Attempt to Arrest Mooney

The Attempt to Arrest Kin Moony

Taken from Recollections of the Early Settlers of Montgomery County and Their Families

by W. G. Robertson, 1892

About the year 1836 political excitement was at fever heat in this county between the old Whig and Democratic parties. A man would not vote for a personal friend or brother of different political opinions. The militia of the county was well organized. The Generals, Colonels and Captains were elected by direct vote of the people, and during that summer there was a regimental muster held about nine miles south of the city, on the road leading to Troy. Col. Thomas Mastin was the commanding officer. He was a very prominent and popular man; he belonged to the Democratic party and was a leader of the same.

A gentleman by the name of Bush W. Bell and his two nephews, with a party of friends, went out from Montgomery to that muster and carried a tent with them. They were Whigs and very popular with their party. When the muster was over Col. Mastin went to the tent of the Bells by invitation, and soon afterwards he and Edward Bell got into a political dispute and fight, in which Bell stabbed and killed Mastin before their friends could separate them. Mastin was cut down in the full strength of manhood, surrounded by a host of friends and leaving a wife and two children.

This killing was not premeditated; there was no malice or unkind feeling existing between them before the difficulty; it was done in the heat of passion and without time for reflection. Bell went back to town and surrendered to Temp Reid, then sheriff of the county. He gave bond for his appearance at the next term of the Circuit Court to answer the charge of murder, and before the trial he and his friends employed the best legal talent to be found. Col. Thomas Williams of Mobile, who had the reputation of being the best criminal lawyer in the state, was employed as leading counsel, and at the trial Bell was acquitted.

The family and immediate friends of Mastin did all they could, legally, to secure Bell's conviction; but failing, and being good and law abiding men, they let the matter drop. But unfortunately the matter did not stop here. William Moony, with his family, resided about twenty miles southeast of the city. He was not in any manner related to the Mastins. He was a democrat and a man of high prejudice; he loved his friends and hated his enemies, and was a man of some prominence in his vicinity. His son Kinion, who was about the average young man of his day, rather popular with his associates, accused of no wrong doing, and of good moral character, took an active part in politics, and followed the fortunes of his father. As their political friend had been killed in a political fight, they, determined to avenge his death. It is not known whether the Bells had been informed of the intention of the Moonys or not, but when they met, near the old Montgomery Hall, a desperate and deadly fight took place, in which young Bush Bell killed William Moony and Kin Mooney killed Edward Bell (Mastin's slayer).

Bell had no family. His body was taken in charge by his friends, there being no undertakers in those days. Moony's body was carried home to his family. Bush Bell left the country and Kin Moony was sent to jail. In a few days Moony's friends made his bond and he was discharged and returned home to his family. In a short time after that a company muster was held at a place called Scoggins Hill, about one mile east of Robertson's X Roads. About noon Moony rode up and hitched his horse. He walked up to the crowd armed to the teeth. There was an old lady on the ground with a cake cart, and Moony took a position near that cart without speaking to anyone. After the muster was over, a man by the name of Allister Owens went up to the cart to buy some cakes. Moony, without any cause or provocation, walked up to that man and stabbed him to death. When Owens was seen to fall some one cried out to go for a doctor. Moody remarked that if they brought a doctor there he would kill him. In a few minutes he mounted his horse and rode deliberately away, as if nothing had happened. No one tried to arrest or stop him; it would have been death to attempt it.

Owens was a quiet and inoffensive man, and no one knew any reason why Moony should want to kill him. Every one expected that Moony would leave the country, but he did no such thing. He went back home, and when it was learned that he had not left, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, charging him with murder in the first degree. The warrant was placed in the hands of the sheriff who placed it in the hands of his most trusted deputy, and a large posse of the best citizens of Montgomery, instructing them to arrest Moony and bring him in dead or alive.

