry from the ofticer. No reply from the boys. This enraged the ofiicer, who said : '' By G — d he would find out who got that corn." So he ordered the First Sergeant to detail six guards and to place the remainder of the company in the stockade, where it was the duty of the guards to see that they remained till some one \yould tell who took the corn. Franklin having been on guard the night previous was asleep in the stockade, and when he awoke was informed by the boys that he was alike with them, under arrest. Franklin did not under- stand it, so quietly getting up he passed out of the stockade unhindered by the guard and proceeded directly to the officers' quarters, where he asked him why he was placed under arrest. But his painstaking was only rewarded by a tirade of abuse. Franklin talked back in a lively way and the officer threatened to have him bucked and gagged, but the company being nearh* all under arrest and the Orderly Sergeant refusing to assist in gag- ging him, he ordered the First Sergeant to tie Franklin to a tree, as also the guard who allowed him to pass out of the stockade, which was executed. In the meantime the soldiers confined in the stockade mutinied and threatened to take their oruns and walk

I^ THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

out. The officer was informed of this and placing himself in the door of the stockade ordered the men to pass out by him in sin- gle file, and as they did so he would put the question to each as to whether or not they got the corn. The first man to pass out was the man who acknowledged that he procured the roasting ears, and was ordered tied to a tree by the superior officer, who immediately left the company quarters and went down into town, which was distant not more than one-fourth mile. Six of the boys went down to where Franklin was tied and cutting the cords that bound him, they, without orders, set him free. Our officer upon his return, made inquiry as to who cut Franklin loose. The First Sergeant, in answer to him, said : " Some of the boys." No more was said about it, but the next morning he ordered Franklin to be sent to Munfordsville, twelve miles dis- tant, delivered to provost-martial and court-martialed. So he was accordingly taken by First Sergeant, as officer in charge, with H. M. Winders as guard. The presiding officer, however, failed to prefer charges against Franklin and the provost-martial set him at liberty. Franklin refused to go back to his company, and after a while succeeded in getting himself placed in Qiiartermas- ter's department to care for horses. Franklin#wished to go home in order to see his family, then residing at Marion, Ky. The Colonel and Qiiartermaster tried to prevail on him to give up the idea, but no ; go he must. So in company with a relative he started to Marion, each on horse-back. But poor Franklin never saw " the companion of his hopes and fears " — the dear wife he so longed to see. Franklin and his companion were shot from off their horses and their heads severed from their bodies. Logan Belt was absent from the company at that time visiting his family in Hardin County, Illinois. Therefore, it was quite easy to throw out the impression that he was Franklin's mur- derer, but the author has learned enough to convince him that Lieut. Belt neither committed nor was a party to the crime in question. Franklin, as heretofore stated, had killed a rebel. That rebel had relatives — enough is said. Logan Belt was inno- cent of this charge, and here we will let it rest. Franklin was killed in November, 1S64.

Now a few more little incidents and we shall close this chapter of his life. ■ One day two of the boys passed out of camp to get shavings to sleep on. Going by where Logan Belt sat the first one said, " Lieutenant, I'm going down after shavings to sleep on." " All right," replied Belt. The hindmost soldier, who was was none other than James Mason, deceased, and known to many of our people, passed on without saying aught to Belt. After Mason had passed Belt called to him, asking him where he was going. Mason said he was going after shavings. " No, by G — d, you are not," Belt said hotly. He immediately ordered Mason tied to a tree, and while he was being tied Lieut. Belt commanded the boys to " tie him as tight as h — 1." Our informant says that the tone of this expression by Belt on that

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

15

occasion made him feel queer, and he distinctly remembers the incident to this day. On, another occasion while the company were removing from Princeton to Bowling Green, Lieut. Belt again displayed his disposition of wanton cruelty by tieing one of the boys ( who is yet living in this county ) behind one of the wagons with a short piece of rope and walking him through the mud as though he were a dumb animal — all this now as a repri- mand for some small misdemeanor. And, another incident w^e shall give here, is that of Richard Edwards, whom Lieut. Belt had stripped of every vestige of clothing, his feet tied together and hands behind him, and then water thrown upon his naked body. Edwards, in the meantime, nearly going into convulsions and acting more like a mad than a sane man as he rolled over upon the ground frothing at the mouth and cursing. At another time he tied this same Edwards by the thumbs, placing Edwards upon his feet in a standing joosture with his hands drawn up to a pole overhead, just as high and as tight as could be drawn, and in this position he was forced to stand for four or five hours. Such treatment of a human being causes a shudder to pass over the writer to even pen it. Logan Belt was court-martialed at Bowling Green, Kv., for buying clothing of the boys, who, when they would run short of funds, would draw on the Government for clothing, and then dispose of the same to Lieut. Belt for a mere tritie in cash. But the wily Lieutenant was not to be caught even in so plain a case as this, and managed the affair so adroitlv that nothing Was done with him.

In latter part of the year 1S63 the regiment was consoli- dated, and major part stationed at Munfordsville. It was intended that this regiment join Sherman's arm}-, but the regi- ment was subsequently disbanded and put on detached dutv along the L. & N. Railroad. The regiment was again consolidated in the fall of 1864, and finally mustered out of service on Decem- ber 1 6th, 1864, at Bowling Green, Ky. But ere we close this chapter we wish to give the manner in which Belt sometimes proceeded while pressing horses for army uses and how he some- times managed to procure the most valuable for himself. Upon one occasion he went on an expedition of this kind, and while looking at the horses espied a very fine animal well worth one hundred and fiftv dollars. He told the owner that he would like to have that one for himself, to use as a saddle horse, and would give him twenty-five dollars for him if he said so ; if not, then they would have to take them all alike for the use of the army. This horse was also sent home.

Logan Belt on the Farm.

CHAPTER III.

S stated in the first chapter of this sketch, Logan Belt was born in Hardin County, Ilhnois, a few miles back of Cave-in-Rock, and on what, as was in those days, known as the Anderson Brown place. Having married a short time previous to his enlistment in the army, he, of course, returned to Hardin County at the close of the war and settled down on a small farm. Not that his mind was bent toward the pleasures and profits of agricultural pursuits at all, but in order that he might easily gain a livelihood without labor by preying upon the unsuspecting farmers among which he lived. Shortly after coming home Lieut. Belt was elected Constable in the precinct in which he lived, and at the expiration of his term as a petty officer he had become so well acquainted with the common laws as to practice in the Justices' courts, where a victory was invariably scored for the client of Logan Belt. For several years previous to his sen- tence to the penitentiary, for the murder of one Dock Oldham, he kept the surrounding neighborhoods, or those adjacent to the vicinity in which he lived, in that turbulent state reaching to an extreme. He would create strife between his neighbors ; the natural result, a law suit, would follow in some form. Belt would be engaged as counsel upon one of the contending sides, the case would come up before one of several petty justices and Logan Belt would gain the suit for his client. A moderate fee for his services, of from five to fifty dollars, and the " maiden of peace " would pursue the even tenor of her way for a few days, or at least until " our ex-Lieutenant " — as he was familiarly called by his intimate friends and allies — could spring another law suit. Cer- tain Justices residing near him, whom, it is said, never decided a case against him, they being members of the obnoxious coalition, thus formed to deprive w^orthy men of their just rights and rob law-abiding citizens of property accumulated by dint of indus- try, but still doing it in a legal way, the I'eader must imderstand. A great many Hardin County citizens yet live to testify to the truth of this statement, and we shall now pass briefly over his life on the farm.

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 1 7

As previously stated, Wm. Frailey the fathei-in-law of Belt, had boarded Belt's wife an^ taken care of horses, mules, money, etc., that Belt had entrusted to him from time to time. When Belt arrived home he took his property or booty, rather, under his own care, but said nothing to his father-in-law about paying him for the services rendered and did not even propose to pay the board bill of his wife. After moving all live property, he soon demanded the $200 entrusted to his father-in-law for safe keeping, until he should return. That gentleman, in turn de- manded that Logan pay his wife's board bill. This he refused to do as a matter of course, but the old gentleman was shrewd enough to keep the money then in his possession until the claim was settled, and as Logan never felt disposed to settle, he never received the money.

Within a short time after his return home he took an old bay horse for which he had paid $15.00, and went to Fowler Kirk's, an aged negro, living some three miles below Cave-in-Rock and proposed to trade him the old horse for a fine young mule that Kirk owned. Kirk told him that he would not trade the mule at all, as he wished to keep him. He had purchased the mule from a gentleman by the name of Frank Pearson, who came from Missouri, and had given him one hundred and fifty dollars for the animal. Kirk had the mule fastened up in a stable, and Logan 'took the saddle from the back of the old horse and turned him loose in the lot, then going into the stable he caught the mule, led him out, saddled him and after telling Kirk to inform his neighbors that he had ti^aded with him he mounted the mule and rode away, leaving the chagrined negro standing in the lot look- ing after him. Belt told Kirk that if he kicked or made any noise about the transaction he would prove that he had traded him the mule for the horse. In those days the negro was not allowed his oath, and not then being entitled to suffrage he of course w^as left the helpless victim of an open outrage. Gentle reader, what do you think of this character now? But we have no space for comment, and so again leave you to draw your own conclusions.

We shall now tell the reader more about a certain gray mare that Lieut. Belt "pressed" while in the army, but which he some- how neglected to turn over to the U. S. Government. The mare was the property of a resident Kentuckian. After Belt had re- turned home this Kentuckian with his wife visited relatives near Raleigh, 111., and passing the residence of Lieut. Belt, he noticed the gray mare Belt had taken away from him, quietly grazing in a pasture near by. He continued his journey to Raleigh, but w^hen there, at once procured the assistance of relatives and friends, and immediately retraced his steps. The party drew up at Belt's residence at a late hour in the night and without a moments hesi- tation re- captured rightful property and set out for Raleigh. Belt discovered the whereabouts of the animal at last, and taking Capt. Gibson w^ith him went up to Raleigh intending to bring the mare back. On riding into Raleigh they found the animal hitched

l8 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

to a rack near by, and at once made inquiry as to who rode it there. No response from the Httle grqup of men standing near, among which was the owner of the animal. Again the inquiry was made by BeU, which was received as before by the small knot of men, except that one of them stepped quickly away and entering a grocery store soon re-appeared armed with a double- barreled shot gun. Walking quietly up toward the horsemen he began: "Mr Belt, by G — d I am the man who rode and hitched that mare there. Gibson and yourself took that mare from me when I couldn't help myself, but I am on an equal footing with you now, G — d d — m you, and you had best leave here and that d — m quick, too". It is needless to say that Belt left and without the mare. On the day following the Kentuckian returned to his native state, again passing the residence of Lieut. Belt. He had expected Belt to follow the mare up and attempt to retake the same, and had prepared to receive him. On returning home his friends accompanied him to the Ohio River, but "our Lieutenant" knew his man and had no desire to further interfere.

Immediately upon his return home, after being mustered out of service, Lieut. Belt gathered his confederates together and heading them made several raids into Kentucky, where, as the war was just closing, they found it an easy matter to plunder and rob the citizens under various guises. Upon one of these raids they visited the section of country lying back of Carrsville, Ky. Going to the residence of an old gentleman whom they knew^ possessed considerable property and a sympathizer with the South, they passed themselves off as confederate soldiers. The old gentleman prepared a fine dinner for his guests, and after the regal repast had been served he kindly showed them through the rooms of his dwelling, relating to them several little incidents of the war, and finally showed them where he kept his arms. The guests at last bade their friend adieu and departed. The follow- ing day, however, they saw fit to visit their hospitable old friend again, not as confederate soldiers but this time in the guise and dress of Union men. They captured three fine horses, took the fire arms shown them on the day previous, (some lo or 12 fine guns) and four or five hundred dollars in specie, after which they lost no time until they had safely placed their booty in Egypt. They afterward fell out and quarreled among themselves over the division of their spoils. Does the reader ever remember having heard of Bill Dollar, Dick Taylor, Dick Parker, Wm. Moss, Jim Guess and Capt. Gibson? If so, we have said enough.

In the year 1865 a gentleman by the name of Jas. D. Young and Logan Belt had a misunderstanding and a fight at Pott's Hill, in which Lieut. Belt was badly whipped. The following year Young was killed on Christmas eve. of 1866, by Ab. Woods, a desperate character who had prior to this slain several men. It was generally supposed that Lieut. Belt was accessory to the crime, as Woods had ITved several months with Young and had frequently told Young that Logan Belt had oftcrcd him five dollars

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. I9

if he would kill him. At the time of the murder Belt and Woods were known to be very intimate.

Logan Belt once sued a neighbor, Henry Ledbetter, for sixty cents. Jno. B. Tucker, now a Baptist minister, was living ^vith his brother-in-law, Henry Ledbetter, as was also a sister. Led- better lived on Jesse Baugher's place at the time. Tucker and sister were yet minors ; the sister was taken very ill and expressed a desire for cider, whereupon her brother went to Mr. Elias Grise and purchased a gallon for 60 cents, but did not pay for it at the time. Mr. Grise, however, charged the same to Ledbetter, and in a short time sold the account to Logan Belt, who immedi- ately sued upon the same before a Justice of the Peace in Rock Creek Precinct, and judgment was rendered against Ledbetter for the amount and costs, which were $9.00. An ajopeal was taken to the Circuit Court and there a decision was rendered that an open account was not negotiable, and so our Lieutenant was loser by his suit of some $7c;.oo.

After coming home from the service Logan Belt was elected Constable in his Precinct, and, although he owned a small farm of 40 acres, yet he devoted all his time to the dvities of this petty office, and hired laborers tilled his few acres. He w'as always having trouble vs^ith some one, and ere long another man was killed and this murder was also laid at Lieut. Belt's door. We have reference to the killing of Samuel H. Dorris, about the year 1870. We will give a few^ incidents subsequent to the murder and then leave it with the reader to judge whether or not Belt was guilty of the crime alleged to him.

Henry Ledbetter, to whom the reader has already been intro- duced, lived on 40 acres of land adjoining the forty upon which Belt lived, and, as has been stated, did not recognize each other as neighbors. After Ledbetter had pitched his crop and when his corn was waist high, Belt ordered Hugh Dorris and another gentleman whom he had employed upon his little farm, to turn a span of mules and a yoke of oxen into the field of corn, saying, "That it would make good pasture." Dorris drove the oxen which with the mules were turned in upon the green corn ac- cording to Lieut. Belt's command. Then he bade Dorris go and cut a couple of trees upon Ledbetter's land, which DoitIs at first refused to do, saying that he knew the timber to be upon the land of Ledbetter. Whereupon Belt again told him to fell the trees and added that " if Ledbetter cut up about it he would ^vhip it out of him". This was in the year 1S6S, and Ledbetter en- tered suit in the Circuit Court against Belt for damages. This was two years prior to the murder of Dorris, but Belt had said that if he did not get rid of Dorris, Ledbetter would ruin him — Dorris being the only surviving witness. After the trial was over in Elizabethtown, Belt accused Dorris of swearing " a d — d lie", and as a result Lieut. Belt got badly whipped, whereupon he swore that Dorris would suffer for that day's work. We now re- fer the reader to the killing of Dorris, as mentioned in the chapter

20 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

entitled, "Hell on the Ohio". A man under the cognomen of Dock Clay said afterwards that he did the bloody work, accompanied by Lieut. Belt, and that Belt was to give him $50.00 for the part he had played. He claimed the paltry sum but no one is able to tell whether he received it or not, as he very suddenly disappeared from the stage of action in Hardin County, and has never since been seen nor heard of. It has been darkly hinted that his bones moulder in the vicinity of what was once known as the Shoe- maker school house, that is, that his body was buried in a stable (near a school house of that name), wherein Lieut. Belt at that time kept his horse. We do not claim the latter part to be true, yet it is not at all unlikely. As to the murder of Dorris, Logan Belt proved in this, as in many other instances, an alibi, and thus it ended.

The writer will, before going further, give an instance in which articles of wearing apparel, etc., sent home by Logan Belt while in the U. S. Army, were disposed of or rather bartered to those whom he could secure to labor as hirelings upon his farm. At one time Lieut. Belt wished some rails made, so going to a Baptist divine of rail-making fame, by name of Albert Briggs, he proffered to let him have a pair of soldier shoes if he would split so many rails for him. The offer was accepted and Mr. Briggs got the shoes with the understanding that he was to do the work when Mr. Belt had made ready for him. A few weeks afterwards, however, while our Baptist Brother was filling another rail contract, Mr. Belt sent him word that he wanted him (Briggs) to come and make rails for him immediately. Briggs signified his willingness to do so as soon as the contract upon which he was then engaged was finished ; but Mr. Belt sent his wife to Briggs saying that the work must be done without delay or he would enter suit. Briggs then went and made him a tender in cash, the price of the shoes, which Belt refused as nothing short of having the rails immediately made would satisfy him. He soon found out he had met his equal in temper, and to save a sound drubbing from the hands of the brawny rail-mauler he quickly softened and made easy terms with our through-going, plain-plodding woodsman.

