Homicides in Owsley County
Submitted by Harley T. Bowling
The following is taken from a list combining information given to James Bowman by Ike Gabbard of Ricetown and James Bowman’s additions. This is combined with dates and Information obtained from "The Owsley County News."
Deceased | Accused | Area | Date | Notes |
| Moore, John | John Reece | Booneville | 5-12-1851 | Previously recorded as Joseph Reese, but the Moore boys were killed in self-defense by John Reece. See the Summer/Fall OCHGS newsletter and this 1851 newspaper article |
| Moore, William | John Reece | Booneville | 5-12-1851 | See above |
| Cawood, Moses | Union Soldiers | Fish Trap | Civil War | - |
| Rebel Soldier | John Gilbert | South Fork | Civil War | - |
| Clark, William | Confederates | Drowning Creek Hill | Civil War | - |
| Helton, Carr | - | Upper Buffalo | 1880’s | - |
| Helton, Grover | James Fox | - | 1880’s | - |
| Davidson, William | Clint Hall | Cow Creek | - | - |
| Callahan, Luther | J.B. “Buck” Bowling | Cow Creek | 1883 | - |
| Baker, Robert | Abijah B. Gabbard | Indian Creek | 1880’s | - |
| Dean, John | - | Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Gay, James | Wm. Gabbard et al | Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Bowman, Henry | John & Tempy Bowman | Endee | - | - |
| Walker, Elhanal (Negro) | - | Sugar Camp | - | - |
| Moore, Lewis | Abel Wilson | Cow Creek | - | - |
| Moore, James | Abel Wilson | Cow Creek | - | - |
| Minter, Zeke (Negro) | John O. Crawford (Negro) | Sugar Camp | - | - |
| Allen, John | Jess Neeley | Endee | - | - |
| Peters, Delaney | Robert or Daniel Allen | Endee | - | - |
| Hyden, Allen | - | Scoville | - | - |
| Rose, James | Alonzo Lonnie Cawood | Meadow Creek | 1903 | - |
| Roberts, Jerry | Lee Hall | Cow Creek | 12-29-1912 | - |
| Cole, Lewis | Price Moore | Indian Creek | 1904 | - |
| Murrell, Green | Harvey Rice | Indian Creek | 1905 | - |
| Wilson, Walker | William Osborne | Meadow Creek | - | - |
| Taylor, Clarence | Gabbard & Baker | Cow Creek | - | - |
| Adams, Jarvis | Price Richardson | Indian Creek | 1926 | - |
| Smith, John | Cale Turner | Upper Cow Creek | - | - |
| Combs, Elbert | Robert W. Woods | Crane Fork | 5-28-1928 | - |
| Hall, Andrew | Clifton Combs | At S.A. Sandlin Store on Cow Creek | - | - |
| Frost, William | Roscoe Combs | Grassy Branch, Indian Creek | 7-9-1932 | - |
| Campbell, Glenn | William P. McIntosh | R.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Noble, John | Simon McIntosh | L.F. Cow Creek | 4-15-1940 | - |
| Noble, John | Clay Harvey | Sugar Camp | - | - |
| Gay, Carlo | Richard Herald | Booneville | 1926 | - |
| Combs, George | John Newman | Vincent | - | - |
| Smith, Elmo | By his son ___Smith | Sugar Camp | 1958 | - |
| Murrell, Jeptha, Jr. | Elmo Smith | Near Booneville on the river | - | - |
| Dooley, Alex | Andy Venable | Vincent | - | - |
| Day, William | Andy Venable | Island Creek | - | Received Life Sentence on 3-10-1936 |
| Barrett, James (Clay) | Albert Gum | Scoville | 2-13-1933 | - |
| Barrett, William | Lester Cecil | Island Creek | 5-2-1942 | - |
| Bowman, John | Robert Barrett | Near Booneville | - | - |
| Williams (girl child) | Woodrow Murrell | Fish Trap on river | - | - |
| Smith, Splint | Samuel Smith | Sugar Camp | - | - |
| Smith, Willie “Crook” | Cheech Rader | Chestnut Gap | 9-9-1938 | Was shot 4 times then hit over the head |
