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The Bloody Vendetta

 

The leading families connected with this affair were those of Capt George W Sisney, composed of himself and his sons Winfield S, John and George W Jr; Capt George Bulliner, composed of himself and sons David, John, Monroe, George J and Emanuel; the Henderson family, composed of 3 brothers, William, Joseph W and James, and some of their sons; also the Crain family, composed of George F, Noah W, Warren, Marshall T and 2 cousins both named William J. Thomas Russell, Vincent Hinchcliff and others, hereafter mentioned, were also noted characters. It seems that the leaders of the two opposing forces in this terrible affair were the Sisney and Bulliner families. The other characters were the friends and assisstants respectively of these families. The first quarrel, however, did not take place directly between these families, but it ocurred over a game of crads between the Bulliners and Felix G Henderson, on the 04 Jul 1868, in a saloon one and a half miles east of Carbondale, resulting in a fight in which Henderson was severely hurt. In Sep following 3 ricks of hay belonging to Bulliner were burned, and a few days later his cotton-gin containing many thousand pounds of cotton was also burned. Suspicion naturally rested upron Henderson, but it is generally believed that the real incendiary was a former enemy of Bulliner, from TN. In 1872 Samuel Brethers raised a crop of oats on the farm of Capt Sisney, adjoining the Bulliner farm, and without moving the crop away he sold it, after it was threshed, to Sisney to pay the rent, and also sold it to David Bulliner to pay a debt, and then went to Texas. Bulliner replevied the oats from Sisney, but got beat in the trial. This was probably the beginning of the ill feeling between the Sisney and Bulliners.

The following April, David Buliner went to Sisney's blacksmith shop to settle with him, but they quarrelled about their accounts and Bulliner accused Sisney of "hard swearing" at the aforesaid trial about the oats, whereupon Sisney knocked him down with a shovel. Bulliner then went home and got his father, John Monroe, and a man by the name of Ward, and with them returned to Sisney's. The latter on seeing them coming retreated from the rear of his house with a Henry rifle in his hand. The Bulliner party fired on him and four shots took effect in his leg and thigh. At this instance Milton Black, who was working in a field near by, ran to the assistance of Sisney, and then the fight ended. The Bulliners and Black then carried Sisney to the house. They were all indicted in Sep following, and the four Bulliners and Sisney each fined $100. In 1872, Thomas Russell and John Bulliner were rivial suitors of a young lady who finally preferred the attentions of the latter, and thus created enmity between these two parties. The next scene brings in the Crain family, who were friends of the Bulliners. In Nov 1872, Marshal T Crain and John Sisney has a fight which resulted in a "drawn battle." And in Dec following a quarrel occured at Carterville , which created enmity between the Hendersons and Crains. The Crains being enemies of the Sisneys, the Hendersons now became allies of the Bulliners. In the same month the Carterville riot took place, which brought new characters to the arena. In this affair several knock-downs took place, but no one was killed. About 20 of the rioters were arrested on an information of the State Attorney, and al the Feb term, 1873, of the county court, they were all in Marion but the information was squashed and they all became free.

The quarrel between the actors continued, but without serious results, until 12 Dec 1873, when Capt George Bulliner started to Carbondale on horseback, on which occasion some of his enemies had concealed themselves by the wayside, and as he was riding along fired upon him from their ambush, shot him from his horse and then made their escape. Bulliner was soon found and carried to the nearest house, his sons were notified, and John reached the place just in time to hear his father say "turn me over and let me die." On being turned over he immediately expired. This was the first murder in the Vendetta. On the night of 27 mar 1874, Monroe and David Bulliner were on their way from church, and when about half a mile from home, were fired upon by concealed parties. They returned the fire and several shots were fired by both parties, one of which wounded Mrs Stancel, who was also on her way from church, and from the effects she recovered. The last shot fired by the assassins struck David Bulliner in the back, which caused his death that next morning. Before dying he declared that Thomas Russell and David Pleasant were his murderers. They were both arrested and brought to Marion for trial. The case against Pleasant was nolled, and he immediately left the county. Russell was tried, and for his defense he proved an alibi by five witnessess, and thus secured a release. A letter was sent to the sheriff from the State's attorney of Jackson Co, to hold Russell for the murder of George Bulliner, but the letter was not received until Russell had been released and taken his departure. Years afterward Russell was arrested, and tried in Jackson Co for the murder of Bulliner, and was sentenced to 50 years in the penitentiary.

 

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