Lieut. Belt was noted as a lady's man — even to the extent of nesrlectinsf the wife of his bosom. And to women of a loose character is attributable no small amount of his crime and devil- try. On the evening of the 37th of December, 1S75, Doc Oldham was killed — a woman was at the bottom of it, Oldham being a successful rival of Belt in this instance. And, the author could name one or two women whose characters were not without blemish, whom Belt kept at various times upon his farm. Another, a widow, whom he ruined and then forced her through fear to exchange a good homestead for a small and very poor one — the 40 acres of clay soil that Belt had only owned hitherto. The mormon proclivities of Belt's general make-up as a man, and his creed not only allowed him the privilege of rearing a

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 21

very large family of children by his lawful wife but also a hand- some little tamily outside his lawful domestic relations. Like Brigham, of Salt Lake fame, Belt too believed in multiplying and replenishing the earth.

In the year 1873, Arthur Price, a brother-in-law to Logan Belt, was killed, and the general supposition was that Belt was the instigation of this murder. But the killing of Oldham in '75 seemed to be the eve of a day when Logan Belt was to be check-mated in his checkered career. In order to escape the clutches of the law in this instance many plans were devised by his fertile brain in an evil course, among which was the organi- zation of a Ku Klux Klan for getting away with important wit- nesses for the people in this case, etc. This seemed to be the turning point of his life of unhindered deviltry up to this date. He seems to have realized it and made a last desperate struggle to place or trample the common laws under his feet. Here he made a fatal mistake, which it does seem to the writer that the better judgment of a man of his seeming ability, or rather, shrewdness, should have taught as much had he only duly considered his after- steps. But Lieut. Belt knew only one rule, which was to " rule or ruin ". And he ruined no one but himself, that is, irreclaim- ably so.

Lieut. Belt had, previous to his trial for killing of Oldham, taken a family from the State of Tennessee upon his place by the name of Jones. Tom Jones and his wife Sarah with two or three children, seemed a very nice family indeed, and though poor, still Jones had a good team and wagon. Lieut. Belt was very hospitably disposed until he succeeded in getting them com- fortably settled in one of the tenant houses upon his farm, and one near his residence where he could look well to their interests. (}) But they soon found that his (feigned) hospitalitv did not supplv them with the necessaries of life, though Jones worked steadily for Belt while his wife (Mrs. Jones), ransacked the neighborhood for the staples necessary to keep soul and body together. A few of the neighbors moved by pity, assisted the family in this direc- tion, but the majority insisted that Jones move from oft' the farm of Mr. Belt before aid was tendered by them. This he did not do, and in a very short time both himself and wife sickened (?) and died. Jones first, followed by his wife hard after. The author was informed that both were hurried into the turfy earth just as they died, without the bodies being dressed or a change of clothes, and it is said that one lady who lived near and who ha25- pened in after, but early on the morning of the day of Mrs. Jones' death, partially removed a flannel tied closel}' about the throat of the body, but seeing dull black circles on the throat as if by finger, marks became frightened and hastily fled the scene, for fear it should be discovered that she knew too much. The children were very small and Belt gave them away, but relatives in Tennessee learning of the demise of their parents came through in a wagon and took them back to their native home. Belt kept

2'

22 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

their small housekeeping outfit, among which was good feather beds and the team and wagon in payment for trouble and expense during the short illness of the unfortunate parents. Why did not some one call for an investigation, did you sa}-, gentle reader? Well we cannot in words picture to your mind the terror-stricken state of those who lived as neighbors to Lieut. Belt at that time. They well knew that the least show on their part or the expres- sion of a desire to investigate the acts of Lieut. Belt and their doom was sealed. How one man or one family can create so much terror in an entire county, such even as Hardin, the small- est of the Egyptian Counties of Illinois, we do not know ; but, we do know an unparalleled reign of terror invaded even the sister counties of Hardin, through a wily band headed by a wary bandit and desperado named Logan Belt. And this reign of terrorism was only quelled by the determined and unflinching efforts of as brave a man as ever tread terra firma, or so the writer views him. This man was Hon. Jno. Q. A. Ledbetter, who, as- sisted by Hon. W. S. Morris, another man who was loyal to the rights of the people, fought this element for 12 long years in the capacity of States Attorney or counsel for the people.

Another murder was that of a peddler, about the year 1S7S, as near as we can learn. We do not say that Logan Belt did this, but will relate our story and again leave it with the reader. The last seen of the peddler he had stopped over night with a man whom Belt had living on his farm. This man was seen at Belt's house late that evening, and Belt accompanied him ujDon his taking leave ; whither the two went the writer is not able to say, but one thing is known that Belt's tenant was soon hurried ofl:' to Kentucky, ostensibly, and at last settled in Tennessee, and his family were sent to him. Belt, however, retained their little property. The peddler was supposed to have been murdered by them and his body thrown in a sink, generally known as the " suck " near the Callahan farm. On a day or so following the sudden disappearance of the peddler certain parties were out hunting their hogs, and passing by this suck noticed that a couple of rails and a pole had been thrust into the mouth of the fissure, and pulling them up saw blood upon them, and perhaps saw more but was afraid to reveal anything, though seen even b}^ chance. A few of the peddler's goods were scattered on a road leading to the house of one of the Oldham's, but they were mere trinkets, of no value, and it was supposed by the majority of peo- ple living in that section, that this was done in order to cast sus- picion upon the Oldham family, as it was claimed by Belt and friends that the foul murder and robbery rested with the Oldham's. But, dear reader, why should the wife of Lieut. Belt refuse to attach a certain chain and seal to a gold watch that she had placed in the hands of Robert Sherridan to pawn for thirty dollars, which Mr. Belt, while in prison under sentence of 15 years for the killing of Oldliam, had requested her to raise and send him ? Mr. Sherridan found a person who was willing to

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 23

loan the money and take the watch as security, but upon presen- tation of the watch it was found to be minus a certain chain or guard that had formerly belonged to it, so Mr. Sherridan was in- formed that if the chain that belonged to it was attached then the money would be forthcoming but not without. He put the time piece back in its pocket and went to obtain the guard, and upon his return stated that a certain gentleman had carried the chain and seal off and had not returned them, but the watch was not taken as it was the chain that the party most wished to secure, it being an odd pattern and the only one of the kind ever seen in that section. Such a one was worn by the peddler. This much then toward the identity of the worse than fiend who murdered the innocent peddler.

We pass briefly on. Shortly after x^rthur Price was killed in 1S73, Logan Belt imagined that a man by the name of Frank- lin Winders was an enemy to him. Price's wife lived in Winders' family a few months after her husband was killed. Belt, as usual, wanted Winders removed from the '* scene of action ", but sought, as was his custom, other hands to do it. A proposal was made to a couple of men who are still living in the county and who were then living as neighbors to Winders, to go and kill him. This they firmly refused to do. Belt generally studied the nature of men before approaching them and was generally correct in forming his ideas of a man, but failed in this instance.

But to return to the murder of Elisha T. Oldham, whom was shot and killed by Belt at a dance on the evening of the 4th Monday (27th day) in December, 1875. It is not necessary to give details of the aflair as they will be found in the Chicago Times article contained herein. Belt gave himself up to author- ities after some months of defiance at the capture by the civil officers and an indictment was found against him, a copy of which is presented to the reader as follows:

STATE OF ILLINOIS,; Hardin County, )

Of the April term, of the Hardin County Circuit Court, in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy- six, the Grand Jurors chosen, selected and sworn in and for the County of Hardin and State of Illinois, in the name and by the authority of the people of the State of Illinois, upon their oaths present that Logan Belt, late of said county, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the in- stigation of the devil, on the twenty-seventh day of December, in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy - five, with force and arms, at and within the said County of Hardin and State of Illinois, in and upon the body of one Elisha T. Oldham, in the peace of the people then and there being felon- iously, willfully and of his malace aforethought did make an assault, and that the said Logan Belt, a certain pistol, of the value of five dollars, then and there loaded and charged with gun powder and

34

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

one leaden bullet, which said pistol he, the said Logan Belt, in his right hand then and there had and held then and there feloniously, willfully and of his nialace aforethought did discharge and shoot off to, against and upon the said Elisha T. Oldham, and that the said Logan Belt with the leaden bullet aforesaid, out of the pistol aforesaid, then and there by force of the gun powder aforesaid, by the said Logan Belt discharged and shot off as aforesaid, then and there feloniously, willfully and of his malace aforethought did strike, penetrate and' wound him the said Elisha T. Oldham, in and upon the left side of the breast of him the said Elisha T. Oldham, giving to him the said Elisha T. Oldham then and there with the leaden bullet aforesaid so as aforesaid discharged, and that out of the pistol aforesaid by the said Logan Belt, in and upon the left side of the breast of him the said Elisha T. Oldham, one mortal wound of the depth of four inches and of the breadth of one inch, of which said mortal wound the said Elisha T. Oldham, from the said twenty-seventh day of December in the year aforesaid until the thirtieth day of the same month of De- cember in the year aforesaid at the County aforesaid did languish and languishing did live, on which said thirtieth day of December in the year aforesaid, the said Elisha T. Oldham, at and within the County aforsaid of the wound aforesaid died, and so the Jurors aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do say, that the said Logan Belt, him the said Elisha T. Oldham, in manner and form aforesaid, feloniously, willfully and of his malace aforethought did kill and murder, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the said people of the State of Illinois. W. S. MORRIS,

State's Attorney,

Hardin County, Ills. STATE OF ILLINOIS,; Gallatin County, \

I, R. L. Millspaugh, Circuit Clerk, in and for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true, full and complete copy of the indictment now on file in my office remaining.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my hand and affixed the official seal of said Court at my office in Shaw- neetown, Illinois, this ist day of November, A. D., i8S6.

R. L. MILLSPAUGH,

Circuit Clerk.

April Term, 1S76, Hardin Circuit Court. The People of the State of Illinois vs. Logan Belt. Indictment for murder. A true bill, Willis Littrell, Foreman of Grand Jury. Recorded April 5th, 1876, in book "A" Indictments, Record on page 47, L. F. Twitchell, Clerk and Recorder. Exhibit " E ".

Witnesses : Lewellen Oldham, Lucy Melon, Morgan Tucker, Charles Buckhart, William Buckhart, Kit Zook, Robert Wingate, John Corlen, Richard Bell, Frank Dall, Frank Hardin, W. B. Ledbetter, Franklin Ledbetter, C. D. Stephens, T. L. Dean,

SS:

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 25

Washington Covert,' Anna Belle Shenidan, Jeff Boyd, John Goodwin, Anna Underwood, Jerry Froyser, Thomas Oldham, J. W. T. Oldham, William Johnson, George Dale, Henry Ritten- house, Ila F. Dassett, Henry Adams, George Dassett, William Winn, Charles Dunn, Martin Mannon, George W. Hardesly, Elizabeth Hardesley, William Johnson, Susan Brown, William Pankey, Susan Davis, James Dale, James Crider, Daniel Crider, Thomas Crider, John Payne, George W. Covert, George W. Brown, Charles Dunn, Tottan Dunn, M. L. Shelby, Plenry Led- better, Henrietta Adams, Luke Hambrink.

Filed April 8th, 1S76, L. F. Twitchell, Clerk. Belt was indicted at April term, on 4th day of April, 1S76, of the Hardin County Circuit Court, for the murder of Elisha T. Oldham.

After a preliminary hearing Belt was released on $3,000 bail. Several witnesses were on hand, whose testimony Belt found to be of a very damaging character, relative to his case, among whom were Robert Wingate, George W. Covert and Morgan Tucker. Belt's plan was to beat the case oft from time to tmie, and thus wear it as near out as possible, and also in the meantime to rid himself of all important witnesses, which he proceeded to do. Before going further, will relate an incident or two of examining trial. Wingate, as mentioned, was a youth of some 18 years of age, and Logan Belt, as was customary with him, thought to bulldoze court and witness. So after the boy had taken the chair as a witness, Lieut. Belt interrupted the witness while ren- dering his testimony by getting down in front of him, and after fixing his eyes firm in the boy's face, said : " Now Bob, you know that I did not strike Oldham first, and did not use knuckles on Oldham ; but that Oldham struck me first, and wa& the man who used the knuckles, striking me with them. " The boy, in the most striking manner of simplicity, not seeming to realize the danger thus imperiled by an open statement of truth, quietly placed his elbows on his knees, and leaning over toward Belt with his face resting in his hands, and steadily meeting the threatening, terrifying gaze of Belt's fiery eye, said : " Yes, I saw you strike him with knuckles ; you struck him first, and you know that I know it." The boy, however, soon after sickened with fever and didd, leaving the people minus a very important witness. Morgan Tucker, another important witness, was giving in his testimony, and a brother to Logan Belt was near and tread on Tucker's toes, but the witness unflinchingly told his story. It came near costing him his life, however, as during intervening time between examining and final trial. Tucker was at various times waylaid by Belt and his residence watched, but the witness adroitly managed to elude those who sought to slay him. One more important witness for the people was in the person of one G. W. Covert. Belt had managed to marry Covert to a Mrs. Sarah Greene, a '"lady friend " living near Lieut. Belt. Belt had several g-ood reasons for wishing to unite with the bands of the

26 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

law this couple. He wished to remove, through Covert, certain members of the Oldham family, whom he deemed in his way, and made overtures to Covert to that effect ; at one time protTer- ing to give Covert a large white horse that he owned if he would kill Tom and Jesse ( )ldham. Covert refused, and Belt finding that he had a head of his own, and fearing him still more as a witness, on account of the overtures made him, began to cast him about for some means or manner, in which he might also remove Covert. Covert getting afraid that his life would be taken, went out to Harrisburg, 111., but this did not satisfy " Loge " Belt, as a great many called him. He was evidently afraid that Covert would turn up all right at court as a witness, and that was just what our Lieutenant was determined should not happen. So taking Jim Belt and Joe Lowr> he went up to Harrisburg after him, but did not get him, yet subsequently did, and under the pretext of arresting him Covert was carried back to Hardin. His charge, of course, was not substantial and Covert was allowed to go free. Belt simply wanted him where he could " take care of him." Lieut. Belt had a peculiar disposition, or that of looking after the affairs and interests of other men, especially where they confficted with his own, and he seemed to find it to his special interest to look after the affairs of our char- acter named Covert. After getting Covert once more within the bounds of Hardin, and after the charges preferred against him were not sustained and Covert was released, then it seemed that the next duty devolving upon "our Lieutenant, " was that of hav- ing him closely watched until other charges could be generated by Mr. Belt. In the meantime Covert was passing around over the county thinking that perhaps Belt had become partially recon- ciled toward him. So one day, while passing near Belt's farm, or along the highway which ran through the farm, he suddenly came upon a gentleman by the name of Frailey, and in a moment or two saw Logan Belt also, standing with a shotgun, which he was in the act of leveling upon him, so he quickly sprang aside and behind Frailey. But none too soon did he act, for the very moment he was safely ensconced behind the person of Frailey a shot r^ng out upon the air and Frailey fell, badly wounded. Covert lost no time in beating a safe retreat, and hurriedly going to the residence of Dr. Dunn (a physician living near) had his wounds dressed, a stray shot having carried away a portion of his left arm or wrist. Covert had other charges preferred against him by Belt and others, and on one of these was taken to Eliza- bethtown, the county seat, and Covert's friends escorted him hither. Belt, however, had a writ or warrant for Covert's arrest in James Carr's hands on a charge of attempting to break into his stables, Belt claiming to have caught him while in the act of stealing his horse. 1 his writ was taken from Carr and placed in Joe Lowry's hands, with instructions to arrest and carry Covert, after his acquittal at Elizabethtown, to Battery Rock that night for trial the next day before Lsquire Hendei'son, and Belt also

THE LIFE OF LOGAN UELT. 2^

informed Lowry, as he left for Elizabethtown, that he need not be surprised if twenty-five or thirty of those d — d sons-of-bitches did not take Covert away from him and hang him that night, and to take him the lower water road by the cave, Belt meaning the Oldhams. Lowry knew the Oldhams were friends to Covert, and so told Belt, whereupon Belt looked him through, with the remark : " By G — d, I say take him the lower road, by Cave-in- Rock. " The counsel for the people were alert, however, arid demanded the writ, which Lowry gave up. Hon. W. S. Morris told the court that they had just as well take the prisoner and hang him to one of those locust trees near the Court House as to allow him carried to Battery Rock. It was afterwards learned that men were secreted on the lower road in the Barker hollow, and that Belt had gone to Thos. Hodge's, near that place, for the night, so he would be able to prove his usual "alibi." The authorities, or rather the prosecution and counsel for the people, forbade, as we said before, the carrying of Covert to Battery Rock, suspecting that it was a scheme by Belt in order to rid the people of an important witness, and although Lowry did not reveal anything of a damaging character against Belt, even did he know, yet it was evident that he understood the matter and was afraid to carry him thither. He told the attorneys for the people that Mr. Belt had advised him to take Covert to the place of trial by the lower road, or the one leading by Cave-in-Rock, and added that " he need not be surprised if some of those d — d sons-of-bitches ( the Oldhams ) did not take Covert from him and stretch him ( Lowry ) to a limb." Lowry knew that the Oldhams had nothing against Covert, and the idea immediately flitted through his mind that it was merely a ruse of Lieut. Belt's, that bloody work was contemplated, and that after its execution strong efforts would be made to fasten the crime upon the Old- hams, whom Lowry knew were friendly inclined toward Covert. So Covert was held in Elizabethtown by Ledbetter and Morris, they giving as their reason that they were thoroughly convinced that Covert would be killed if he v\^as allowed to go. So serv- ing the papers that Belt had put into Constable Lowry's hands, they at once remanded the prisoner to jail for safe keeping until after court, which was then near at hand, telling Lowry that Covert could be tried for the oftense with which he was charged after court was over and he had been used as a witness, and to so tell Mr. Belt. Lowry was so afraid that a party would be in wait for them on their return, and perhaps a party secreted upon each of the two main roads, that he and companion would not return by either, but went several miles out of the way in order to return by a less frequented and also by an unsuspected route. And now before we take up the final trial of Loge Belt for murder of Dock Oldham, let us review the murder and also pre- liminary trial therefor. Belt, after committing the crime, hastened to the house of a friend living near and this friend escorted him home. When he reached home he had gashes cut on one side of

28 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

his face as though done by knuckles. The State's attorney, and his assistant counsel, were of the opinion, however, after hearing the evidence in the case and locating the two men from testimony re- garding the altercation and murder, that Belt's w^ounds were upon the wrong side of his face to have been inflicted by Oldham, in the positions which he and Belt occupied or posed, and that the wounds were made by the hands of other parties through Belt's dictation, and while at the house of his friend. This latter theory was expressed by the State's attorney while addressing the court in examining trial. He also wound up his address by reminding the court that "the first case on record on earth ( that of Cain for murder of Abel, as given in first book of the Bible ) was one in which the defendant was the only witness and that wit- ness lied." With this pert, but truthful and appropriate remark, he left the case in the hands of the court. Belt kept his case ofl', joostponcd for three or four years, and had in the meantime worked up a Ku-Klux organization, scared ofT some of the wit- nesses, and various depredations were committed. Jas. H. Beavers lost wheat in the stack ere it could be threshed, had his fences burned, etc. Luke Hambrink, a witness, had been fouly murdered at his own home, and surrounding circumstances pointed Loge Belt out as the instigator. But this is given finther on in an article, or series of articles, taken from the Hardin Gazette, a paper being published in the county by J. A. Lowry, at the time. A reign of terror had been inaugurated by Belt, and good citizens were actually afraid of their lives. They were on the eve of rising enmasse and wiping out the faction that was through its lawlessness making life and property insecure, but through the influence of one prominent man this saved the better class of Hardin County citizens. He requested that they wait until after Belt's final trial, then pending, for murder of Old- ham, and if he then escaped the due punishment of the law, he would have nothing more to say. His advice was acted upon, and so Belt's crime in killing Oldham, was passed upon in a sis- ter county and due punishment therefor meted out.