| Gabbard, Sidney | Albert McIntosh | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Moore, Sidney | Constable Wilson Judd | - | - | - |
| Campbell, Thomas | Marcus Moore | Near Milltown, South Booneville | - | - |
| Gabbard, Clyde (constable) | Hatton & Hartsock | Wild Dog | - | - |
| Bowling, Jerry | Dan “Mucker” Baker | Buckhorn | 2-10-1913 | - |
| Strong, ____ | Jed Price | Sturgeon | - | - |
| Maddon, John | Marion Short | Sturgeon | 11-4-1884 | Killed by Ambush - BTF |
| Becknell, Oscar | Owsley county Deputy Sheriff Tom Pendergrass | Sturgeon | 7-12-1940 | Killed each other in shootout |
| Tom Pendergrass | Oscar Becknell | Sturgeon | 7-12-1940 | Killed each other in shootout |
| Robison, Tee | Carter Pierson | Sturgeon | - | - |
| Crank, Chester | Lindon & Al Wilson | Sturgeon | - | - |
| Clark, Pinkerton | John Simmons | - | - | - |
| Baker, Andrew | - | - | 1834 | - |
| Hughes, Campbell/td> | Berry Jackson | Ida May, KY | - | - |
| Gum, Minnie, age 67 | Mack Gum | - | 8-29-1952 | - |
| Gum, Lucille Moore, 24 | Mack Gum | - | 8-29-1952 | - |
| Gum, Mack | Self | - | 8-29-1952 | Committed sucicide after killing wife and daughter-in-law |
| Peters, Hubert | Quinton Becknell | - | - | - |
| Morris, Theophilus | Pealy Short | Island Creek | - | - |
| Peters, Ance | Claeb Reynolds | - | 1938 | - |
| Gabbard, Mitchell | Charlie Clark | - | - | - |
| Wilson, Tom | John Estep | Meadow Creek | - | - |
| Stamper, John | - | Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Gabbard, Wilson “Dock” | - | Upper Buffalo | 6-9-1912 | - |
| Vires, Ansel | William Gabbard | Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Vires, Amanda | William Gabbard | Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Gilbert, “Berry” Clabe | Sidney Gabbard | Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Caudill, Clint | Wiley Bowling | Lerose | 6-16-1907 | Killed each other in shootout |
| Bowling, Wiley | Clint Caudill | Lerose | 6-16-1907 | Killed each other in shootout |
| Reynolds, William | Floyd Wilder | Indian Creek | - | - |
| Caudill, Lee | Elisha Baker | Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Combs, Elbert | Robert Woods or Will Frost or Andy Hall | Cow Creek | 5-28-1928 | - |
| Hall, Andrew | Elbert Combs | Cow Creek | - | - |
| Frost, William | Roscoe Combs | Grassy Branch | 7-9-1932 | - |
| Wilder, Floyd | Hobart Wilder | Indian Creek | - | - |
| Smith, John | Pleas Mosley et al | Smith Fork, Cow Creek | 12-25-1930 | - |
| Smith, Martha | Pleas Mosley et al | Smith Fork, Cow Creek | 12-25-1930 | - |
| Herald, Hint | Pleas Mosley et al | Smith Fork, Cow Creek | 12-25-1930 | - |
| Mosley, John | - | Smith Fork, Cow Creek | 12-25-1920 | - |
| Wilson, Richard | Robert Johnson et al | Cow Creek | - | - |
| Richardson, Harlan | Price Richardson (brother) | Indian Creek | 12-28-1933 | - |
| Kilearney, Patrick | Elmer Brandenburg | Booneville | - | - |
| Cavins, Charley | Andy Chadwell et al | Island Creek | - | - |
| Bowman, Elmer | Robert Bowman | Island Creek | - | - |
| Bowman, Frank | Gran Sawyer | Sugar Camp | - | - |
| Brewer, Wm. H. | Frank Callahan & Smith | Sturgeon | - | - |
| Barrett, Charley, age 34 | Snowden Johnson | Meadow Creek | 2-14-1936 | - |
| Murrell, Absalom | Patrick Holland | Meadow Creek | - | - |
