Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1902 — NINE DEAD IN BATTLE. [ARTICLE]

NINE DEAD IN BATTLE.

Kentucky Posse and Mountaineers Have Fierce Fight. Nine men were killed and many others hurt in a fight between a sheriff's posse and a band of mountaineers at Lee Turner’s “Quarter House,” three miles from Mlddlesboro, Ky., Wednesday evening. The “Quarter House” was a saloon built of logs, and it was strougly fortified and defended by twenty-two armed mountaineers. Over sixty men were engaged in the conflict. The sheriff’s posse numbered forty and they were opposed by twen-ty-two mountaineers. Last month Turner, who is known and feared as a desperate character, had some mulea and other goods levied on for debt and a few nights ago he, with others, went to Virginia, where the property was taken, secured what wag formerly his end returned to the “Quarter House.” Deputy Sheriff Will Thompson summoned a posse for the purpose of arresting Turner at his saloon. Turner had heard that an attempt would be made to arrest him and he and bis men, fifteen in number, gave the officers a warm reception. When demand was made for surrender Turner’s men fired a volley, killing Deputy Cecil instantly. The posse avenged his death by killing his slayer. Then the firing became general. It la reported that Lee Turner has called fifty of his friends together Io avenge the death of his companions and to resist any attempt which may be toade by the officers to arrest him or any members of the mountaineers who took part in the fight