Belt was tried at Shawneetown, at a July special term, 1S79. He was sentenced to the Penitentiary for fifteen years, on the 23d day of July, 1S79. And right here it is not amiss to give an incident or two of final trial.

J. Q. A. Ledbetter and W. S. Morris were the counsel for the State, or in behalf of the people, and they had learned enough t© know that ex-Lieut. Belt was contemplating receiving a term at Joliet, and that anticipating this much he would rally his forces, and in case sentence did fall upon him, be rescued by his men from the hands of justice. If they had no such anticipations or fear in this regard why should measures of pre- caution be taken ? If Logan Belt and his followers were not dreaded, then we ask why it was that shortly before the trial at Shaw^neetown a company of militia had been organized ? Osten- sibly for another and under an unsuspected pretext, but in very

THE 1.IFE OF I.OGAN BELT. 29

truth to await and be in readiness for any emergency that might present itself during final trial. If this was not the prime object, then why did this company, in a secret manner, receive only a few days previous to the trial, a himdred stands of arms, with ammunition, direct from Springfield ? Such invincible facts express plainly to a thinking mind, the awe and dread in which Logan Belt was held by the people of Southern Illinois. Neither was their fear groundless, as was afterward conclusively proven. Brave men stood square to duty in that trial, and had it not been for the coolness displayed by Sherifl' John Vost on that occasion, " our Lieutenant " would in all liklihood have been rescued from the hands of the officers. The case came to a finis on Saturday evening at nine o'clock. A motion was made for appeal or new hearing in the case, and the court ruled that the motion be laid over till Monday following. John Yost was standing in the Court House door, having previously placed bailiff's in proper positions. Court was adjourned and joeople began, as was expected, to jump to their feet preparatory to a rush downstairs. Mr. Yost, in a firm, steady voice, demanded that all resume their seats, which command was implicitly obeyed, and a bailiff' was then told to pass out with the prisoner, and after he had placed him safely within the county prison to come quickly back and report to him, then all would be at liberty to wend their various ways. The bailitT did as directed. Some fifteen or twenty bailiffs were placed from Court House to Jail within a respect- able distance of each other, and as the bailiff', with Mr. Belt in charge passed, the respective bailiff's each fell into line and formed the rear. If an interruption and an attempt upon the part of Belt's allies to defeat the ends of justice had not been an- ticipated, then why was this precaution taken ? And if such an attempt had not been contemplated, why was it that a man stood at the corner of the Court House holding Belt's horse by the bits with his right hand, while the bridle was thrown over his neck, and not only holding the horse, but standing with a heavy coat thrown over his left shoulder, and which concealed his left side from view, as also his left arm ? Why was this ? The man standing there was said to have been a tried friend, and the horse Logan Belt's. Then, we are left to infer that the Belt men were all in the court room, and that the intention was to rescue Belt, and in the jam that followed in the exit from the court room, and under the excitement, the rescue would be an easy matter, and but little would be afterward known about it, or who the partici- pants in the rescue were. But in this they were foiled by the coolness of Mr. Yost, and also in the unexpected manner in which he managed the aff'air. He had evidently taken in the situation, and if so, certainly proved himself equal to the occa- sion.

One more incident in this connection : The witness. Covert, had been compelled to secrete himself in order to save his life prior to trial, but the men who were employed by the people saw

30 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

that he jjut in his appearance at the trial. The State's Attorney, J. Qj A. Ledbctter, wished to show by this witness that BeU was the man who shot him, instead of Wm. Frailey, and, whether by design or otherwise — which we leave for the reader to determine for himself — yet true it is, that Covert took the wit- ness box presenting a very respectable appearance. His left side was toward the jury box. Covert was not often seen wearing a nicely laundried white shirt, which he did on this occasion, much to the surprise of a great many who knew him to be too poor a man to aftord the garment worn ; and. whether by design or oth- erwise, as we said before, the sleeves of this very necessary article of apparel w^ere very long, with very large wristbands. The question arose relative to Belt killing ofl' witnesses, and witness threw up his left arm, and with right hand quickly shoved down his sleeves, disclosing to the jury his fractured wrist, a part of which had been carried away by a shot from a gun held in the hands of Logan Belt, and as he executed this movement, remarked ; "You can see whether he intended to kill me or not." The jury could plainly see the large hole torn in his wrist. The Court ruled that such was out of order, but the State's attorney, to prove his points, quickly asked Covert who'tricd to kill him — who shot him ? Whereupon Covert as quickly responded, " Logan Belt." It was enough. The prosecution had got in their work — had carried their point, and in this instance great tact and good judg- ment was displayed.

Belt's Ku Klux organization had a great bearing upon Belt's case in this court, as on the 7th of June prior to this trial he had been arraigned and a preliminary held on the charge of organiz- ing a Ku Klux Klan in Hardin county, but he had beat this oft', like the Oldham case. Our opinion is, and we are not alone in thinking so, that had Logan Belt quietly submitted to the rulings of a Hardin county court, without any attempts to bull-doze courts, officers, witnesses, etc., and in every conceivable way defeat the ends of justice, his sentence would have been comparatively light to the sentence received at the hands of a Gallatin county court.

Logan Belt remained in prison at Joliet just six years to a day. While in prison he is said to have remarked that the one mistake of his life was in not following the precedent of John A. Murrill, also a well known desperate character, or desperado, who once figured conspicuously through this section, and regretted not having adopted Murrill's style — that of preaching. While in prison his mind was ever occupied with thoughts of obtaining pardon and release. It seemed that prison life only chaffed and rather served to inflame his revengeful spirit than to subdue it. Yet there seemed to be a burden upon his soul that could not be lifted. He was afraid, seemingly, that the murder of Luke Ham- brink would come out, and this bore him down. He wanted to create an impression upon the minds of Hardin county people that he was not a party to this atrocious crime. The hideousness and great wickedness of this appalling deed did not seem to strike

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

31

him, but only the fear that the weight of the hiw would fall upon his head for it. He was ever alert and scheming to throw off suspicion and change public ojDinion in this regard, and various methods did he employ to do this.

After sentence had been passed upon Lieut. Belt, and he had been safely lodged in Joliet, a perfect calm settled down upon little Hardin. A peaceful, quiet air, that had not been known or felt for years previous to the conviction of Belt, now permeated the every nook and corner of little Hardin. Prosperity began to lower her gracious banner on this long-suffering and down-trodden little county. But the restless spirit of Belt forbade that it should long remain thus. He began asking of the people petitions addressed to the Governor, praying for his pardon. This request they could not think of granting to one who had so wronged them. At last Belt's hope waned, and it is said that he next sought means to escape from his dreary prison life, and came near succeeding in making good his escape, by secreting himself under an outgoing wagon, but that at the gate the keepers discovered him clinging underneath the vehicle just in time to detain him and prevent his escape. How true this latter is, we do not know, and it is only given here as being a mere rumor, though it is a feasible story and likely true. At last it began to dawn upon Hardin county citi- zens that Belt would be actually pardoned, and pretty soon the quiet reign of peace in Hardin was broken, and a state of deviltry was the programme. The county capital received the heaviest blow of all, as the Court House, together with the records, was burned, and by whom no one knew. The theory of a great many is that " our Lieutenant," although safe within the walls of Joliet, or State prison, yet was still figuring in Hardin's affairs, and this only to destroy or make groundless the assertion that Belt was responsible for all the crime and deviltry in Hardin previous to his sentence, and to prove to the people that crime was still rife among them, even though he was absent. The writer, of course, admits that second characters were upon the stage of action, but who plotted or composed the dark drama that was being enacted in Hardin ? What was the motive ? Was it to shift crime, or rather the punishment for the committal of crime, from the shoulders of the one to whom it rightfully belonged .'' Who can say ? But this is only given as a theory.

Belt was at last pardoned by Gov. Oglesby, and immediately returned to the section he had left six years before. Word pre- ceded his arrival that he had become a changed character, and would henceforth preach the Gospel of Christ in the section in which he had hitherto been a devoted disciple of the evil one. This word was very unfavorably received by the Egyptians, among whom Belt had formerly dwelt. Belt, setting himself up as a divine, or a Baptist minister, was considered an evil omen as regarded the future of little Hardin. Belt returned home, and his fiist act was to order from the premises his wife and daughter, whom he claimed had led aught but virtuous lives — that intimate

32

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

relations existed between them and certain Oldham men. This they firmly denied. On this point the author proposes to remain silent, not knowing as to the validity of the claim made by Belt in this regard. The writer is reliably informed, however, that while Belt was in prison he wrote his wife to go to Oldhrim's and get down upon her knees and beseech them to sign a petition for his release. She went as directed, but could not obtain the sig- nature of a single member of the Oldham family. They informed her that they were w^illing to render her any possible aid for the sustenance of her children, but that they would not sign a peti- tion for the release and freedom of the man who had wantonly slain their brother.

Mrs. Belt converted all the personal property into money that she could dispose of and forwarded the same to her hus- band, who expended the same, but how or for what purpose is not definitely known. The general supposition is that it went to his attorneys, with whom he was very liberal, though this liberal- ity on his part, ere long had rendered his family almost destitute. He had left his wife with a large family of children to care for and he was now robbing them of even the necessaries of life in order to fee certain attorneys. At last Belt got all the money that his wife could raise by selling off personal property. When all the property was disposed of and she was almost reduced to poverty, having now no team and being compelled to rent the farm to a poor class of tenants, from whom she received but meager rent receipts, she was then forced to work very hard her- self, and at times to depend upon neighbors for the wherewith to support her large family of children. All who knew her and the hard time had in providing for her little ones, thought she had done admirably well under the existing circumstances. Lieut. Belt, however, resolved to cast this loyal v^rife off" when he heard that she had obtained a sack of corn from one of the Old- hams with which to supply her children with bread when in dire need. Why did he not ask his better class of neighbors concern- ing his wife before forbidding her shelter under his roof ? But no ; the better classes were never troubled by him in this regard. He did not seem disposed to make a great deal of inquiry, and imagine dear reader, if you can, the picture presented upon his return home. No letters had been received from him for quiet awhile, but when he neared his former dwelling of six years pre- vious, and w^hen the wife of those former years saw him and ran to meet him with an attempt to embrace him, and thrice welcome him to her bosom after an absence of six long years, oh, we say, imagine that stony-hearted fiend pushing aside the woman he had sworn to protect, and with bitter words that fell upon her like a leaden pall, bade her go forth into a cold world and seek her own livelihood apart from the family of dear children that she had labored for and protected when he could not ! A man with a conscience not dead to sin could not have been so relentlessly cruel. If this act was a just and righteous one in Lieut. Belt, as

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 33

his friends claimed for him, then allow us to ask why it was that it brought down upon his head the indignant condemnation of the masses, and most especially the better classes of the people, who, after this, held him in utter contempt, open expressions to that effect being freely made. But Lieut. Belt never courted favor with the higher classes, and cared not as to their opinion of him.

But to continue : Our character claimed to have forsaken his old ways of sin, and to have entered upon a new life (?), so accordingly joined the church of the denomination known as United Baptists at Peter's Creek, and was baptised on the first Sunday in December, 1885. Great pretensions were made by him, and 'ere long, like Murrill, he was preaching the religion of Jesus Christ. Large audiences greeted him in the Peter's Creek church, and when donations for the church were in order, "our ex-Lieutenant " was the most liberal of all. Upon one occasion he urged Matt Smock to give for church expenditures, etc., the sum of one dollar, and as Smock was seemingly loth to act, told him that if he would donate one dollar he would pay one-half of it, and as Smock consented to do so, Belt promptly paid one-half dollar. Another time, he found the church presenting a very un- cleanly appearance and needing a broom, so pulling twenty-five cents from his pocket, handed it over to the church authorities with instructions that a new broom be purchased, which was done. We might go back and tell more of his life as passed the latter ten years prior to his assassination ; how H. M. Winders, Riley Lamb, W. J. Hall, Joe Lowry and others, were compelled to abandon their home and together lay out for weeks in oi'der to save life, but lack of space forbids it. As we have before stated, Belt was very liberal toward the church of his choice after he became connected with it, giving from five to ten dollars upon ordinary occasions. Yet the people in general had but little faith in his professed Christianity. It was reported that he had said while behind the prison bars that "if he ever came back to Hardin he would raise h' — 1 with some of them even if he had to turn preacher to do it," and when upon his return, he verified in action the report that had preceded him, the people looked upon him with great distrust, expecting an outbreak at almost any time from the faction of whom he was formerly the leader and whom all seemed to think was still existing but which had remained inactive to a great extent during Belt's confinement in prison, simply because their leader was absent.

Belt applied for and received a divorce from his first wife whom he had driven from his home upon his return, she through fear or otherwise, having failed to appear against him. Having secured a divorce he was married to a cousin of remote degree. Mary Amanda Belt, of Franklin County, on Tuesday evening of October 36th, 1886. A Baptist divine, B. A. Salyers, performed the ceremony that made them inan and wife at the residence of Logan Belt. It is said that this last woman had lived under

34 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

Belt's roof several weeks previous to her being united in mar- riage to Lieut. Belt. This is as much as the writer cares to say in regard to the last wife of Mr. Belt, but a letter is given from her to the author in the closing chapter and was received by him w^hile the preparation of this book was in progress. Belt, with others was indicted for the murder of Luke Hambrink on the 29th day of October, 1886, or at the October term of the Hardin County Circuit Court, 18S6. Members of grand jury that rendered indictment, being as follows:

Aaron Cowsert, John Thornton, Frank Seiner, Ila F. Dossett, Charles Miller, George W. Douglas, Smith Hosick, Lewis Joiner, Noah Hurford, James Hale, Isaac N. Ozee, T. J. Vinyard, Wm. H. H. Coltrin, John Reiner, Wm. R. Lamb, B. L. Ledbetter, Thomas Douglas, Henry Vinyard, John J. Shearer.

Mr. Shearer was foreman of the jury. The indicted parties were immediately arrested and a preliminary given them, which resulted in three of them being held in bond of $2,000 each, two in bond of $5,000 each and Logan Belt was held in jail to await his trial.

After Logan Belt was placed in the Gallatin County jail he one day referred, while in conversation to the killing of Doc. Oldham, and, in conclusion of his remarks, said, as he drew a long breath : " That was the beginning of all the trouble in our neighborhood. " So the reader readily sees that our theory expressed in this direction heretofoi'e is now vei"ified in the very language of our character. Following in chapter 4th is a series of articles taken from the Hardin Gazette relative to the Ku Klux organization by Belt in 1879, which is also followed by an article from Chicago Times in chapter 5th, then his late trial for murder of Hambrink in chapter 6th.

Logan Belt was acquitted in the trial foi'* the murder of Hambrink, as appears in Chapter 6th, wherein the proceedings as published in the Register are given. It seemed, however, that fate had decreed that the character as herein embraced should not go. unpunished for his many crimes, as on the evening of Monday, June 6th, 1887, Logan Belt was assassinated near Wesley Chapel, by an unknown hand. But in closing this chapter, we wish to correct the Chicago Times articles, as given in chapter 5th, and relative to Ferrell and Platter, of Hardin County, as civil officers. To be brief, we shall not gainsay the charge, but will simply state to our readers that in epoch of Hardin County's history it well paid men to in nowise connect themselves with Logan Belt.