| Murrell, Jeptha | Green Bowman | Chestnut Gap | - | - |
| Young, Steve | Bruce Peters | In Booneville | - | - |
| Clark, Hampton | Elisha Moore | In Booneville | - | - |
| Turner, Laura | Tom Neeley? | Sturgeon Creek | - | - |
| Moore, Hargis | Clint Hall | Lower Buffalo | - | - |
| McIntosh, Albert | Brown Gabbard et al | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Mosley, _____ | Brown Gabbard et al | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Gilbert, Clabe | Sidney Gabbard et al | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Gilbert, Anse | Sidney Gabbard et al | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Harris, Gilbert | Grover Gabbard et al (bunty Mike’s son) | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Gilbert, Farmer | Raleigh Campbell | R.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Brock, Joseph | Walker Gabbard | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Allen, Bessie | Robert Sandlin | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Sandlin, Sonny | Ance Baker | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Hurst, John | Ance Conrad (step-son) | Sturgeon | 4-23-1937 | - |
| Turner, Price | Greeley Baker et al | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Barrett, James | Elisha Gabbard | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Irish Peddler | - | - | - | Robbed and Killed |
| Scott, George | _____Madden | - | - | - |
| Riley, Otto, age 30 | Douglas Gabbard | Meadow Creek | 11-12-1937 | - |
| Roberts, _____ | Dewey Caudill | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| McIntosh, Hiram | Ben McIntosh et al | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Bishop, _____ | Earl Johnson | L.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Gross, _____ | Arthur McIntosh | R.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Baker, Kenis | Arthur McIntosh | R.F. Upper Buffalo | - | - |
| Daniel, Claude | - | - | - | Disappeared from his home |
| Daniel, Wash, age 43 | See Notes | - | 6-18-1937 | Was killed from ambush. Ike Gabbard says Daniel was ambushed by Joe Bowling and others but this has been crossed out and Carl McIntosh was named instead of Joe Bowling. Five persons were indicted |
Deceased | Accused | Area | Newspaper Date | Notes |
| Johnson, Anderson (16) | Hugh Terry | Owsley | 6-27-1941 | - |
| Angel, Arco (21) | - | - | 8-25-1939 | - |
| Hurley, Gene of E. Bernstadt | Shot by Harvey Herald | Arnett | 5-5-1950 | - |
| Combs, George | - | - | 5-8-1942 | Shot 11 time from ambush and killed |
| Terry, Green | Richard Land & son Robert | - | 1-10-1941 | - |
| Crouch, Jesse (38) | Harrison Griffin | - | 6-23-1939 | - |
| Caudill, Jack | - | - | 4-28-1950 | Shot to death 5 Breathitt Co. & 1 Owsley resident accused |
| Bishop, James R. | Wilson Johnson | - | 5-23-1941 | - |
| Noble, John | - | - | 4-19-1940 | Shot & Killed |
| Brandenburg, Ned (17) | - | - | 7-3-1942 | Shot and killed from ambush |
| Noble, Owen | Clay Harvey | - | 12-20-1940 | - |
| Allen, Robert | - | - | 6-15-1951 | Of Lee county was discovered wired in sack, weighed with rocks in Kentucky River |
| McIntosh, Simon | - | - | 4-19-1940 | Shot 4 times by pistol and twice by shotgun |
| Lynch, Vance | John Wyatt | - | 7-7-1939 | - |
| Gumm, Carl | Wilton Price | - | 3-23-1951 | Price gets 21 year sentence on 3-30-1951 |