Some of Moony's friends learned that the sheriff and posse were getting ready to make the arrest, and they informed him immediately. Moony was at his mother's house. He barricaded the doors and windows and prepared for a siege. When the sheriff and posse arrived they demanded of him to come out and surrender, but he sent them word he would do no such thing, and the first man that put his foot inside that yard would be killed on the spot, and they knew he meant what he said. They were at their wit's end. To attempt to force an entrance would be death to some of them, and to go back to town and report to the sheriff that he was in his mother's house and that they could not arrest him would not do; so they held a council, and decided to send back to town for a cannon and ammunition to blow the house down, and give the inmates the choice of coming out or remaining in as they saw proper. They selected Phillip Raiford and Theodrick Ruddle to go back for the cannon. They procured the cannon and ammunition, and mounted it on a wagon and started for the seat of war.

Some of Moony's friends learned that the cannon was coming, and they waylaid the road and when near the house they fired into the wagon and badly wounded Raiford, made the horses run away, and scared Ruddle nearly to death; and in the confusion and excitement that followed Moony escaped and made for the swamp. Those men were not to blame. They were not expecting anything of the kind, and there was nothing left to do but to take their wounded and the cannon back to town and report to the sheriff.

The next news of Moony, he was in the southwestern portion of the county. There was a volunteer military company in the county with about sixty members called the Prairie Invincibles. The warrant was placed in the hands of the Captain of that company, and he was ordered to arrest Moony or run him out of the country. The Captain detailed sixteen of his best men, and they assembled at the appointed place of meeting, armed and mounted. About sundown they started in pursuit of Moony. There never was a brighter moonlight night or a more serious looking set of fellows. They first searched in the neighborhood of what is now known as Ramer, making inquiries; afterwards they went in the direction of Tucker's precinct, and there they learned that in, all probability he could be found at the house of Dick Colbert, who was living about four miles from Tucker's, in the direction of Pintlala Creek.

Colbert was a bachelor living by himself, and a man of some property. On their route to Colbert's house two or three of the men straggled - or got behind. In all armies there are more or less stragglers, and so it was in this case. In approaching Colbert's house there was a lane, and on the side of the lane there was a gin-house and old-fashioned wood screw [cotton press], and about one hundred and fifty yards below the gin was the dwelling. When they rode up to the screw there were two negro fellows sitting under it, and when asked if there was any body at the house they said, Yes, Mr. Kin Moony and Mr. Charley Spratt were at the house, and they hurriedly turned the screw. The Captain ordered his men to dismount quickly and surround the house on foot, but the turning of the screw was the signal of danger, and before the men could get in position Moony and Spratt ran out of the house and mounted their horses which were standing hitched, bridled and saddled, in the yard. They passed through the gate and out of the lane at full speed and made good their escape. The Captain ordered his men to fire; eight or ten shots were fired at them, but without effect -- neither of them was hurt. Moony lost his hat which was kept as a trophy.

He realized then and there that he was an outlaw, and that he would have to surrender or leave the country, and that night was the last ever heard of Kin Moony. His family and friends never heard of him again -- where he went has never been known. He had some good traits of character; he loved his family; he loved his friends; and if his hands had not been stained with human blood he might very well have made a good and useful citizen.

