This is an account of the Barnard/Sutton problem. Contains excerpts from William P. Grohse Collection of newspaper articles, as provided to descendant Pamela Barnard by descendant Paula Sutton, as well as other newspaper printings 19 Jan 1889 Another Cold Blooded Murder in Hancock County.On Saturday evening as Henley Sutton was riding along a public road in Hancock County in company with friends, he was shot off his horse by a party of men who were lying in ambush and after he had fallen to the ground, a man by the name of John Barnard ran out from his hiding place and shot his victim two or three times through the body and head with a Winchester rifle. Bad feelings is said to have been existing between Sutton and the Barnard Brothers for some time past and that each part had been carrying arms and looking for the other, as Sutton was carrying a Winchester rifle on his saddle at the time of being killed. A brother of John Barnard and probably some friends were in hiding with him when he fired on Sutton. We understand that both of the Barnards have been captured and are now in custody.Henley Sutton was about 45 years of age and has been a revenue officer, but at the time of his death was running a distillery in the county. He was a very prominent man, and worth from five to six thousand dollars. He was married and leaves a family. Later, we learn from parties from Hancock who were in town yesterday that seven persons have been arrested, charged with being implicated in the above killing. 30 Oct 1889: Knoxville Journal The Barnard Boys. Five men sentenced to be executed on the gallows in Hancock County, Tennessee, December 23.Sentence of the Court Pronounced by Judge Caldwell, Judge Turney Dissents.The Supreme Court decided the Barnard case yesterday morning. The opinion, an elaborately written one was delivered by Judge Caldwell. Judge Turned dissented. The opinion as delivered affirms the decision of the lower court, and on Monday, 23 December, the five Barnard boys, unless executive clemency interferes, will pay the death penalty for the murder of Henley Sutton. The killing occurred in Hancock County last January. The prisoners, Big John Barnard, Sr., Anderson and Elisha and cousins John Barnard and Clint Barnard were present in the courtroom when the verdict was rendered. As Judge Caldwell sealed their fate, not a muscle of their bodies moved. Not even a change of countenance was perceptible in the five men. They took the affair in the same light as they did the shooting, in cold blood, of Henley Sutton.After the opinion was delivered, the prisoners were marched back to the jail and locked up to await transportation to the scene of their crime in Hancock County.The case has attracted widespread attention, due perhaps from the fact the never in the history of America, with the exceptions of the anarchists execution, have five men been condemned to death for the same crime. For weeks past, it has been expected that an opinion in the case would be delivered by the Supreme Court, every day. The high tribunal did not act, however, until every fact was fully determined. Relatives of the Barnards have been in Knoxville for weeks past awaiting the outcome. The aged father of Big John and the other boys has been almost a constant attendant at court. The result will probably kill him. The fact that led up the murder, for which the five men are to die, was a feud of long standing between Sutton and Big John which grew out of a lawsuit between the two over a piece of land Sutton was a well to do farmer, but a notorious and desperate man as well. One afternoon in January last, Sutton left Sneedville in Hancock County for his home, some twelve miles north of that place. He was riding horseback and was alone. Just before he reached his house he was shot and killed. John Barnard, Sr., who is known as Big John was supposed to have committed the murder and was arrested on the charge. Then following the arrest of his two brothers, Anderson and Elisha and cousins, John Barnard, Jr., and Clint Barnard. The case came up for hearing in the May term of court and attracted widespread attention. Judge Brown presided and both the prosecution and defense were represented by able counsel. It was charged that the Barnards were lying in wait for Sutton, and that Big John fired the fatal shot from ambush. The defense claimed, however, that Sutton and Barnard met at a place in the public road where it would have been impossible for the Barnards to have secreted themselves, and that no such action on their part was ever considered. Sutton was carrying a Winchester rifle and so was Big John. Both raised their guns at the same time but Barnard was a little faster of the two and he shot Sutton through the heart, the ball passing entirely through his body. Suttons rifle was found to have been cocked. It was also claimed that Sutton had threatened Big Johns life and intended killing him on sight and of course Big John prepared himself. Both men had been armed for several days before the fatal moment, each with a finger on the trigger, ready for an emergency. It was further claimed that the four other Barnards had nothing to do with the killing and were not in company with Big John for any purpose.The opinion of the Supreme Court, however, which had gone over the case carefully, does not sustain the latter claim.Sutton, whom the Barnards killed, had a reputation of his own. He killed his father several years ago before his own death. It is also said that he attempted to murder his brother.The Barnards have been confined in the Knox County jail ever since the convening of the Supreme Court. Their attorneys, Messers. Gillenwaters and Shields did not leave a stone unturned for the commutation of the sentence, without avail, however.Strenuous efforts will be made to have the sentence commuted through Governor Taylor, and the friends of the condemned will labor to this end unceasingly. It is thought, by those who are in any position to state, that Governor Taylor will refuse to interfere, and will permit the law to take its course. 27 Nov 1889 The Barnards Will Not HangGovernor Taylor Interferes and Gives Two of Them Their Freedom and Lets Big John Off With 10 Years and Anderson 5 Years.Governor did on last Thursday, with it was generally expected he would do, commuted the sentence of the five Barnard boys, who were sentenced to hang at Sneedville, Hancock County on December 23rd. The Governor pardoned absolutely John, Jr., and Elisha; commuted to 5 years in the penitentiary the sentences of Clint and Anderson Barnard and to ten years that of Big John Barnard. The Governor was rather more liberal than some thought he would be, while some severely condemn his actions, and others uphold him and say he did exactly right. 1 Jan 1890: Decatur Daily Dispatch “Tennessee Murderers Camped in the Mountains Fully Armed”Knoxville, Tenn. Jan. 1 At the last term of the Tennessee Supreme Court held in Knoxville five Barnards were convicted of the murder of Henry Sutton and sentenced to be hanged. The case attracted wide attention, especially as in a few weeks all were pardoned by the Governor of this State. A few days ago three of the Barnards and Bill Fugate, who boasts of having killed six men, went to the house of Sampson Williams, father in law of the murdered man, with the determination of killing him. Fortunately he was away. On his return he fled to Sneedville, the county seat for protection. The Barnards are camping at a distillery near Williams house with homicidal intent. The county officials are taking steps to arrest them, and this will lead certainly to a bloody battle. The scene of the trouble is miles away from a telegraph line and in the heart of the Cumberland Mountains. 16 Sep 1891: Freeborn County StandardJohn Barnard, of Hancock county, Tenn., was fatally shot by Tilman Sutton, who in turn was immediately shot and killed by a brother of Barnard.
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