Tutt-Everett War
Encyclopedia
The Tutt-Everett War, also called the Marion County War or the Tutt, King, Everett War (1844 - 1850) was a politically motivated feud
that took place in Marion County, Arkansas, during the politically charged era preceding the American Civil War
.
, and the Everett family, members of the Democratic Party
. The Everett family had originally moved to Arkansas
from Kentucky
, with John "Sim", Jesse and Bart Everett being three of the most powerful and influential men in the area within a short amount of time. The Tutt family, originally from Tennessee
and led by Hansford "Hamp" Tutt, were powerful and influential in Searcy County, Arkansas, and had been bitterly opposed to Marion and Searcy counties splitting into two separate counties. Another family, the Kings, also became involved in the feud, quickly aligning themselves with the Tutts due to that family being Whig Party members.
The first real violence took place during a political debate in Yellville, Arkansas
, which quickly went from arguing to an all out brawl. The fight became intense, and peaked when Tutt supporter Alfred Burnes struck John Everett in the head with a hoe. Thinking Everett had been killed, many fled the fight. However, John Everett survived, although having a severe head wound. For the next four years, there would be numerous fist fights and brawls resulting from heated arguments between the two factions.
, while Tutt supporter George Adams was elected as constable
, with both appointments heightening tensions. Everett supporter Jacob Stratton and Jesse Everett moved to Texas
that year, on business.
County Sheriff
Jesse Mooney, who had developed a tough reputation due to several clashes with local outlaw
s he had captured or (in at least two instances) killed, organized a posse
on July 4, 1849, intent on stopping the feud. That day, the biggest gunfight of the feud took place, with the Everetts having gathered in a building in downtown Yellville, across the street from a saloon where the Tutt faction were gathered.
Words passed, while Sheriff Mooney attempted to calm matters. Both factions, however, ignored any mediation, and a gunfight erupted between them, with Sheriff Mooney and his posse caught in between. The gunfight continued for the afternoon; after ammunition was expended, both factions rushed into the street and fought hand to hand. When it was over, Jack King, Bart Everett, Davis Tutt, Ben Tutt, and Lunsford Tutt all had been killed. John "Uncle Jacky" Hurst had been shot in the leg, having jumped between Sheriff Mooney and Tutt supporter S.W. Ferrall when the latter fired on the former. Several others were wounded, both by bullets and other objects. Dave Sinclair, who was suspected of having killed John Everett the previous year, fled, but Everett faction members tracked him down and killed him the following day, on July 5, 1849.
Jesse Everett, learning while in Texas of his brother Bart's death, returned to Arkansas to avenge him. Sheriff Mooney dispatched his son Tom to Little Rock, Arkansas
to appeal to Governor Thomas Drew
for help. Although it is definite that Tom Mooney reached Governor Drew, he disappeared on his return trip to Yellville; his horse was found, but his body never was. Governor Drew ordered a militia
organized in neighboring Carroll County, Arkansas. The militia relieved Sheriff Mooney of his duties and took over control of Yellville. Sheriff Mooney has often been disparaged for not stopping the bloodshed, but there is little indication that he would have been able to; at the time, it was difficult to find potential deputies in the area who were not aligned with one faction or the other.
Several members of the Everett faction were arrested and placed in jail, but the militia disbanded six weeks later, prompting other Everett supporters to break into the jail and free their friends. "Hamp" Tutt, fearing Jesse Everett, went into hiding, unsuccessfully: Everett shot and killed Tutt in September 1850. This death effectively ended the feud.
Aside from the "Flynn-Doran feud" in the 1880s, in Hot Springs, Arkansas
, which preceded the Hot Springs Gunfight
of 1899, this was the best known feud to have occurred in Arkansas. Davis Tutt
, who was a child during the feud and whose father played a major part in the feud for the Tutt faction, moved west following service in the Confederate Army, and became associated with gunman Wild Bill Hickok
. Hickok killed Tutt on July 21, 1865 in one of the more famous Old West gunfights.
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
that took place in Marion County, Arkansas, during the politically charged era preceding the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Background
The feud involved the Tutt family, members of the Whig PartyWhig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
, and the Everett family, members of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The Everett family had originally moved to Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, with John "Sim", Jesse and Bart Everett being three of the most powerful and influential men in the area within a short amount of time. The Tutt family, originally from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and led by Hansford "Hamp" Tutt, were powerful and influential in Searcy County, Arkansas, and had been bitterly opposed to Marion and Searcy counties splitting into two separate counties. Another family, the Kings, also became involved in the feud, quickly aligning themselves with the Tutts due to that family being Whig Party members.
The first real violence took place during a political debate in Yellville, Arkansas
Yellville, Arkansas
Yellville is a city in Marion County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,312 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Marion County.-History:...