A Series of Articles from the Hardin Gazette and Pub- lished at Elizabethtown, Illinois, in the Year 1879.

m

CHAPTER IV.

ORE Ku Klux — The foUowing note was found tied to Ben Burton's mare's mane: " May ist, 1S79. — This is a hint. The way you see your mare's tail, is the what I wiU do for your head, and you had better get away inside of to ( two ) months or I wiU put a hole thru you. W. C. and gess at the rest, God dam you. "

Mr. Burton has asked permission to reply to the above threat through these columns in the following manner :

" I found the above notice tied to my mare's mane on the morning of the first of June. My mare's tail had been shingled and her foretop cut off by the party, I suppose who posted the notice. The only comment I wish to make is that I will not leave the country, and request the party who makes the threat to come in the day time and I will be ready to receive him. June 6th, 1879. Ben Burton. "

Comment is unnecessary. The threat given above can, we are told, be traced back to one of the Klan back of Cave-in- Rock. It makes no difference what this party had against Bur- ton, the tendency is all the same, and shows clearly that this Klan and all others of a like character run into murder, robbery, arson and all their kindred crimes. Crush it out by the strong arm of the law, — wipe it out of existence, and let peace and quiet once more rest upon the people. Stop it at what it is at, and let the peaceable and industrious citizens who have been driven from their homes return to their families and their farms. We got a letter only this week from Wm. J. Hall, who is a fugitive, — not from justice, but driven away from his home by these outlaws. If our civil officers have not got the nerve to do their duty in the matter, let us apply to the Governor, for militia, to nip this thing in the bud.

We want the readers of the Gazette outside of Hardin County to understand that the Ku Klux Klan here is not a politi- cal organization, but got up for the purpose of exterminating all the known enemies to the members thereof, without any regard to religion, politics, or standing in society. Won't they have their hands full, though ?

•^6 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

As soon as the trial was over last week against Logan Belt and others, they issued a warrant against Frank Hardin and Zed Jenkins for perjury and the trial was set for Monday. The parties on the day waiving an examination, w^ere held on their own recognizance, to appear before the Circuit Court. — Hardin Gazette, June 13, 1S79.

Letter from Earl Sherwood.

Cave-in-Rock, Illinois, June 20th, 1879 — Editor Hardin Gazette — Dear Sir: In your issue of June 13th you say that " We want the readers of the Gazette to understand that the Ku Klux Klan here is not a political organization, but gotten up for the purpose of exterminating all the known enemies to the mem- bers thereof without any regard to religion, politics or standing in society. Won't they have their hands full, though ?"

Also under the head of " More Ku Klux, " you say that " comment is unnecessary, " — that the threat of a mad boy in the northwest corner of the county against a neighbor boy on account of a pretty girl, — " can be traced to one of the Klan back of Cave-in-Rock. " James A. Lowry, you know in your soul that it is a falsehood.

You say that the " tendency of this Klan, and all others of a like character, run into murder, robbery, arson and all their kin- dred crimes. " In this connection, I will say, that you have named our organization a Klan. Call it what you like. If a few honest heai-ts combined together for the purpose of ferreting out a crime and bringing criminals to justice can be called a Klan, then call us what you will. If the murderer of Luke Hambrink can be found, it shall be.

You say "it runs into murder, robbery and arson." I say that we endeavor to bring to justice murderers, robbers and burners, and to crush them by the strong arm of the law. You say crush us by the strong arm of the law. You say wipe us out of existence. We do not say wipe them, nor you, out of exist- ence. You say •' let peace and quiet once more rest upon the people. " We say disband your army that has been in arms ever since Luke Hambrink was patracided ; — make them stop terrior- izing the county with shot guns by the dozen. Make them let their witnesses be interviewed.

They refused to allow Wm. J. Banks, et al, to see ^he widow Browning, when sent by the grand jury, and have since then shipped her.

You say " stop it at what it is at, and let the peaceable and industrious citizens who have been driven from their homes, return to their families and their farms." We know of no one who has been driven from their homes. The shotgun company do so from choice and an evident joint interest. Wm. J. Hall, who you say has "been driven from home by these outlaws," was actuated by fear, induced by the mind-paralyzing lies told by the Judas who gave the medicine to his wife's former husband

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 37

about one month before he married her. These Hes, colored by an interested party in Wm. J. Hall's neighborhood, caused his flight. I to-day, read two letters from said Hall to Mr. Logan Belt, and they throw dark shadows on some who roost high.

You, say " let us apply to the Governor for militia to nip this thing in the bud." If the thing had been nipped in the bud be- fore the poor peddler, who unsuspectedly ate his dinner, and then — a few trinkets scattered and his pack — in the big'^sink ; if the bud had been nipped before poor Osbrooks, the husband of Joe Adams' first wife, took his last dinner at G. W.'^HoUemon's ; if the bud had been nipped before poor old man Hardesty, after chatting and smoking with friends, took that last dose of medi- cine and was bounced to the grave with a whoop and a yell ; if the bud had been nipped before poor old man Hambrink was made to take the heavenly train to keep his money from going to Germany with him, there never would have been this disturb- ance, nor such a general uprising by certain characters, among high and low, to shout '' stop this investigation — it retards the wheels of justice." Ku Klux.

"• Oh ! judgment, thou hast fled to brutish beasts and men have lost their reason." When good men can be misled by men who have been given libels under their signature ; when good men can not see the cause and the effect, the sequence and the consequence ; when bad men can kill stock, burn fences, assas- sinate men, swear lies and band together armed to the teeth to resist law, and by obtaining certain worshipped counsel, after they find it a ground hog case, oh! it is a grand " coup d'eteat " to shift the origin of the excitement upon parties who deplore that our county has been despoiled by such men as comprise this shotgun gang, thereby deterring any wealthy immigration to our country. And here we will say that the " Ku Klux Klan," so much talked of, is simply this : A few men met together for the purpose of devising ways and means to ferret out the Ham- brink murder, and to protect the witnesses, as the vvitnesses were all under the control of armed men. They took a solemn obli- gation to keep secret all that might be discovered until the arrest of the party or parties implicated. And, as to the report that this was Logan Belt's Klan, or in his interest, 1 will state this, that if the discovery of the murderers of Luke Hambrink would benefit Logan Belt, then it was in his interest ; if it would injure him, then it w^as against his interest.

I see that the papers of different states have said a great deal about this matter. I ask that they copy this, and that they do not give us a newspaper death. Let us live before the people as we live before high heaven ; with conscience clear, let our reputation be with our conscience. I am yours, etc.,

Jonathan Belt, Earl Sherw^ood, et. al.

38 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

MILD COMMENT BY THE EDITOR.

Earl Sherwood, as spokesman for the Klan, came to see us last week, and asked permission to use these columns to explain up matters in which they were concerned, and to try to allay the excitement existing ; which privilege we granted, and the above is what has come of it. Verily, " Whom the gods destroy they first make mad." He upbraids us for calling their organization a " Ku Klux Klan." That is what they called it a year ago when serving notices on the Oldhams, as will be seen froin one of those notices published elsewhere. He says they organized for the purpose of ferreting out the murder of Luke Hambrink. Are they such friends of law and order as to impel them to this step ? Were they such intimate friends of Mr. Hambrink as to cause them to take such extraordinary steps ? Why no. In point of fact, soine of them were his inveterate enemies. In point of fact, Luke Hambrink was afraid certain members of this Klan would kill him. In point of fact, Luke Hambrink told the editor of this paper over a year ago that he was going to Germany, for, said he, " If I stay where I am Logan Belt will kill me." Perhaps Mr. Sherwood will stigmatize this as another huge lie, and in case he does, we are able to cite him to other persons, of unquestioned veracity, to whom Mr. Hambrink used the same language. It looks more like they wanted to cover up the murder of Luke Hambrink than to bring it to light. If this had been their only object, as he would have you infer, then w^hy, in the name of all that is good, have they been bulldozing, threatening and terrify-g ing citizens against whom they could have had no suspicion whatever ? The idea that some of the parties engaged in this thing should undertake it for the purposes stated by Mr. Sher- wood, is really a joke, which the people who know them best will appreciate most. We would have Mr. Sherwood, and all concerned with him, to understand that we do not wish to mis- represent any one. We are not actuated by malice, but by the desire to promulgate the truth, and shield the people from danger by warning them of that danger. If it had been our disposition to prejudice Logan Belt's case, it looks reasonable that we'd have commenced some time ago. Mr. Sherw^ood, with a tragic air, calls up the case of the peddler who was supposed to have dis- appeared up in that country, and of two or three men who in all probability died natural deaths of disease. This is done for effect. Had we the power the Witch of Endor manifested before King Saul, we could call forth the shade of Captain Gibson, of Mr. Dorris, of Lewis Franklin, of Dock Oldham, and others, and this too would be for effect, and to pretty good effect, too. We have no apology to offer for anything which has appeared in these columns, nor shall vs^e promise to be quiet while there is an armed band of this character in existence in this county. They may try some quieting process, but we feel confident, knowing this people as we do, that our fall would not go unavenged.

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. -J^

THE IMPENDING DANGER.

[The following editorial article and document was prepared for last week's Gazette, but was laid over for good reason :]

The excitement occasioned by the exposure of an organized and armed band in this county has somewhat subsided, but we fear the danger is not yet past. Some of the parties say that they have dropped the organization and have abandoned everything connected with it. It is to be hoped that this is true, but if it be true, why do they still hold their clandestine meetings ? Why do they still prowl around the premises of Zed. Jenkins and other citizens ? Why are they still trying to intimidate men against whom they have grudges ? We are inclined to think the trouble is not past, and we fear that in case it ever gets another start, that they will rival the Williamson county outlaws in the number and atrocity of the crimes committed.

This county is too small, too weak, too poor, and too much dependent, to ever stand the expense of even such a state of affairs as existed in Williamson a few years ago.

The members of this gang claim that it was organized to detect and punish the murderers of Luke Hambrink, and some. of thein may think so, but in point of fact this thing was planned a year ago, and it was gotten up solely for the purpose of making capital in the Belt murder trial now pending. In proof of this assertion we publish below a letter mailed one year ago at Salem, Ky., directed to two persons back of Cave-in-Rock and taken out of the postoffice by a person well known by the citizens of this town, so that the matter can be easily traced back to the reception of the letter one year ago ; and the authorship of the letter can be clearly established by the handwriting, and bv one other circumstance which we for the present withhold.

Here is the letter and it proves what we have said in regard to the object of this organization, and if anybody doubts any of the allegations we propose to fully and clearly establish them by proof when occasion requires it

At home in all places, but more especially in Hardin Coun- ty, 111. Gents. : As we desire to be friendly with all parties, we want in this epistle to warn you that in the event of your attempts on our friend Logan Belt, we. the citizens of the above named place, are fully determined to hold all of you to a strict accountability for any threat or attempt to injure our much esteemed friend, a Lieutenant in the army during our last war. We, the aforesaid citizens of the above named place, are fully aware of the dastardly attacks made by the '" Odum stock '' on account of our Lieutenant nierely discharging his duty and sending, one to his long home, who richly merited all he got, and as this letter means business you had all better beware of us f Ku Klux f as we have eaten nothing of any consequence since the battle of Shiloh, and we are hungry ! Beware ! Beware of us fellows, as the leaves are now^ on the trees and as we are nothing but shadows and fearfully hungry, and as we are desirous of acting

40 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

in Ku Kliix style we warn you to beware of the infuriated friends of Lieutenant Belt, who are and have been watching his welfare for some time. We are merely across the brink, but all attention, should anj^thing occur to our esteemed friend, and be sure to accept of this as from a friend, as we do not wish to send any of you to Shut-Eye-Town, unless some depredation is com- mitted upon the person or property of our friend. Now as you and a considerable number of your dirty acquaintances are mean enough to do anything on this earth, be sure to take this as a memento morit. And now farewell.

From your only friend on this lower footstool.

A Citizen of the Above Place. Addressed: Tho's & Jesse Odum.

Now this clearly shows a bad state of affairs to exist. The author of the letter is a citizen of this county and a member of the Ku Klux recently on trial here.

We have a law here and the majority of the people wish to see it lived up to and executed. The people are not satisfied with this way of intimidating, bulldozing and di"iving witnesses and prosecutors. It has been done before in this county, and will be done again and again if the people are not outspoken and prompt in breaking down this last attempt. We say again put it down, or we shall not live to be old enough to see the end of it, nor will our property be sufficient to pay the expense it will entail.

WHAT the press SAYS OF IT. From the Johnson County Journal : ►

A gentleman of Elizabethtown has written to a friend in this place that a band of Ku Klux has been terrorizing the citi- zens in the eastern part of Hardin County ; that eleven of the gang have been arrested and admitted to bail ; and that ninety men are under arms night and day in that locality.

From the Shawnee Local Record :

There seems to be a bad State of affairs exisiting in Hardin County, but we are unable to learn the particulars. It appears that a party had organized for the purpose of ferreting out the murderer or murderers of Luke Hambrink. Another party was also organized, and there existed bad blood between the two organizations, growing out of former troubles. It is said that parties were notified to leave the county, and some did leave. The Sheriff was afraid to make any arrests. The factions hear- ing of this, concluded to go into Elizabethtown and voluntarily give themselves up. So they armed themselves, about fifteen or twenty on a side, with revolvers and sabers, so that neither side should have the advantage in case of a difficulty, and went in for trial. Some of the citizens of the town in fear closed up their places of business and left. The trial resulted in several parties being placed under bond of $300 each. These are substantially the facts as we learn them at present.

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 4I

From the Metropolis Democrat.

* * * It would seem that the days of Munell and

Ford were again upon us, Hardin County being the especial theatre of action for these desperadoes. Just across the river and a little above Cave-in-Rock, 111., is the little Kentucky town of Fiord's Ferry, where the celebrated James Ford had his head- quarters, and where Ford finally met his death at the hands of an assassin. The editor of this paper has been over almost every square mile of the territory mentioned, and while knowing that a very large majority of the people of Hardin County are as clever folks as the sun ever shone on, yet knowing the parties engaged in this Ku-Klux business, is forced to say that they have been known for years as desperate characters.

THE BAD BELTS. Correspondence Louisville Courier-Journal.

Evansville, June 12. — Old citizens of Kentucky and Illinois need not be reminded that Ford's Ferry and Cave-in-Rock, on opposite sides of the Ohio River, long since became notorious for the robberies and horrid murders perpetrated by Ford and his confederates. These tragedies have recently been revamped by some of the Kentucky papers. Your correspondent, who had occasion to make a business trip a few days ago through Hardin County, Illinois, has to speak of modern barbarities, which he ventures to say even the red-handed Ford would not be ashamed to own were he living among the desperadoes who seem to have taken their cue from him. Veril}, they are fit successors of the ^ead monster, and are entitled to undisputed possession of his " dark and bloody " patch of ground.

Belt is the name of a large family living near Cave-in-Rock, 111., which for years has been more terrible to the timid than were ever the names of Little and Strong, in the kingdom of Breathitt. It can be found on nearly every criminal docket that has been made up in Hardin County during the last fifteen years, and is not entirely unknown to criminal fame in several of the adjoining counties. I will begin with the last exploit of Hardin County lawlessness ; will then " advance backward," and tell of the deeds of theft, assault and dark assassination that have been mysteriously withheld from courts, grand juries and even Argus eyed reporters for the great dailies.

On the 30th day of May last, upon complaint made by Frank Hardin and B. Z. Jenkins, a warrant was issued charging with unlawful conspiracy (i. e. Ku Kluxing) the following parties : Logan Belt, Jonathan Belt, H. J. Belt, James Belt, Arthur Belt. Elisha Morris, son-in-law of Jonathan Belt ; Wm. Frailey, brother- in-law of Logan Belt ; George Ratlift'e, nephew of the Belts ; Frank Justice, Tom Leeper, Robert Sheridan, W. D. White, Bill Lyons and Harry Holloman. All, except the two last named, when they ascertained that a charge had been preferred against them, gave themselves up to J. F. Taylor, the County Judge, for their trial, which began at Elizabethtown on the 4th and ended

6

42 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELl.

on the 5th of this month. Hardin and Jenkins were the princi- pal witnesses for the people, and stated substantially that by various influences and false pretenses, employed from time to time by Loge Belt and Bob Sheridan, they were persuaded to join the conspirators on the night of the 7th of May last. The place of meeting was a sequestered gulch near the Ohio, the pre- tended purpose was to ferret out the mysterious murder of one Luke Hambrink, committed in that locality on the night of the first of last April. It was also suggested that a man named Covert should be whipped or killed, and that society thereabouts should be regulated generally. Speeches were made by several of the midnight regulators, grips, signs, uniform and password adopted. Their faces were to be cowled, and a light was to be carried in the hat of each during a raid on evil-doers. Steps were taken to arm all who were too poor to furnish their own weapons. The question whether a fellow should be whipped or " treated worse " was to be left entirely to the conscientious dis- cretion of the klan. In the event one of the brethren should get into the clutches of the law he was to be rescued by pistols, drawn and cocked in the hands of disguised men. The plan adopted to escape the injury of courts and grand juries was very simple and effective — at least it so seemed to the pliable con- sciences of these night riders. The organization was born, but left without " a local habitation and name," in order that its members could truthfully swear that " they knew of no Ku Klux organization in the county." Hardin and Jenkins having satis- fied themselves that it was the intention of the conspirators t^ assassinate persons who were important witnesses against Logan Belt, in a trial for murder, pending in Gallatin County, and to commit other crimes that they were not sufficiently hardened to take a hand in, determined to disregard the infamous oath that bound the members under pains and penalties " to stick to one another until death." They resolved finally to consult W. S. Morris and J. Q^ A. Ledbetter, able and courageous attorneys of the Elizabethtown bar. Tremblingly and in whispers their ter- rible secret was revealed, and the prosecution began ; but they do not appear to have relieved their perilous situation, for they are kept in constant apprehension of a sudden and unexpected " taking off'. "

INCIDENTS OF THE TRIAL.

