** Starling Columbus Renfrow** ** MURDER IN BUTLER & EDMONSON CO, KENTUCKY ** A FEUD IN EDMONSON COUNTY, KY Jim Tomes of this list sent me two newspaper articles on a feud that took place in Edmonson Co, KY. I will quote directly from the newspapers. The first article is from the Lexington Herald: ONE DEAD, TWO INJURED AFTER ATTACK ON HOME. Five Arrested After Feud Battle in Brownsville Trial Dates Set: BROWNSVILLE, Ky., May 30. (1922). Startling Renfro is dead, his sons, Lon and Herbert Renfro, possibly fatally wounded, his two other sons, Charlie and Fred Renfro, and his nephew, Eldon Parrish, are in jail today as a result of an attack on the home of William Tomes, near Big Reedy, this county, Sunday. Willie Tomes, charged with the murder of Startling Renfro, and Tomes father, Anderson Tomes, charged with the shooting of Renfros sons, also are under arrest. The Renfros and Parrish will have their examining trial Friday and the Tomes trial comes up Saturday. The trouble is alleged to have begun Saturday, when Lon Renfro and Willie Tomes had a difficulty in the road which ended in a fight. Renfro went home and, it is said, gathered his brothers, father and cousin, and went to Tomes house. They shot at the house and hurled stones until the front of the place began to cave in. Tomes wife and baby left by the back door. Tomes replied with a pistol and the elder Renfro fell dead, according to reports. In the meantime Anderson Tomes, hearing the shooting at his sons home, armed himself and went to the scene. He says the Renfros began to fire at him and he replied, wounding the two younger Renfros. The second article came from the Baltimore (MD) Sun, 31 My 1922, page 1: KENTUCKY FEUDIST KILLED IN BATTLE. Two Others Perhaps Mortally Wounded And Home Shattered By Gunfire. Brownsville, Ky., May 30 (Special). In a pitched battle fought last night near Big Reddy, Edmonson county, a house was demolished by gunfire and rocks, one man was killed, two wounded, perhaps mortally, and a woman and her baby escaped death by fleeing through a rear door when her ammunition was exhausted. Seven men have been arrested on charges of taking part in the conflict. The participants were members of the Renfro and Tomes faction, long-time enemies. Starling Renfro, father of four boys In the fight, was killed by fire from the home occupied by William Tomes and his wife and bby. Lou Renfro and Tomes previously had met in the road and exchanged words. Later Lon Renfro, accompanied by his father and three brothers, Charles, Fred and Herbert, armed themselves, went to Tomes house and called on him to come out. Tomes opened fire and, joined by his wife, succeeded in keeping the besiegers at bay until the building was demolished. Just before the structure collapsed Mrs. Tomes, finding her ammunition exhausted, seized her baby and fled through a rear door to the home of Anderson Tomes, father of her husband. She panted out her story, whereupon Anderson Tomes armed himself and started to his sons rescue. Upon his approach, it is claimed, the Renfros opened fire on him, which Anderson Tomes returned, wounding Lawrence and Herbert Renfro and putting the other brother to flight. The Tomes family escaped without injury. Sheriff D. W. Anderson made a posse, went to the scene and arrested the two Tomes, the four Renfros and Eldron Parrish, who is alleged to have accompanied them in their onslaught on the Tomes land. Now, I need the rest of the story! What happened at the trials? Who was charged or was the case ever heard? If you have any information, please write me privately! Sandi Gorin, Kentucky Colonel President, South Central KY Historical & Genealogical Society Sandis Website: This thread: [KENTUCKY-LEGENDS] A FEUD IN EDMONSON COUNTY, KY /KENTUCKY-LEGENDS/2013-06/ by Sandra K. Gorin *** PS. Stasling Columbus Renfrow, my Great-Grandpa Bonnie Parrish Deweese
Posted on: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 10:57:30 +0000