| Allen, Charles (23) | - | Ray Thomas Road house, Hazard | 7-13-1951 | - |
| Slone, Winfred | Hack Bowman | - | 4-8-1938 | - |
| Garrett, Wm.(63) | Lester Cecil | - | 5-8-1942 | - |
| Johnson, Sid | Dorsey Cole | - | 3-9-1934 | Cole sentenced to 8 years |
| Barger, Henry | Walter McIntosh | - | 7-29-1938 | McIntosh used an axe to kill Barger |
| Bishop, James Ray (32) | Wilson Johnson | - | 5-23-1941 | - |
| Caudell, John | - | - | 10-21-1938 | Shot & killed |
| Caudell, Jack | - | - | 4-28-1950 | Shot & killed |
| Cecil, Oakley | - | - | 2-20-1942 | Shot & killed |
| Combs, George | - | - | 5-8-1942 | From ambush |
| Coomer, Ova Lee (30) | - | - | 5-7-1937 | Shot & Killed |
| Durbin, Barlow | - | - | 5-27-1938 | Killed in fight |
| Gabbard, Sid (59) | - | - | 11-11-1938 | Killed in Owsley county election shootout |
| Mosley, Kelly (22) | - | - | 11-11-1938 | Killed in Owsley county election shootout |
| McIntosh, Albert (42) | - | - | 11-11-1938 | Killed in Owsley county election shootout |
| Gabbard, Brown | - | - | 11-11-1938 | Shot in chest & leg in election shootout |
| Harvey, James Hugh (44) | - | - | 3-11-1938 | Marshall of Booneville Died of self inflicted bullet wound to head |
| Horn, Wilburn (57) | - | - | 4-15-1938 | Dead from gunshot |
| Hyden, Judge E. C. (57) | Arthur Marshall | - | 11-25-1938 | - |
| Kilkarney, Michael P. | - | - | 7-6-1934 | Shot & Killed |
| McIntosh, Clay (61) Carl McIntosh | - | - | 1-6-1939 | - |
| McIntosh, Martha (23) Carl McIntosh | - | - | 1-6-1939 | - |
| McIntosh, Simon | Johnny Noble | - | 6-21-1940 | Died of wounds suffered in gun fight |
| Newman, Everett (50) | - | - | - | Dies from bullet wound |
| Peters, Anderson “Anse” (74) | - | - | 1-28-1938 | Died from bullet wound |
| Peters, Hubert (24) | - | - | 8-29-1938 | Died of knife wounds |
| Plowman, Duvall | - | - | 5-15-1936 | Shot & killed |
| Riley, Jimmy | Clay Moore | - | 9-2-1938 | - |
| Rose, Nelson | Greenberry Salley | - | 6-24-1938 | - |
| Sandlin, Mary | - | - | 3-3-1950 | Believed killed by father |
| Shepherd, Johnny | Mother of the son he had killed | Jackson Co. | 1-1-1937 | Killed in the courtroom |
| Shoemaker, Glenn (27) | Estill McQuinn | - | 4-23-1937 | - |
| Smith, Charles H. (42) | Executed by State | Eddyville | 7-21-1939 | Died in electric chair for decapitating a cellmate in prison and for killing Clayton Sloan |
| Sparks, Taylor (46) | J. D. Puckett | - | 8-12-1938 | - |
| Wilson, Nettie (38) | Self | - | 7-17-1942 | Killed herself with shotgun |
| Wilson, Richard | See note | - | 8-3-1934 | Was shot and killed at church service. Bob Everett and George Johnson arrested. Everett Johnson was sentenced to 21 years on 12-14-1934. |
| Brandenburg, Jake | M. S. Lovelace | - | 6-18-1937 | Sentenced to 5 years |
| Blount, Charles | John Mays, Lee county deputy sheriff | - | 5-27-1938 | Received life sentence on 11-4-1938 |
| Durbin, Barlow | John Mays, Lee county deputy sheriff | - | 5-27-1938 | Received life sentence on 11-4-1938 |
| Sandlin, Mary | Andy Sandlin (Father of Mary) | - | 3-3-1950 | - |
| Deaton, Wilson (Deputy) | Woodrow Salyer | Breathitt | 11-22-1940 | Sentenced to 15 years |
| Terry, Wise | Millard Spencer | - | 2-2-1934 | - |
| Allen, Charles | Ray Thomas | - | 7-31-1951 | - |
| Arnold, Charley | Lawrence Wilson | - | 3-8-1940 | Sentenced to 2 years |