The Sheriff" took time by the forelock, and had important business up the river the day the trial commenced. Indeed, it has been stated on good authority that he declared to the Com- missioners of the county he would resign his office before he would attempt to " force the formidable Belts into a favorable opinion of the law. " Prudent people are not disposed to blame him much for transacting loaig-neglected business in the farthest corner of the county, while the ferocious clans were gathering at the county seat with knives, pistols and shot guns eager to obey

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT, 43

their leader's command. I say clans, for be it remembered there are three of them, which may be designated as the Belt, Sim- mons and Oldham factions, the last two having declared war for self-protection against the Belt faction. But more of this civil strife and the cause thereof hereafter. It has been estimated that not less that loo armed men attended the trial. Near the close of the investigation a youthful Beltite, not one of the defendants, was seen to enter the temple of justice bearing a carpet-bag full of pistols. Logan Belt, a shrewd villain, with some knowledge of the criminal law — '• so much a long communion tends to make us what we are " — conducted the defense. He generally kept maliciously cool, but once or twice scattered fire from his lead colored eyes, and nervously fingered a large pistol concealed in the right pocket of his pantaloons. His favorite method of cross-examination of a witness whom he disliked v\^as to tell him " he had sworn an infamous lie. " A question arose as to the competency of evidence offered by the State, when he coolly informed the court that if a decision were rendered against defendants he should decline to make further defense. What he meant by this statement was not clear to those who heard it, but fortunately the court adjudged the evidence improper, and the trial progressed peaceably to the close. The defendants proved by themselves that their purposes were lawful and praise-worthv. Jonathan Belt, himself an indicted murderer, tearfully declared that Hambrink was a kind, good neighbor, and that, "law or no law, " he intended to drag the assassin of the lamented Ham- brink to justice.

To say that the times were getting squally to the court, con- veys a very poor idea of the difficulties and dangers of the situation. The end came at last without bloodshed, and the defendants were held in the sum of $300 each to answer indictments. They were released on their own recognizance. Indeed, the judge seemed anxious to get rid of them on any terms, and your correspondent is not the man to censure him for it. I think I should have released them without any bail, and then set up the drinks on condition of their leaving town immediately. After old Jonathan Belt had made an ineffectual effort to get up a '' shooting scrape " with Morris, the lawyer, who had pressed the prosecution with great courage and ability, the whole party retired to their guns, which were hid in the edge of the town, and thence retreated to their native fastness. But they intend to give Elizabethtown only a short respite. They have had Hardin and Jenkins arrested on charge of perjury, and will return next Monday in force, to prosecute the charge.

THE PEN AS WELL AS THE SWORD USED.

It was proven on the trial whenever the clan deemed it necessary, threatening letters were .sent out. A number of such notices were issued, some of which were read in evidence. The following is a fair sample :

44 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

Lickpoit Headquarters. — To Jack Oldham and the balance of the damned Oldham clan : You have two weeks to clear out, or hell will be your doom.

Robert Hasty, Thomas Oldham and others were in like manner informed that they ought to leave without delay the homes of their fathers. A notice was found among the papers of Hambrink which threatened his life if he failed to drive off two persons who were living on his premises. Notices, sup- posed to have come from the same fruitful source, since it was proven that branches of the clan existed in different parts of the country, were found about ten miles north of Elizabcthtown. Ben Burton, a few mornings since, went into his stable to feed his mare, and found her tail shingled and the following notice tied to her mane :

This is to hint the way you see your mayer's tail is the what i will do for your head, and you had better get away in side of to months, or i will put a hole through you.

W. C. and gess the rest God dam you.

He found also pinned to his gate a card informirtg him. " ben burten, ""in substance, that he must get away in ten days or sub- mit to the pleasureable sensation of being killed by a leaden ball or other hard substance.

PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF THE CRIMINALS.

Robert Sheridan, the Captain of the nameless band, has lived in Hardin County about twenty years, and bore a very good character u.ntil four or five years ago, when he yielded to the wicked influence of the Belts. He is now considered " as bad as thev make 'em." Fiank Justice, the second Captain, lived until recently in Pope County, where he was for a brief period, agent for some kind of patent medicine. While engaged in this business he was mysteriously robbed of $200 that he had collected for his employers. He is now " bad medicine " himself.

Wm. Frailey has been indicted for forgery, larceny, perjury and assault with intent to commit murder.

Earl Sherwood attempted to commit a rape in Franklin County, and fled to Hardin, where he soon got into trouble, and was indicted for a murderous assault on some person unknown to the writer hereof. George Ratliff' began his criminal career several years since by stejiling a horse in Hardin County. Very little is known of the antecedents of Morris, White and Leeper. The last named is considered by Jenkins and Hardin as the most desperate villain in the clan, and they always tremble for their safety when his eye is upon them. H. J. is perhaps the " mildest-mannered " of all the Belts. He has yet to kill his man. He tried once, however, to achieve a bloody notoriety, and was indicted for the off'ense. James and Arthur Belt are scarcely grown, but have been well trained in " ways that are dark " and assassinations that are never found out. Jonathan Belt is more devotional than his fellow-clansmen. He often prays and preaches, " without money and without price. " His auditors have

THE J.IFE OF I.OGAN BELT.

45

discovered that, while he talks of " peace on earth, " a Colt's army is concealed in his bosom, and they are, therefore, uncom- monly attentive and respectful. He is a Baptist, aijd none of his neighbors have ever dared to deny in his presence the doctrines of close communion and baptism by plunging-. Indeed, such a firm believer is he in the necessity of immersion that he would not hesitate to tie rocks to a heretic and plunge him into the river where the current runs deepest. During the war he was a Cap- tain under the infamous Payne at Paducah, but becoming dissat- isfied— some say cashiered — he tried to get the position of Major in the Forty-eighth Kentucky Infantry. Failing in this, he retired to the craigs of his native Hardin, and rarely leaves them except on important business that concerns the lives of his fellow-citizens. When the war commenced he lived in Kentucky, where he got his first taste of human blood by killing a Confederate soldier. Several years since Huston Belt was shot and killed in Elizabeth- town by Capt. Frank Gibson, but Jonathan got even by sending a load of buckshot through Gibson while the latter was unsus- pectingly riding along a public road.

There were two witnesses to this murder — one of them died, and the other, frightened by the Belts, fled the county. A farcical trial ended in the acquittal of the assassin. During the war, Joe Belt, under arrest at Cave-in-Rock accused of murder, was forcibly released by Jonathan and Logan Belt, assisted by persons unknown in that locality.

THE DARK PLOT UNRAVELED.

Logan Belt is the central figure of the group of Hardin County desperadoes — the master spirit of all the deviltry that has lately been perpetrated by them. Every movement of the Belt faction has been made in his interest, to save his body from the penitentiary or his neck from the legal halter. He is, in some respects, a remarkable man. He possesses uncommon nerve and force of character, a pleasing address, unlimited self- possession and great native shrewdness — qualities which fit him well for leading the lawless characters whom he has gathered about him. He was an oflicer in the Forty-eighth Federal ( Kentucky ) Infantry, and soon won a first-class reputation as a horse thief. He " pressed " more for himself than for the Gov- ernment. A soldier of the regiment, who knew a good deal about Belt's crookedness, was found dead and scalped early one morning. The Indian who played this trick on the unsuspecting soldier has never been captured. The criminal charges that have been preferred against him in Hardin and adjoining counties are too numerous to mention in this article. Several years since a man named Dorris whipped Belt in a fist fight at Elizabethtown. Dorris, a short time afterwards, was assassinated at his own house, in Gallatin County. Belt was indicted, proved an alibi, and escaped. His next man-killing exploit was bolder. A dancing party were gathered at the house of Tom Oldham, in Hardin County. Belt walked into the crowd, coolly shot and

46 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

killed Dock Oldam, a brother of the host, and then dared any of his friends to " take it up. " The indictment for this murder is the danger that Belt dreads. Hambrink, the father-in-law of one of the Oldhams, and the only monej'ed man engaged in the prosecution of Belt, is believed by the best citizens, who are conversant with the foregoing facts, to have been murdered by Logan Belt, or at his instigation. The pretended purpose of the clan to ferret out the Hambrink aflair is, therefore, a verv thin falsehood, and was evidently intended as a diverson in favor of the murderers.

Logan Belt and a man named Covert were once confidential friends. Belt made damaging admissions to Covert. A rupture after this occurred between the two, and Covert's life came near paying the penalty. He was waylaid bv Bill Frailev and Logan Belt. Though badly riddled with buckshot, he lives to hide between courts, and now fails to turn up when the case of the people against Belt is called. It must not be presumed that Belt is ungrateful to his friends. Li 1873 Aleck Frailey, a brother of Bill, murdered Arthur Price, but was easily cleared by Belt's testimony.

This dark picture has a bright side. Although Logan Belt is running at large on straw bail, the probability is that he will be convicted of felony. This will rid the community of his presence, and will break up the nest of criminals, of whom he is chief. Furtliermore, the shocking developments of the late trial have aroused and united the order-loving people of the whole county, and there is a general disposition among them to hold the Belt party responsible for every secret, lawless act that may be committed in the county. Your correspondent would not be surprised to hear, at no distant day, of a lively rope-slretching performance in the vicinity of Cave-in-Rock. X.

While the main facts and allegations in the foregoing article are, so far as we know, correct, yet we do not wish the impres- sion to go out that all the Belts in this country are bad and law- less men ; for many of them are as good citizens as we have, peaceable, industrious, and law-abidding, minding their own business and having no difliculties with anyone. Further, we do not think that the impression given in this article that Judge Taylor was intimidated, &c., is either fair or true ; for if such was the case, no one present at the trial could see it. No decision which vs^as lawful was w^ithheld, and no order necessary to be given was refused. With these corrections w^e give the article to the people, as a matter of news, and also because we deem it our duty to give them the fullest insight possible into the deeds and objects of this clan.

Somebody has been prejudicing the minds of the people from the back part of the county against the impaneling of the grand jur}-. We do not know just what the jury may be able to accomplish, but we do know that the murderers of one of our best citizens are still at large, and we further know that a state

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

47

of affairs exists in this county, which, if it cannot be reached and remedied will cost the people a thousand fold more than a few days' session of a grand jury. — Hardin Gazette.

The question has frequently been asked lately, " What is the so-called Ku Klux Klan, and what is its object } "

This is a question which can not be fully answered just now. Enough, however, has been learned to show that their objects were neither lawful nlir laudable. Enough has come to light concerning this damnable conspiracy to show any sane man that if the thing had not exploded just at the time it did, they would have inaugurated a reign of terror in Hardin County, the like of which has never been seen before.

Logan Belt is spending his precious time in trying to get some to believe that they had no other object in view than to find the murderer of Luke Hambrink. This is the story he tells in Hardin. Li Gallatin County he puts on a look of injured inno- cence and tells them that he knows nothing about it, and that he can not conceive why any one should try to misrepresent or injure him. • But it will not avail him anything to tell the people away from home that there is nothing in it, for they have only to look upon the criminal records of Hardin County to find that he stands indicted by the grand jury for the very offense he denies.

Neither will it avail him anything to spend his time and money trying to malign and break down the only man who has ever dared to gainsay his evil doings, or tried to fully expose the crookedness of his ways. We say it will do him no good ; for that man has been known by the people of Hardin County from infancy up, and if he has not walked uprightly the people undoubt- edly know it. We shall not use Belt's favorite phrase, and sav that he is a " malicious liar," but we simply refer him to the peo- ple. As to "infamous " insinuations we refer any one who does not already know the falsity of them, to the people of Hardin County in general. Below we publish a masterly effort of his published in his organ at Shawneetown, ( The Local Record ), last week, that the people of Hardin County may see the little game he is up to. He could have saved money probably by publishing it in the Gazette. It is more than probable, however, that he had it published where it will do him the most good. A man who can get away with a government mule right in open camp, without incurring the penalty, is undoubtedly sharp enough to spend his money where it will do him the most good. Here is the letter referred to :

Editor of Local Record :

Cave-in-Rock, 111., June 20, 1879. — Dear Sir : Allow me, through the columns of your paper, to answer the Hardin Gazette in a series of attacks ( as he says publicly that he is my enemy ) on me, directly and indirectly, through certain articles printed by him, for the purpose of prejudicing the outside com- munity in my trial, in the Gallatin Circuit Court, on the second Monday in July.

48

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

I suppose that the articles published in the Gazette had reference to me and others who were charged with conspiracy to retard public justice, and also bears the idea that we are a Ku Klux Klan.

Now, I publicly assert that if it was intended to charge me or any of my friends with being Ku Klux, he charges an infam- ous lie.

The excitable term " Ku KRix " has been used by my ene- mies against me and my friends because we wanted to know who murdered Luke Hambrink. They have stopped the wheels of public justice by running off the witnesses, and the hue and cry of Ku Klux is raised to attract the attention of the masses to us and me, and to veil by excitement the horrible crime that was committed upon Luke Hambrink by

If this charge of Ku Klux was made against me, why was it made ? I do not know. But if my grandfather, who might have been charged with robbing the school treasury of sev- eral hundred dollars, or my father had been indicted for stealing a wagon, etc., or my uncle had murdered his wife aild got out of the penitentiary on the grounds of insanity, or my brother was a common thief and had jumped a bond for perjury, of at least seven hundred dollars, and if I had went on my brother's bond, and said bond had been stolen, as in another case, these charges would not have been made against me. But God forbid. But " my sisters, my aunts and my cousins " are not guilty of the above-mentioned things. Had they been, such indirect charges would not have been alleged against me and my friends, as we would have been in the ring. Yours truly,

Logan Belt.

While publishing letters, we will give one received from Wm. J. Banks, this week, contradicting an assertion made by Sherwood in his letter published last week.

letter from w. j. banks.

Karber's Ridge, III, June 30th. A. D., 1879. — Editor Gazette: I see in your issue of last week that Mr. Sherwood says that " they would not allow Wm. J. Banks, et. al., to see the widow Browning when sent by the grand jury, " etc. I never heard of the widow Browning before ; never was sent anywhere by the grand jury to serve papers, or anything of the kind, and never was " refused " by anybody to see anybody.

I am respectfully,

Wm. J. Banks.

P. S. — " Et. al., " may have been " refused." — not me.

We desire to inform the readers of our paper, once for all, that we are not making war upon the so-called Ku Klux Klan from any feehng of a personal nature ; that we do not desire to do anything that will prevent a fair administration of justice ; that we have not heretofore expressed ourselves as the avowed enemy of Logan Belt, as he charges. But that crime is rife in our

THE LIFE OF" LOGAN BELT. 49

county is well known to everybody. The disposition of the people and the press to remain quiet has given an impetus to evil doers that has caused them to assume such open means to commit acts of lawlessness. We shall hereafter, however, be more mindful of the duty we owe the people of this county, and our voice shall be heard denouncing crime in all its forms. The duty we owe the people demands that we expose in all their hideousness the crimes which have and are still being committed in this county, no matter who the authors may be. And we say in behalf of the people of this county that the majesty of the law will and shall be vindicated, and the guilty ones brought to justice.

And to you men that have been suspected of crime, we say that the matter shall be investigated, the accused shall be brought to trial, the guilty ones shall be convicted and punished ; but the innocent, if any there be, shall go unpunished, for we shall defend their innocence with as much vigor as we denounce the guilty. But remember, no amount of bull-dozing, terrorism or threats will deter the people from proceeding straightforward to the uprooting of crime in Hardin County. The people are fully aroused to a sense of their duty, and they will see to it that every man stands or falls by his own acts, and no storm of terror that a few men can inaugurate, will prevent it. We shall refer to this subject again when occasion requires, as we have other facts to lay before the people when the proper time shall come.

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATIO^.

Friday, July 11,1879.

Charley Kruppert, a German living near Capt. Tyner's, on the Ohio River, below Cave-in-RoCk, was shot while plowing in his field Wednesday, the ball glancing his side just sufficiently to draw blood. He stumbled and fell just as the pistol fired, and the would-be assassin, Ellis Monroe, thinking he had killed him, threw the pistol at his head. Kruppert scrambled to his feet, snatched up the pistol and fired one shot at Monroe, who was by this time about sixty yards away in full retreat.

The pistol captured by Kruppert proved to be Jonathan Belt's, and it was soon ascertained that Belt had given Alonroe the pistol and told him to shoot Kruppert with it.