, which quickly went from arguing to an all out brawl. The fight became intense, and peaked when Tutt supporter Alfred Burnes struck John Everett in the head with a hoe. Thinking Everett had been killed, many fled the fight. However, John Everett survived, although having a severe head wound. For the next four years, there would be numerous fist fights and brawls resulting from heated arguments between the two factions.
Violence increases, 1848-50
On October 9, 1848, the first gunfight took place as a result of the feud. That gunfight, taking place in downtown Yellville, involved several participants, and left John Everett dead. On October 11, 1848, the Everetts retaliated, shooting and killing "Old" William King and his son Lumis King. Billy King, son to William, and a friend known only as "Cherokee Bob", were wounded, but escaped. The two factions began attacking one another every month or so, often resulting in members shot and wounded, but with no recorded deaths. That year, Ewell Everett was elected to the position of judgeJudge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, while Tutt supporter George Adams was elected as constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
, with both appointments heightening tensions. Everett supporter Jacob Stratton and Jesse Everett moved to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
that year, on business.
County Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Jesse Mooney, who had developed a tough reputation due to several clashes with local outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
s he had captured or (in at least two instances) killed, organized a posse
Posse comitatus (common law)
Posse comitatus or sheriff's posse is the common-law or statute law authority of a county sheriff or other law officer to conscript any able-bodied males to assist him in keeping the peace or to pursue and arrest a felon, similar to the concept of the "hue and cry"...
on July 4, 1849, intent on stopping the feud. That day, the biggest gunfight of the feud took place, with the Everetts having gathered in a building in downtown Yellville, across the street from a saloon where the Tutt faction were gathered.
Words passed, while Sheriff Mooney attempted to calm matters. Both factions, however, ignored any mediation, and a gunfight erupted between them, with Sheriff Mooney and his posse caught in between. The gunfight continued for the afternoon; after ammunition was expended, both factions rushed into the street and fought hand to hand. When it was over, Jack King, Bart Everett, Davis Tutt, Ben Tutt, and Lunsford Tutt all had been killed. John "Uncle Jacky" Hurst had been shot in the leg, having jumped between Sheriff Mooney and Tutt supporter S.W. Ferrall when the latter fired on the former. Several others were wounded, both by bullets and other objects. Dave Sinclair, who was suspected of having killed John Everett the previous year, fled, but Everett faction members tracked him down and killed him the following day, on July 5, 1849.
Jesse Everett, learning while in Texas of his brother Bart's death, returned to Arkansas to avenge him. Sheriff Mooney dispatched his son Tom to Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
to appeal to Governor Thomas Drew
Thomas Stevenson Drew
Thomas Stevenson Drew was the third governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Though Drew was the third to be elected governor, he was the fourth in office because his predecessor, Samuel Adams, had served as acting governor during much of 1844, having gained the office through the previous...
for help. Although it is definite that Tom Mooney reached Governor Drew, he disappeared on his return trip to Yellville; his horse was found, but his body never was. Governor Drew ordered a militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
organized in neighboring Carroll County, Arkansas. The militia relieved Sheriff Mooney of his duties and took over control of Yellville. Sheriff Mooney has often been disparaged for not stopping the bloodshed, but there is little indication that he would have been able to; at the time, it was difficult to find potential deputies in the area who were not aligned with one faction or the other.
Several members of the Everett faction were arrested and placed in jail, but the militia disbanded six weeks later, prompting other Everett supporters to break into the jail and free their friends. "Hamp" Tutt, fearing Jesse Everett, went into hiding, unsuccessfully: Everett shot and killed Tutt in September 1850. This death effectively ended the feud.
Aside from the "Flynn-Doran feud" in the 1880s, in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
, which preceded the Hot Springs Gunfight
Hot Springs Gunfight
The Hot Springs Gunfight, or Hot Springs Shootout , was a gunbattle between two separate law enforcement agencies that occurred in Hot Springs, Arkansas during the Old West era in the United States. Despite being little known, it resulted in more deaths than the famed Gunfight at the O.K...
of 1899, this was the best known feud to have occurred in Arkansas. Davis Tutt
Wild Bill Hickok-Davis Tutt shootout
The Wild Bill Hickok–Davis Tutt shootout was a gunfight that occurred on July 21, 1865 in the town square of Springfield, Missouri between Wild Bill Hickok, and a local cowboy named Davis Tutt...
, who was a child during the feud and whose father played a major part in the feud for the Tutt faction, moved west following service in the Confederate Army, and became associated with gunman Wild Bill Hickok
Wild Bill Hickok
James Butler Hickok , better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West. His skills as a gunfighter and scout, along with his reputation as a lawman, provided the basis for his fame, although some of his exploits are fictionalized.Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach...
. Hickok killed Tutt on July 21, 1865 in one of the more famous Old West gunfights.