To give the reader an idea of the cause we shall have to go back a few weeks, and state that Kruppert told certain persons that he had caught Jonathan Belt in the act of adultery. Belt hearing of this tried to make him contradict his statement, but failed. Since that time Kruppert has been threatened with death if he did not leave the country. He has been threatened with sum'mary vengeance at the hands of the Klan, but has stood his ground, and his life has nearly paid for his bravery.

Judge Taylor issued writs against Jonathan Belt, Ellis Monroe, W^illiam Monroe and Lucinda Monroe, but who will serve them ?

7

50

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

SHOOTING AFFRAY.

Mrs. Elizabeth Dossett, widow of J. H. Dossett, shot and probably mortally wounded George Miller last Wednesday. Miller was cultivating a part of the Dossett farm back of Cave- in-Rock, and his wife and Mrs. Dossett quarrelled about a cucum- ber patch, and Mrs. Dossett struck her. Miller's wife went to where he was gearing up the t^am and told him what had hap- pened, and he went to the house and commenced a quarrel with Mrs. Dossett, when she struck him with the broom. He wrenched the broom out of her hands and tried to get both of her hands into one of his, when she jerked loose from him, and retreating into her room, snatched up a shotgun and fired, the charge taking effect in his lungs. He is hardly expected to recover. Mrs. Dossett came to town and gave herself up.

ASSASSINATION IN HARDIN COUNTY. Argus Journal.

Hardin County is now afflicted with organizations similar to those that cursed Williamson a few years ago, and the people are in much turmoil over it. There are three bands, armed and at enmity towards each other. The origin of the situation appears to have been a murder committed to get a witness out of the way, a combination seeming necessary to the assassins to prevent the ferreting out of the murderers. The man murdered was an inoffensive German in good circumstances. Two of the three factions organized, seem to be purely for defensive purposes against the third, which is terrorizing the country. If this dreaded band makes many more demonstrations the other two are likely to get after it and produce much bloodshed. Leading citizens who are standing up for law and order, are living con- stantly in apprehension of assassination. The local paper nobly performs its duly in the emei'gency, but the editor evidently thinks he is in a precarious situation. A culmination of the trouble is likely to come soon, and people need not be surprised to hear of a series of murders, perpetrated in rapid succession, in Hardin County soon.

HARDIN COUNTY. From the Shawnee I^ocal Record, Friday, July iS, 1879.

Cave-in-Rock, 111., July 9, 1879.- — Editor Record : As my trial is to commence next Monday at Shawneetown, it seems my enemies have fliooded your paper and others with a series of the vilest slanders and most wicked and baseless falsehoods, in the hope of prejudicing the minds of the people of Gallatin County against me, I solemnly assert here that I am not guilty of the offense for which I am to be tried ; that what I did was in my own necessary self defense — to save my own life, which, at the time was being assailed with great violence ; and I ask the peo- ple of Gallatin County to suspend their judgment in the case until they hear the evidence from the lips of the witnesses in court, when they will be satisfied that my action was in my own self defense, and that I am not the inhuman monster my enemies

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELl. 5I

have painted me. In this I am only asking what the law freely accords me — the presumption of innocence until guilt is proven. I desire ( and it is my right, as it is the right of all men accused of crime ) to be tried by sworn testimony, in open court, when I can meet the witnesses face to face, when I can have the unprejudiced judgment of twelve unbiased men upon the testi- mony, rather than by vituperation, inuendo, falsehood, slander, and ridiculous rumors scattered through the newspapers immedi- ately preceding my trial in court, by known enemies, who are hounding on my trail and seeking my destruction.

I desire, however, through your columns to call attention to a few of the shameless and miserable falsehoods published against me in a letter written by an enemy of mine, a citizen of Hardin County, to the Louisville Courier-Journal, and published in your issue of last week. The coward who signs himself X, says, " He ( Belt ) was an officer in the Forty-eighth Kentucky ( Federal ) Infantry, and soon won a first-class reputation as a horse thief."

This is a dark and cowardly falsehood, as Jo Robinett, one of your citizens, and a member of my command, will readily tes- tify. I could refer to a number of others who were with me and who were brave soldiers, if I thought it necessary.

" X " further says :

"A soldier of the Regiment w^ho knew a good deal about Belt's crookedness, was found dead and scalped one morning."

Now mark the lies : No soldier of my regiment or com- mand was ever found dead and scalped ! I never saw any soldier living or dead that was scalped in my life ! ! Never knew such a soldier! Now for the facts: There was a soldier, so I w^as informed, utterly unknown to me, who belonged to the regular Army, and whom I never saw or knew, that was killed and scalped at Bowling Green, Ky., for his money, and Elisha T. Oldham, now a citizen of Hardin County, and a member of the Oldham family who are persecuting me to-day, and two others of my company were arrested for the murder and turned over to the civil authorities, and who were retained in prison until after the war was over, and until long after my company had been mustered out of the service. James A. Lowry, editor Hardin Gazette, who has been making such vicious attacks upon me, knows the above to be true as gospel, and all the members of my company know the same facts.

" X " further says :

" Several years since a man named Dorris w^hipped Belt in a fight at Elizabethtown. Dorris a short time afterward was assassinated at his own house in Gallatin county. Belt was in- dicted, proved an alibi, and escaped."

The only thing true in the above is that Dorris was cruelly, and in cold blood, assassinated at his own house near Equality, in 1870, by some desperate midnight assassin. It is false that I was ever indicted for the crime. I was arrested simply because he had lived in my neighborhood before, and we had quarreled. I

52

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

had an examination before ex-Judge Robert D. Pearce, at Equal- ity, and the people having failed to produce an iota of evidence against me or even the breath of a suspicion, and it appearing on the trial that I was eighteen or twenty miles away at the time the fatal shot was fired, I was discharged, Judge Pearce giving me voluntarily the following certificate:

" This is to certify that Logan Belt was arrested and had an examination before me on the 27th day of February, 1870, for the murder of Samuel H. Dorris, and that there was not the slightest evidence against the said Belt, but to the contrary Belt proved positivel}^ that he was in Hardin county, some 18 or 30 miles from Equality, at the time said Dorris was shot. February 28th, 1870. R. D. Pearce, J. P."

" I certify that the above statement by R. D. Pearce, is correct. Alfred Smith, Constable of Gallatin County."

Thus falls to the ground this vile slander hawked through the newspapers to injure me in the approaching trial.

The anonvmous correspondent X has a great amount of slush hashed up about the Belts being organized into a Ku-Klux- Klan, all of which is infamously false, and has no foundation in truth ; and the writer hereof has proposed time and again to his enemies that if they would produce one single respectaljle witness that he (Belt) or any of his friends had been seen in Hardin county, either day or night, under arms or in disguise, or in a band together for any purpose, that he would then admit there was some foundation for such rumors ; but no such witness has been nor can be produced, and these anonymous scribblers well know it.

On the other hand I have proposed to prove, not only by one but dozens of honorable, high minded men, that my enemies are banded together with shot guns and pistols in numbers from six to eighteen in one gang, not a friend of mine with them ; that they roam the county both night and day, carrying terror and demoralization to the quiet and peaceable citizens of Hardin county.

Why is it, my fellow-citizens, that myself and my friends suflfer continuously from poisoned dogs, poisoned horses, burnt fences, burnt houses and all such devilment too tedious to men- tion, while no one can point to a single one of this gang who have ever been injured to the amount of one cent, either in person or property ? Echo answers : Why is it ?

I will give a reward of one hundred dollars for any reliable proof that myself or any of my friends have ever left any threatening letters at any place, seeking to drive any persons away from their homes.

That such letters have been written and sent, I do not deny. I have received such letters myself, and can show one now in my possession, which I have retained, and perhaps fortunate I did so, for the one found in the papers of the poor, unfortunate, murdered Hambrink, is in the same handwriting as the one re- ceived by myself. The letter to me warned me to do certain

THE 1.IFE OF I.OGAN BELT. 53

things if I wished to enjoy hfe and property in Harchn County, and was signed " ReguUitors."

The edi'Or of the Hardin Gazette, though an avowed enemy of mine, w\' de pubHshing the infamous X article, recoils from its false, slanderous and reckless charges, and says editorially:

" We do not wish the impression to go out that all the Belts in this county ai'e bad and lawless men. for many of them are as good citizens as we have, peaceable, industrious, law-abiding, minding their own business and having no difficulties with anv one. * * * With these corrections we give the article (" X ") to the people as a matter of news."

No one knows better than this editor that the X article was conceived in inequity and born in corruption. He knows its statements are as false as hell itself. He knows the object of the author was by slander, falsehood and abuse, to so poison the minds of the people of Gallatin County that it would be impossi- ble for me to receive a fair and impartial trial. He knows the article has been spread broad cast over Gallatin and Hardin counties, so that the slime of the slanderer should do its deadly- work before the facts could be elicited on a fair and impartial trial before a jury.

But, Mr." editor, I thank God that :

" Truth crushed to earth will rise again ; The eternal years of God are hers ; But error wounded writhes in pain. And dies amid her worshippers. "

I feel, sir, and I think I know that the sober judgment of the people will not be swerved from right, truth and justice by the wicked venom of the anonymous slanderer, but they will judge of me and my actions as all men should be judged by the irrefragable truth as it will be developed from the mouths of the witnesses on the trial of my cause.

No honorable man should ask for more ; no honorable man should be content with less. Logan Belt.

We have but little comment to make upon the foregoing " appeal " of " Lieut." Belt. He says ; " I desire, however, through your columns to call attention to a few of the shameless and miserable falsehoods published about me in a letter written by an enemy of mine in Hardin County to the Louisville-Courier Journal, and published in the papers of your county. " Belt evidently does not know what he is talking about, and so we propose to give him a little gratuitous information, by which he may possibly profit. We have learned that the Courier-journal- article was not written by " an enemy in Hardin County," not even by a citizen of Hardin County. It was written by an occa- sional correspondent of the Courier-Journal who was present during the famous " Ku Klux " trial, and heard the facts from the mouths of witnesses and creditable citizens. He had been previously acquainted, however, with Belt's doings and chai'acter in Kentucky. If there was a single citizen of the entire county

54 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

who knew that such a pubhcation was going- to oe made before it appeared, we do not know it ; and if Belt knew who wrote that article he would not use such language as the coward who signs himself " ' X ' " says, etc. No ; Belt "would not dare to face that man and use language unfit for one gentleman to use toward another. But we leave Belt and " X " to settle these matters, as we have no interest in them whatever, and proceed to notice the statement of Belt that a man killed at Bowling Green, Ky., was scalped, and that it was the only one he ever heard of being scalped in his life. In this, Belt has the usual bad luck in telling the truth, which attends most of his other statements. He knows that man was not scalped, but had been struck on the head with a rock, and he also knows that the parties he mentions were arrested on suspicion, simply because they were seen drunk together the evening before. Belt knows that Lewis Franklin was shot and scalped near Princeton, Ky., — and Belt knows more.

The " Lieutenant " further says : "James A. Lowry, editor of the Hardin Gazette, who has been making such vicious attacks upon me, knows the above to be true as gospel, and all the mem- bers of my company know the same facts." We refer to the above statement because there are twenty or thirty members of the " Lieutenant's " company vs'ho are readers of the Gazette, and we ask them to refresh their memories in regard to the matter.

In regard to the Don-is assassination we do not desire at present to make any statement whatever. The matter has been talked of for nearly ten years among the people of the upper part of the county, and nothing the editor of the Gazette, or Belt either, could say, would change their minds about who assassin- ated Dorris. Clay, the man w^ho stopped with Belt awhile before the assassination may be found, in which case we may have something to sa}^ upon the subject.

There is one point in Belt's letter to which we desire to call particular attention, as it may prove to be the clue by which the murderer of Luke Hambrink may yet be brought to justice. He says : ' I have received such letters myself, and can show one now in my possession, which I have retained, and perhaps it was fortunate I did so, for the one found in the papers of the poor, unfortunate murdered Hambrink is in the same hand writing of the one received by mj'self, etc." It may be so ; it probably is so, and " thereby hangs a tale. "

We do not wish to waste time and space commenting further upon his letter. If it is good we have no wish to detract from its merit ; if it is bad we would not add to his weight of guilt.

There is one thing, however, that we will say to Belt and to the people. We are not responsible for the exposure, trial, and subsequent indictment of the conspirators who have struck such terror to the hearts of the people. We are not to blame for any one of the many charges of crime against Belt. On the other

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

55

hand we have neglected a solemn duty to the people and have had nothing to say whatever during all these long years of Belt's crimes and crookedness, until the " last straw which breaks the camel's back " was laid on in the shape of this hellish conspiracy. Then, and not until then, did we essay to show up their crimes and warn the people of the danger likely to result from their felonious organization.

Belt may be acquitted of the charge of murder in the Galla- tin Circuit Court this week. Indeed, it would be strange if he did not, after having the license he has had shown him by the public officers. But whether he is convicted or acquitted, he stands charged before the bar of public opinion with heinous crimes, which time will never efface, and the people would rather have him let his last crime be the last one, and in future if he has his lot cast in our midst, live as an honest and law-abiding man should live ; and if he can not make amends for the mischief he has done, he can at least resolve to add nothing new to the cata- logue of his crimes.

THE DUTCHMAN AND THE BELTS.

The Kruppert assassination case, like all the others in that direction, is becoming complicated or mixed up. Since Krup- pert was shot he has been scouting about most of his time, and last Saturday evening he was in town and met The. Belt, a son of Jonathan Belt, the man who hired Monroe lo kill Kruppert. The. Belt beckoned Charley Kruppert into the hall of the McFarlan brick, and told him that he had heard that he had a pistol supposed to be his fathers, and that he wanted to look at it. The Dutchman unsuspectedly handed It over, antl The., instead of looking at it, slipped it into his pocket. Charley demanded its return. The. swore he'd keep it, whereupon the Dutchman knocked him down and took it away from him. Just as he was getting out at the door, Joe Layoff, another desperado, covered him with his pistol and ordered him to " give up Belt's pistol," but instead of doing this he brought it to bear on Joe's cranium, with the remark, " I don't haf to." Joe retreated in good order and the Duchman got clear of them, but he lost the writ against Belt and the Monroes in the melee. Monday morn- ing the State's attorney had another warrant issued from, before Esq. John Jackson, leaving out Jonathan Belt, and gave it to Constable Carr to serve. Judge Taylor, when he came down to his office Monday morning, issued a duplicate writ for Jonathan Belt alid the Monroes, but it now turns up missing. Taylor says he will issue a third, but it is no use. We are now willing to bet all our interest in O'Neal's watermelon crop that Belt will never be arrested, and that none of them will ever be punished for this dastardly attempt to murder. The Dutchman is trying to sell out to get away, and it is the best thing he can do, as he will get no protection here. It is hard to be run off like Sol. Parker was, but it is better than being made a target of. If we were not afraid we should feel constrained to ask, like the Detroit Dutch- man, " Veil vat next ! "

/

A Hardin County Picture as Presented by the Chicago Times of July 17th, 1879.

CHAPTER V.

ELL ON THE OHIO.— A "Times" reporter discovers it in the vicinity of Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County, Illinois. It was established by Ford, the prototype of the latter- day Bender, assisted by Ledbetter and Murrell, and has been maintained by the Belts and Oldhams, who murder but do not steal. Logan Belt, an affable desperado, and his brother Jonathan, a pious ruffian. After six months an indictment is found, and witness-killing becomes the leading industry. Two members of a murderous cabal turn state's evidence, and disclose its secrets. Carpet-bags full of pistols and skiff-loads of guns prove w^eighty evidence in court. The leader of one of the gangs at last arraigned on a charge of murder. Some of the local offi- cers alleged to be either cowards or sympathizers. From our own reporter.

DARK DEEDS OF OLD. A REIGN OF TERRORISM.

Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Ills., July 14. — There exists in one portion of this county a condition bordering on barbarism. Two or three factions waging war on one another have brought about a reign of terrorism in the county, and have so far intimi- dated the citizens of neighboring counties that they, almost with- out exception, fear to say anything, less they fall under the wrath of the fighting parties. Murders have been committed ; bands of armed men have gone riding about the country by night, freightening people almost out of their lives ; property has been burned or otherwise destroyed ; stock has been poisoned ; peace- able citizens, suspected of knowing too much, or for other reasons become odious, have been warned to leave and have fled in alarm for their lives, while those who did not leave have been shot ; and a state of affairs terrible almost beyond understanding, has existed for years. At times the disorder has been quiescent, again it has burst out, and it has alternately lapsed and relapsed as occasion caused it to do so. Excitement is just now at a fever heat over the trial for murder of the leader of one of the factions, and perhaps the most notorious despei'ado of them all, which trial begins to-day, in Shawneetown, Gallatin county, under a change of venue.

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 57

Tlie average reader will be hardly able to accept the asser- tion that such a condition of things can exist in the enlightened and civilized .State of Illinois, or, granting that it does exist, to understand why he has never heard of it. His first deduction will be that if society is in such a condition anywhere, it must be in the extreme

SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE STATE,

At the very bottom of Egvpt. In this he is right. Cairo is in Alexander county, and Hardin is the fourth county east on the Ohio river, and is within one or two counties of the Indiana state line. Within its sacred borders has never trespassed either a rail- way or a telegraph line, and thus it happens that what occurs in its limits seldom reaches the outside world. Its only means of communication with the rest of humanity is by boat on the Ohio river, or by wagon from Shawneetown, over twenty-six miles of as horrible up-and-down mountainous roads as are to be found anywhere. It is as isolated as if it were in Alaska. That the reader may comprehend how the present state of affairs came about, he ought to go back in history nearly seventy years.

Ever since Illinois was settled — and this portion was invaded bv the whites in very earl}' days — the southern tier of counties has been the resort and home of criminal and desperate characters, and Hardin county, and that part of Kentucky immediately op- posite Hardin countv, was the centre of the class. Seven miles alio\ c here is a natural phenomenon known as Cave-in-Rock. As the traveler on a steamboat passes the point he sees on the Illinois side a large arched doorway about eight feet high in the side of an immense rock. This doorway is the entrance to a

CAVE IN THE ROCK.

The ca\e runs back about one hundred feet, and is as high as an ordinary room. The township in which it is situated is called Ca\e-in-Rock, and it is to-day in this vicinity that the desperate characters live. The cave ])layed an important part in the early criminal history of the State, having been for a long time the den of a notorious gang of counterfeiters, that flooded the western country with spurious money, and having been also the constant headcjuarters and refuge of horse-thieves, river pirates, murderers and other dangerous men. It is now unused, except when an occasional picnicing party takes possession of it.

Not far from Cave-in-Rock is Ford's Ferry, which gets its name from a man who was one of the noted criminals of pioneer history. He lived on the Kentucky side about two miles above Cave-in-Rock, and was ostensibly a farmer, owning a large tract of land. He also kept a hotel, which is to this day

THOUGHT OF WITH HORROR

By those who knew of it. Ford was always surrounded by a gang of desperate men, highwavmen and murderers, such as Ledbetter, Schause and others, and, while nothing was ever

s

58 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BEI,!.

proved 011 him, he was looked upon as ecjual to his companions in guilt. He was a robber of flatboats, and of emigrants. JDead bodies were found near his house, and isolated and freshlf made graves were discovered in that neighborliood. Men were know n to start West with a little money, to locate, and were never after heard of Their friends would inquire, follow tnem to Fold's. and there loose all traces of them. It was one of hishaliits to cut down trees and obstruct the road to rival ferries, until the owners would be compelled to quit and leave, thinking retaliation only a means of provoking death. But Ford brought on hini'^elf the l^enalty for his lawlessness. An old feud existed between him and the father-in-law of a man named Simpson, and Ford, killed his enemy. Simpson gathered a crowd of friends, and \vent armed to Ford's house for the purpt)se of killing him. Tliey found him on the Illinois side loading a boat. He knew at once why they had come, begged for his life, and appealed for protec- tion to one of their number, Jonathan Brown by name. Brown w^as touched by the appeal, and interceded for the terrified mur- derer. The plea was so far successful that the crowd waited two or three hours, but when darkness came, they took him t)ut and

SHOT HIM DEAD,

When he was begging hardest to be spared. It is said that none of the crowd proper did the shooting, but that Simpson compelled his negro to do the deed. This was about the year 1S35. -^'^ old gentleman who knew Ford very well, told me to-day, that he once heard Ford narrate how Ford's son obtained so much land from Ford. " By G — d," said Ford, " my boys are as game as any in the West. One of them brought me a deed of the laud, held a cocked pistol to my head and told me to sign, or die. I signed." Ford's sons and daughters inherited from him a large fortune, and they are now very respectable people, living in Cald- well county, Kentucky, while a grandson keeps a large grocery house in Cincinnati.

Another noted criminal was Ledbetter, a companion antl helper of Ford. He was a highwayman, river pirate and mur- derer. One of his victims was avenged, in that sufHcient e\i- dence was found to convict him. He was tried at Golconda, under a change of venue, and hung.

Ford, Ledbetter, Chause and others were a terror to the dis- trict, but a greater one was John A. Murrell, probably the most

NOTORIOUS AND DESPERATE HIGHWAYMAN

And murderer that ever infested these parts. He used to "oper- ate " all the way between Ford's Ferry and New Orleans. " Fol- lowing the trail " was his favorite occupation. River transporta- tion in those days was by flatboat. The flatboatmen went to New Orleans, sold their cargo and boat, and walked back to their homes or rode horseback, taking alw^ays the same trail. jNIurrell made it a business to waylay and kill for the sake of robbing. He carried on his depredations for about ten years, until 1830,

THE LIFE OF LOGAX BELl, 59

when he was captured, convicted and sent to tlie penitentiary at Nasliville on a life sentence.

These and such men as these made Cave-in-Rock their head- quarters nftv years ago, and the locahty has been one of bad repute ever since. And not without reason. It has been infested, more or less, with horse-thieves and desperate characters con- stantlv. Din^ing the war it was at times filled with such men.

From instances like this it seems as if localities as well as jiersons hatl the power of heredity, and that the spirit of crimi- nalit\ , once attached to a place, descended from tjeneration to generation. Or. as if the state could lie compared with the bod\ . A man may be in apparently good health, and yet have on him an ulcerous sore which docs not spread much, but refuses to heal. Notwithstanding the fact that the component parts of the frame are constantly changing, ami that the entire body is periodically renewed, the ulcer remains, the old elements infecting the new whicli take their place, and the disease continuing in the same place year after year. vSuch, for example, is a cancer. Hardin County is the cancerous part of the State. As the old criminals died ofl' new ones, sometimes related to the old, but frecpiently not at all related, took their place, and the lawlessness continued. The law-abiding people wdio live here have been always used to it. They were born and reared with it around them, and so much do they take it as a matter of course that they seldom think of publishing it in the newspapers. And this is another reason why the outside world has never heard more than a bare rumor of it.

TWO MUKDEROITS FAMILIES.

The piesent condition of affairs differs from the lawlessness in Williamson County some years since in many important par- ticulars. The men in Williamson County were self-confessed outlaws ; thev were ilesperadoes, marauders, thieves and murder- ers, making war openly on society. There were but two parties, societ}' anil the desperadoes, and the two were struggling for the supremacy. In this county the notorious men are desperadoes, bullies, fighting men, but they are not marauders. They commit murder, but they do not steal. There are several fattions, of which two are the most prominent, and are the only ones men- tioned now. These two- are the Belts and the Oldhams. The Belts consist of Logan Belt, the most noted of them all, and the one whose trial for murder begins here to-day; Jonathan Belt, H. J. Belt, James Belt and .-Vrthur Belt. Sortie of them, as Logan, Jonathan and II. J., are men of 4:^ or 50 years old, and have grown-up sons and daughters. These Belts, with their sons and their friends, make up a clan which is variously estimated at from twenty to fifty men. They are all farmers.

The Oldhams are also farmers, and live about Cave-in-Rock. There arc Thomas Oldh.am, Jesse Oldham, John Oldham, and the Lord onl}- knows ho\y man}- more, but the}- number probably about the same as the Belts. Now, neither of these factions is made up of robbers. The two clans pimply hate one another.

6o THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

There is l)ad blood between them ; the feud has lasted many years ; men have been shot or shot at on one, and perhaps both, sides ; they have been warned to leave the country, their stock has been poisoned and their property burned, and the community thereby more or less terrified. Neither side is making war on society directly. They have warred on one another, to vent their anger, instead of appealing to the courts. Lately, however, the Oldhams have been invoking the law entirely, and have not been very defiant.

THE NIGHT RIDING

Has not been for the purpose of robbery, but to intimidate the other side. So great is the terror of the simple-minded farming community in that district that many of the people have their cows milked, their horses put up, and their houses locked bv dark, and after that they will not venture out. If a stranger riding through the country by night should go to a farm-house to inquire the road, he would probably receive no response from within. The occupant would be afraid to open the door, lest he might find outside a man with a rifle to shoot him down. All this terror seems to exist, however, on account of the Belts. The men who complain of the terrorism are all anti-15elt men. The Oldham — the word is pronounced as if it were spelled Odum — the Oldham faction and that part of respectable society which is an adherent to neither faction, but nevertheless has more fear of the Belts than of the Oldhams, know^ that there is a reign of terrorism in the rural districts of Hardin County, but the Belt men alj den}' it. They say they are all law^-abiding citizens. Logan Belt defies any man to prove that he was ever out night-riding. And the faction generally denv the theory of terrorism in the county. I am inclined to think myself that a stranger would be entirely safe in riding through that countrv alone at night. I do not think he would be molested. But the mer^^bers of either faction are not so willing to undertake it.

From the representations which are made

LOGAN BELT

Is a man about five feet eight inches high, with a magnificent physique, blue eyes, light complexion, of fine appearance, pos- sessed of a fair common-school education, somewhat learned in criminal law, very polite in his manner, an excellent talker, and above all a man of unquestioned and determined bravery. Those who know him say that he is far above the average of farmers in personal appeal ance, in conversational powers and in aft'ability. He is extremely courteous, will take you by the hand, sit down and talk in the most agreeable manner, and every one says that he is the last man in the world you would suspect of being a desperado, lie has a wonderful personal magnetism, and is a man of consid- erable influence in his neighborhood and among his friends. The trouble seems to be that he is always in trouble — although many say that he is not quarrelsome — and he is a fighter, and instead of

THK 1-IFE OF I.OCAN BKI/I'. f) 1

appealin<i;- to the courts to settle his troiililes, he has always settled them himself In \ iolent means. He will not, it is said, strike a man in the dark or behind his back, but he has followers who will, and some of the stories told of him do not represent him as being so entirely chivalrous. His friends — and he has many, or at least he has law-abiding acquaintances who. utterly condemning his ways, still like him personally — say that his style is to go to a man whom he does not like and tell the man just what he dislikes, and the man soon learns that the best thing is to settle the matter — nor as an enemy. Belt is revengeful and persistent to the last degree.

OLDJONATIIAX P.EI.T,

His brother, and a man who figures conspicuously in all the troubles, is also a brave man, but he difters from Logan, in that Logan has the appearance of a gentleman, while Jonathan is a self-evident rufiian. He is the pious man of the gang. The Belts are all Baptists of the devoutest kind, but Jonathan is a preacher, and a superintendent of a Sunday school. He prays with great unction and talks of his "acceptance by Christ.'" It is related of him that recently when he was preaching near Cave-in-Rock, some of his congregation became altogether irreverent in their conduct. He stepped down from the pulpit, gave the mockers a sound drubbing, and then resumed his discourse. He is an illus- trious and persistent disciple of that theological school which in- sists upon sahation, not by works but by faith, whose members declare that good works go for naught, that future happiness is attained only by faith in Jesus ; the class that, conscious of having no good works to save themselves by, aflect to attain heaven on an easy and patent process by a formula of believing in something that can not have any relation to good conduct. Jonathan Belt would be horrified at the blasphemy which denies the deity of Jesus, but he would not scruple to kill his eneni}- on sight.

Not all of the Belts are desperadoes. Many of them are quiet, orderly citizens, and honorable, upright men. But those who belong to the gang are desperadoes, and the friends who fill up the group are tricky and cowardl}- as men ever get to be. Logan Belt has a wonderful influence over them, and is their leader by a process of natural selection, being by far the bravest, shrewdest, and the most gentlemanly one among them. He is generally in the background, but his wishes determine the actions of his men.

THE OLDHAMS *

Are, I am told, a low, trifling set. Some of thein may be respect- able men, just as some of the Belts are ; but the members who are giving character to this trouble seem, in spite of all that can be said in their favor, to be mean and contemptible in their modes of life, are ignorant and unscrupulous, and they ai-e in everj^ way the inferiors of the Belts. So far as is known, they have never committed any depredations or murders, but they are quarrelsome, great fighters, always in trouble, always settling their difficulties

62 THE LiFE OF LOtJAN BELT.

bv brute force. With two such famihes Hving together it is buj^ natural that bad bhxnl should arise. y^

IT IS A NATURAL LAW /

That to divide ignorant men bv anv lines makes them enemies. If it be a national line the}' are national enemies ; if a religious line, religious enemies ; if a political line, political enemies ; or if a family line, family enemies. It is this fact which gives rise to the saving, " Politics makes strange bedfellows." To the ancient Greek ever^• man not a Grecian was a barbarian. To the Jew everv one not a Jew was a Gentile. The Christians and the Mohammedans each boast that their's is the most charitable and liberal religion in the world. They are liberal — to their kind ; to others thev have been as cruel as the devil could make them. So in society, men and women are faithful to their kind. Thie\'es do not steal from one another, any more than " honest " men do ; thev steal from the "high-toned" people, those not of their kind. The hoodlum will trust you and be like any other young man to vou, if he does not suspect that you are not above him, that you are not of his kind. Many cases of infidelity on the part of wi\es come from the fact that the wife finds her husband to belong to another class from herself, and infidelitv does not seem to her to be unfaithfulness, because it is the tendency of human nature to think treachery to one not (jf our class as not such a bad thing after all.

The earliest reliable information that I can get of Logan Belt dates back to the tin.e when he was fifteen years old, and was living with his father near where he now resides. They were from Kentucky. In the spring of 1S58, Logan

ASSAULTED A BOY WITH AX AXE,

And had to leave the country. He fled to the home of his brother, Jonathan, which was then on the Kentucky side, and remained there about two years. His father having smoothed the matter over, he returned and married a Miss Frale}', with whom he is still living.

Jonathan Belt was a L^nion man during the war, and lived, as has been said, in Kentucky. When Forest was in Marion, Kv., purchasing supplies for the Confederate arm}-, he heard of Belt and Belt's outspoken Unionism, and he wanted to see the man, and probal:)ly wanted to take Belt into custody. He took a few armed men and went to Belt's house. Belt heard the noise — it was night — stripped to the door and saw the Confederates. He w^ent into his house, reached down his gun, returned to the door, deliberately shot one of the men dead, and then fled through the back way amid a shower of bullets. He managed to escape, reached Ford's Ferry by morning, and came at once to his father's on this side of the river. This circumstance shows his bravery and daring.

The two brothers went into the Union army. A citizen of Hardin County, a bitter enemy of Logan Belt, has recently pub-

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 6t,

vlished a letter containiuj^' some grave charges against Belt, which are probably not true, but to which reference must be made t(j show how the clans are vilifying one another, and to enable the reader t(.' understand Logan Belt's letter published later on. lie says:

'•Belt was an officer in the Twenty-eight Federal (Kentnckv) infantry, and soon won a first-class reputation as a horse-thief. He 'pressed' more for himself than for the government. A sol- dier of the regiment, who knew a good deal about Belt's crooked- ness, was found dead and scalped early one morning. The Lulian who plav this trick on the unsuspecting soldier has never been discovered."

OlflGINAL KILLI.NGS A BELT AND A GIBSO.V KILLED.

The two returned from the war in a year or so. in iS6-^ Huston Belt was shot and killed by Capt. Frank Gibson in a quarrel in this place. Within a few weeks Jonathan Belt met (iil^son ritling on the public highway between two men, and he shot Gibson dead There were as witnesses ot the deed only these two men, but soon after one of them was, I am told, assas- sinated b\' an unknown hand, and the other witness, for some mysterious reason, left the country. Jonathan Belt remained in the countiy, but refused, it is said, to be arrested. The grand jury indicted him, the court met, the trial was for some reason postponed, but when it finally came on Belt and his friends came armed into court. He never surrendered himself; he was never arrested. He came into court in the morning, and went away at night unmolested. He pleaded not guilty ; there was no evidence against him, and he was acquitted. Up to this time the Belts had been but little known, but now they began to grow in dis- repute.

THE GKINDSTAFF .MUKDKK.

To show the condition of society in that neighborhood. I get outside the Belt and Oldham factions into a third, and notice as cold-blooded and deliberate a murder as was ever perpetrated. Samuel Grindstafl' was a minei, living in the southern portion of Gallatin county, the one next above Hardin. He was a drunken, worthless fellow brutal and desperate, but the leader of a faction that had existed more in spirit than in name. He had married a young girl, the step-daughter of Jesse Davis, a Southern refugee. The event about to be narrated occurred in 1870. Mrs. Grind- staff, unable to endure longer the brutal ill-treatment of her hus- band, had left him and taken refuge with Davis. Grindstaff saw Davis and demanded that Davis turn her away from his home so as to throw her on Gi"indstafi""s mercy and compel her to return to him. Davis told Grindstaff that the girl had come home because she was unable to live with him longer, and that she shoidd have a refuge with Davis until Grindstaff agreed to treat her better. Grindstaff was not satisfied, but left reiterating his demand. When the next week the wife was at her step-father's, and Grind-

64 THE I.IFE OF LOGAN BELT. I

Staff wanted to know if Davis was going to make her leave, ' Davis repeated his former statement, whereupon Grindstati' di>>^ a revolver and again made the inquiry. Davis became frig^rfened and said that if Grindstaft' could go to the house and persuade the girl to leave he might have her. That would not suit Grind- staft". He wanted Davis to drive her away so as to compel her to return to his house and be at his mercy, and he grew impera- tive for an answer, yes or no. Davis saw at once that he was about to be murdered, and he began backing off, begging Grind- staft^ not to slioot, and saying he could have the girl if he could persuade her to go with him. They continue to converse until Davis had backed away about twenty feet, GrindstafF following him step by step. Grindstafl' was accompanied by a notorious desperado named Kilgore, a man who ought to have been in the penitentiary long ago. At last Kilgore said; " Grindstaff, do what you are going to do." Grindstaff took deliberate aim, and, while the gray-haired okl man was begging hardest for his life, Grindstafl' shot him down dead. It was as atrocious, merciless and unprovoked a murder as was ever committed in this part of the vState, and the jury sentenced the murderer to thirty-three years in the penitentiary. Gov. Beveredge commuted the term to twenty years, which, with the good behavior allowance, will let him out in eleven years. Only a lew weeks ago the fiend had the audacity to apply to Gov. Cullom for a pardon, but the Gov- ernor refused to grant it. Efforts will no doubt be made with succeeding Governors to get him out, but the people in this part of the State will watch him closely, and if any Governor does ever dare to lessen his punishment any more it will cost him almost the entire lower tier of counties at a later election, so indignant are the people over the case. Grindstaff' is a man of remarkable executive ability, and should he be released he woukl no doubt head as desperate a band of ruffians as ever infested this district, and might begin by killing his wife.

THE KILLING OF ARTHUK PRICE.

To return to the Belts : A man named Arthur Price had married a Miss Frailey, a sister of the woinan whom Logan Belt married. They did not live happily together, and Price was jealous of a man named Winders. Alexander Frailey, the wife's brother, sided with his sister. They quarreled bitterly, and finally one day, when Frailey had been at Winder's house, he met Price on the road and shot him. This was in 1S73. Frailev fled the country, and was gone two or three years before he was arrested. He was at last apprehended, but he pleaded not guilty, and it is said that Logan Belt managed to furnish the testnnony by which he was finally acquitted. Frailey has remained at home ever since, but recently he received notice to leave the country, and two weeks ago, last Saturday he departeil.

THE MURDER OF SAMUEL H. DORRLS.

Another terrible murder occurred several years since, which Logan Belt stigmatizes as a cruel, cold-blooded assassination, and

THE LIKE OV LOGAN BELT. 65

^yet niiie-tentlis of the men in Hardin and Gallatin counties can not be convinced otherwise than that he was the instigator of it, if he were not a principal. Samuel H. Dorris lived near Cave- in-Rock. and was a witness in a suit against Logan Belt. Belt subsequently accused him of swearing to a lie, and he and Belt had a fight and Belt was whipped. He soon found that life was not safe for him there, however, and he moved to Equality, a town back of Shawnee, in Gallatin county, to get out of Belt's way. About six months afterward, Dorris was called to his door, one night, by a man at the front gate, who began a conversation with him. After the exchange of a few words the discharge of a gun w^as heard, and Dorris fell back wounded, and died in a few minutes. Mrs. Dorris says that a man named Clay, who had been in Logan Belt's employment, was at Dorris' house that day and took dinner there, and she says that it was he who shot her husband. How she knows I have not been able to learn, but I hear that she says she recognized the man's voice. It was sus- pected at the time that Belt either did the shooting or was along, and he was arrested. He proved an alibi, however, by two wit- nesses, and was discharged. The two witnesses were two des- peradoes, Maribles and Bill Corlew, who swore that on that night Belt was at Marible's house, a place some ten miles this side of Equality, and on the way from Equality to Cave-in-Rock, Belt's home. Corlew has since proven his character as a witness by running away with another man's wife. The alibi theory is weakened by a statement, which is made often in conversation, that a young man named Thompson, says that about 9 a. m. on the da\' after the shooting he met Logan Belt and Clay at a point half way between Equality and Marible's place, riding together and coming from the direction of Equality. While there is no proof, therefore, that Logan Belt is the guilty man, nearly every- body believes firmly that he knows something about it.

ANOTHER OF THE BELTS KILLED.

The character of the Belts had now become so notorious that people were on their guard more, and one of them suffered death when he least expected it. He was a nephew of the Belts, and was named William Huges. He came to Shawneetown July 4, 1S76, during a celebration, grew very much intoxicated, and dis- turbed the peace in a violent manner. The citizens were afraid of him, and the officers were defied by him. The officers sum- moned a posse and went to arrest him, when he started to leave town. They followed on after him, and frequently commanded him to stop, but he refused to obey. Finally one of the posse, Capt. Parker B. Filler, fired at him and killed him. Filler was arrested for manslaughter and locked up, and the jail was guarded by a large number of his friends, who were certain that the Belts would come up and kill him. But thev never attempted it, although it is said that they organized for that purpose. Filler was tried and convicted. The jury wanted to acquit him, but it could not. He thought that he had a right to shoot, but he

66 THE I.IFE OF LOGAN BELT.

had none. Huges had been guilty of no criminal offense, and Filler was not an officer and had no warrant. Accordingly ^e juiy made the sentence as light as it could, and fixed the jjiinish- ment at one year in the penitentiary. Immediately after Filler was sentenced the State's attorney went to Springfield, well backed up with influence, and procured his pardon, so that he served but one month in the prison. He now lives in Shawnee- town.

THE KILLING OF " DOC " OLDHAM.

But the worst aftair of all, the one which has been the seed of more crimes than all the others put together, was the shooting of "Doc" Oldham by Logan Belt. The reader begins to under- stand what kind of a family the Belts are. But when he considers that the Oldhams are just about as bad, but are not half so smart, he can readily see that there was little prospect for peace in a community where both dwelt. There had long been bad blood between the two families, although Logan Belt says that ujd to that time he and " Doc " Oldham had been on excellent terms. This statement is, however, hardly borne out by the circum- stances. In the month of December, 1S75, Thomas Oldham, who had purchased a house, celebrated the event by giving a dance, to which he charged an admission fee of twenty-five cents. " Doc " Oldham, his brother, was door-tender. Logan Belt and another man were on their way past the house, or else they went there expressly for the purpose — both stories are told — and they forced their way in without paying. " Doc " Oldham was as ready to fight as Belt was, and he at once went at him. Just what ensued is not definitely known. Some say that Oldham knocked Belt down with a pair of knuckles ; others say it was Oldham who was knocked down, and that he was afterward shot. Belt's story, as told to me by his attorney, is that "• Doc " Oldham was superintending the dance. Belt and his friends entered the house, and stood around quietly for some time. Fresently Oldham, who had been drinking, remarked in Belt's hearing that there were some persons present who had not paid, and that he was going to put them out. Belt, who was friendly to Oldham, according to his own story, thought that Oldham was jesting, and he said jestingly in reply, "'Doc!' I haven't paid. You are not going to put me out, are you ? " " Yes, by God," Oldham replied, " I will put you out." Then they got into a quarrel, and Oldham struck Belt in the face with a pair of knuckles and knocked him down. Belt jumped up, grabbed Oldham, ran him back over a chair, knocked him down, kicked him, and then started for the door. Oldham sprang up and started for him again, when Belt called out, "Gentlemen, keep him ofl' of me ; he is coming at me with knuckles." To this Oldham replied, " Yes, by God, I have got them, and I know how to use them." He continued to advance on Belt until within five feet of him. Belt warned him to stop or he would

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 67

be shot. He continued to advance, when Belt drew a revolver anc shot him, the wound producing death.

KILLING OFF WITNESSES.

The i-esults of this affair have been terrible. Belt was arrested and an indictment was found. After a preliminary hearing he was released on $3,000 bail. His trial has been pending this long for the reason that he has continued it from time to time. Bv a change of venue it has been transferred to Gallatin count}', and it is to begin there to-dav. Belt's plea will be self-defense. Since the shooting attacks have been made, say the friends of the prosecution, upon all of the leading witnesses in the case, in the eftbrt to frighten them away from the countiy or to end their lives. The most notable of these was the attack on an old man named G. W. Covert, who was present at the dance and saw the killing. In April, 1877, he and Bill Frailey, the brother-in-law of Belt, was walking along the road, when a man suddenly appeared from concealment and said :

"dead men tell no TALES.''

Covert recognized the voice as Logan Belt's and he immediately sprang behind Frailey. The latter thereby received the discharge of the gun in his bowels and body, and Covert started down hill on a run. Frailey fell, dangerously hurt, and Belt fired several more shots at Covert, one of which, he thinks, cut oft' his finger. At any rate he lost a finger at that time. Belt is now under indictment for the attack, and Covert has since been hiding between courts to keep out of the way of the Belts. I have heard it stated, though, on what authority I do not know, that another and later attack has been made on him, without injuring him.

Logan Belt's story of this aftair makes it altogether different. He says that attempts on his life were in progress, and that one night some person tried, but without success, to draw him out of his house by kicking his horses in the stable and causing them to make a noise. Readers of the Times will be reminded by this of the same device of the murderer of Clark, at LaGrange, to draw the victim from the house. It seems to be a favorite scheme with rural criminals. On the following Sunday, Belt was stand- ing, he says, in his orchard, when he heard a gun fired, and he heard Frailey call for help. He was afraid to go unarmed to Frailey's assistance, and he ran to his house for a gun. On coming out he saw Frailev, who came hurrving up badlv wounded, but by whom he did not know. Belt says he thinks it was one of the Oldhams, or their friends, who did the shooting.

LOGAN belt's LIFE IS ATTEMPTED.

Logan Belt says that on another occasion he himself was fired at by two concealed persons. He was riding on horseback on his way to his home, when suddenly two guns were fired at him from opposite sides of the road and at the same moment. The road passed between two trees, and the assassins fired, he

68 THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT.

says, as he came between the trees. His horse jumped and threw him, but he sprang to his feet, leaped upon a ledge of rock aji-d ran around the side of the mountain, escaping injury from' the succeeding shots which quickly followed him. He does nr/t know who fired the shots, but he thinks they were from the Oldham boys.

LETTERS OF WARNING.

Almost without number have been sent to different men, both sides receiving them, and a few of them may not be uninteresting to the reader. This one was mailed from Salem, Ky., to the two persons addressed :

At home in all places, but more especially in Hardin county, Illinois — Gents : As we desire to be friendly with all parties, we want in this epistle to warn you in the event of your attempts on our friend, Logan Belt, we, the citizens of the above-named place, are fully determined to hold all of you to a strict accounta- bility for any threat or attempt to injure our much-esteemed friend, a Lieutenant in the army during our last war. We, the aforesaid citizens of the above-named place, are full}- aware of the dastardly attacks made by the "Odum" stock on account of our Lieutenant merelv discharging his duty and sending one to his long home, who richly merited all he got, and, as this letter means business, 3'ou had all better beware of us ;|; Ku-Klux ^, as we have eaten nothing of any consequence since the battle of Shiloh, and we are hungry ! Beware ! Beware of us fellows, as the leaves are now on the trees, and as we are nothing but shadows and fearfully hungry, and as we are desirous of acting in ku-klux style, we warn you to beware of the infuriated friends of Lieut. Belt, who are and have been watching his welfare for some time. We are merely across the brink, but all attention should anything occur to our esteemed friend, and be sure to accept of this as from a friend, as we do not wish to send any of you to Shut-Eve town unless some depredation is committed upon the person or property of our friend. Now as you and a considerable number of your dirty acquaintances are mean enough to do anything on this earth, be sure to take this as a memento .nori. And now farewell. From your only friend on this lower footstool. A Citizen of the Arove Place.

Addressed : Thos. and Jesse Odum. .

Another notice was as follows :

Lickport Headquarters — To Jack Oldham and the balance of the Oldhams' clan : You have two weeks to clear out, or

hell will be your doom.

The Oldhams have been so thoroughly terrified that they have not left their homes for weeks. They have feared to go to Elizabethtown lest they might be shot on the way, and to furnish evidence in the forthcoming trial to the prosecuting attorneys they have sent their wives, and the latter have ridden into the village on horsback daily and alone.

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. t>^

Ben Burton went to his stable one morning and found his mare's tail shingled and this notice tied to it :

This is to hint the way you see your mare's tail is the what I will do for vour head, and you had better get away inside of to months, or i will put a hole through you.

W. C. and gess the rest God dam you.

Burton also found tacked to his gate a card informing him that he must leave within ten days or sufler death.

Robert Hasty, Thomas Oldham and Luke Hambrink also received notices to quit the country. All, or nearly all, these notices were sent to persons on the anti-Belt side. Belt says he and his friends have received notices also, but none of them have ever been made public, except, perhaps, in the case of the one sent to Frailey.

'On the night of April i, just passed, occurred

THE MURDER OF LUKE HAMBRINK,

A deed which has been pregnant with yet more startling results than even the Oldham shooting. Each side charges the other with the murder, and each has a fair showing for a case. Ham- brink was an old German farmer who resided in that neighbor- hood. He lived unhappily with his wife, and the latter, instead of sleeping in the house proper, slept in a small house- apart from the main house. Two of the Oldhams had married Hambrink's daughters, but the family relations all around were unpleasant. Hambrink had some money, $3,500, which he kept in the house when he was at home, but which he took with him whenever he went away, so afraid was he that he might be robbed. He was contemplating either a trip or a return to Germany, and this was hastened by his fear. But so great did the latter become that he finally went to A. K. Lowe, a merchant in Shawneetown, and told Lowe that he heard he was to be robbed by his relatives, and asked what he should do. He did not state which of his relatives he feared, but Mr. Lowe subsequently learned that the two sons-in-law were the cause of his alarm. Mr. Lowe advised him to put his money in the bank, receive for it a certificate of deposit, and show the certificate around, thus tacitly informing the would-be robbers that the object of their cupidity was beyond their reach. Hambrink accepted Mr. Lowe's advice, and went to the bank of Hon. J. McKav Peeples and told Mr. Peeples that he feared he was going to be killed by his relations for his money. It will be observed that while he told Mr. Lowe he feared robbery, he told Mr. Peebles he feared a violent death as well, and from the hands of his relatives at that. He asked for a certificate of deposit for $3,c^oo, and received it. I have these facts directly from Mr. Lowe and Mr. Peebles, so that there is no mistake about them. Within a month the old man was assassinated by night, and his murderer has never been discovered. When his body was found it was lying in front of the door of the house in which his wife sleeps, and around the house were

yo THE LIFE OF l.OGAN BELT.

two or three distinct trails of blood, showing that he had run around the building once at least, and perhaps two or three times, and that he had finally fallen in front of the door.

THE MOST TERRIFIC EXCITEMENT

Spread immediately through the county, and almost all eyes turned toward the Belts, simply for the reason that such a terror of them exists, and so many bloody deeds have been laid to their charge, that whenever anything of the kind occurs the citizens instinctively say " the Belts ! " and shiver with horror. And it soon came out that there was ground for the belief. The Belts had long been at enmity with Hambrink, and Hambrink said more than a year ago to the editor of the Hardin Gazette, " I am going to Germany, for, if I stay here, Logan Belt will kill me." Hambrink was also a witness in the Oldham shooting affair, which of itself was enough to convince the people of Hardin county that Logan Belt would kill him if it could be done without the author being discovered. The Belts felt keenly the instantaneous manner in which the whole county turned to them in suspicion and dread, and they at once did all they could to throw off from themselves the public conviction, and to fasten it on the Oldhams. They denied that Hambrink was an import- ant witness against Logan Belt, and as proof of this cited — what was a fact — that Hambrink was not among the original wit- nesses, but that his name had been added to a subsequent list long after the case began to form. They declared it to be their belief that Hambrink was killed by his relatives to keep him, and more particularly his money, from going to Germany ; that by killing him his relatives intended to get his property through the administrator, which, it must in truth be said, they are now in a fair way to do. And the Belts further charge that the Old- hams tried to obstruct the exposure of the murderer by refusing to allow the testimony of witnesses to go before the grand jury, and by sending the witnesses out of the country when necessary. The other side deny this, and say that the witnesses were not important and have gone of their own accord.

AN OATH-BOUND CLAN.

But no such excitement has ever been known in this county as that which broke out the first of June, when the proofs were ofiered that there existed among the Belts an organization with signs, grips, pass-words, masked men and arms, the purpose being to intimidate and murder. The evidence was so conclusive that even the Belts had to acknowledge the organization, but they assigned to it altogether a difl'erent purpose. The citizens refused, however, to believe them, and Elizabethtown and the county went almost wild with terror. The Hardin Gazette called on the authorities to summon the militia and crush out the band by force, and very many of the best citizens thought such a course necessary, and for a few wrecks afi'airs had a terrible appearance. The way the facts came out was this:

THE LIFE OF LOGAN BELT. 7 1

There lived in this county two men named Frank Hardin^ and B. Z. Jenkins, who had been from time to time soHcited, they say, by Logan Belt to join an organization of which he spoke, and finally, on the night of May 7 last, they did join. What they were then let into so horrified them that they turned State's evidence, and

AN EXPLOSION FOLLOWED.

Warrants were issued May 30 for the arrest of the following :

Logan Belt, Jonathan Belt, H. J. ]5elt, James Belt, Arthur Belt, Elisha Morris, son-in-law of Jonathan Belt, Wm. Frailey, brother-in-law of Logan Belt; George Ratlifte, nephew of the Belts; Frank Justice, Tom Leeper, Robert Sheridan, W. D. White, I5ill Lyons and Henry Holloman.

The Sherift" refused flatly to serve the warrants, giving as the reason his opinion that the trial was simply to create public prejudice against the Belts so as to injure Logan Belt in his mur- der trial. The statements made by the anti-Belt people as to the .SheritT are various. Some say that he is a coward, others that he is a' scoundrel and in sympathy with the Belts. Still others say that there was undoubtedly an understanding between him- self and the Belts that what did occur should be for effect. When the alleged conspirators heard that the warrants were out, and that the Sheriff' would not serve them, all but the last two named gave themselves up to J. F.