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	The Attempt to Arrest Kin Moony Taken from Recollections of the Early Settlers of Montgomery County and Their Families by W. G. Robertson, 1892 About the year 1836 political excitement was at fever heat in this county between the old Whig and Democratic parties. A man would not vote for a personal friend or brother of different political opinions. The militia of the county was well organized. The Generals, Colonels and Captains were elected by direct vote of the people, and during that summer there was a regimental muster held about nine miles south of the city, on the road leading to Troy. Col. Thomas Mastin was the commanding officer. He was a very prominent and popular man; he belonged to the Democratic party and was a leader of the same. A gentleman by the name of Bush W. Bell and his two nephews, with a party of friends, went out from Montgomery to that muster and carried a tent with them. They were Whigs and very popular with their party. When the muster was over Col. Mastin went to the tent of the Bells by invitation, and soon afterwards he and Edward Bell got into a political dispute and fight, in which Bell stabbed and killed Mastin before their friends could separate them. Mastin was cut down in the full strength of manhood, surrounded by a host of friends and leaving a wife and two children. This killing was not premeditated; there was no malice or unkind feeling existing between them before the difficulty; it was done in the heat of passion and without time for reflection. Bell went back to town and surrendered to Temp Reid, then sheriff of the county. He gave bond for his appearance at the next term of the Circuit Court to answer the charge of murder, and before the trial he and his friends employed the best legal talent to be found. Col. Thomas Williams of Mobile, who had the reputation of being the best criminal lawyer in the state, was employed as leading counsel, and at the trial Bell was acquitted. The family and immediate friends of Mastin did all they could, legally, to secure Bell's conviction; but failing, and being good and law abiding men, they let the matter drop. But unfortunately the matter did not stop here. William Moony, with his family, resided about twenty miles southeast of the city. He was not in any manner related to the Mastins. He was a democrat and a man of high prejudice; he loved his friends and hated his enemies, and was a man of some prominence in his vicinity. His son Kinion, who was about the average young man of his day, rather popular with his associates, accused of no wrong doing, and of good moral character, took an active part in politics, and followed the fortunes of his father. As their political friend had been killed in a political fight, they, determined to avenge his death. It is not known whether the Bells had been informed of the intention of the Moonys or not, but when they met, near the old Montgomery Hall, a desperate and deadly fight took place, in which young Bush Bell killed William Moony and Kin Mooney killed Edward Bell (Mastin's slayer). Bell had no family. His body was taken in charge by his friends, there being no undertakers in those days. Moony's body was carried home to his family. Bush Bell left the country and Kin Moony was sent to jail. In a few days Moony's friends made his bond and he was discharged and returned home to his family. In a short time after that a company muster was held at a place called Scoggins Hill, about one mile east of Robertson's X Roads. About noon Moony rode up and hitched his horse. He walked up to the crowd armed to the teeth. There was an old lady on the ground with a cake cart, and Moony took a position near that cart without speaking to anyone. After the muster was over, a man by the name of Allister Owens went up to the cart to buy some cakes. Moony, without any cause or provocation, walked up to that man and stabbed him to death. When Owens was seen to fall some one cried out to go for a doctor. Moody remarked that if they brought a doctor there he would kill him. In a few minutes he mounted his horse and rode deliberately away, as if nothing had happened. No one tried to arrest or stop him; it would have been death to attempt it. Owens was a quiet and inoffensive man, and no one knew any reason why Moony should want to kill him. Every one expected that Moony would leave the country, but he did no such thing. He went back home, and when it was learned that he had not left, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, charging him with murder in the first degree. The warrant was placed in the hands of the sheriff who placed it in the hands of his most trusted deputy, and a large posse of the best citizens of Montgomery, instructing them to arrest Moony and bring him in dead or alive. Some of Moony's friends learned that the sheriff and posse were getting ready to make the arrest, and they informed him immediately. Moony was at his mother's house. He barricaded the doors and windows and prepared for a siege. When the sheriff and posse arrived they demanded of him to come out and surrender, but he sent them word he would do no such thing, and the first man that put his foot inside that yard would be killed on the spot, and they knew he meant what he said. They were at their wit's end. To attempt to force an entrance would be death to some of them, and to go back to town and report to the sheriff that he was in his mother's house and that they could not arrest him would not do; so they held a council, and decided to send back to town for a cannon and ammunition to blow the house down, and give the inmates the choice of coming out or remaining in as they saw proper. They selected Phillip Raiford and Theodrick Ruddle to go back for the cannon. They procured the cannon and ammunition, and mounted it on a wagon and started for the seat of war. Some of Moony's friends learned that the cannon was coming, and they waylaid the road and when near the house they fired into the wagon and badly wounded Raiford, made the horses run away, and scared Ruddle nearly to death; and in the confusion and excitement that followed Moony escaped and made for the swamp. Those men were not to blame. They were not expecting anything of the kind, and there was nothing left to do but to take their wounded and the cannon back to town and report to the sheriff. The next news of Moony, he was in the southwestern portion of the county. There was a volunteer military company in the county with about sixty members called the Prairie Invincibles. The warrant was placed in the hands of the Captain of that company, and he was ordered to arrest Moony or run him out of the country. The Captain detailed sixteen of his best men, and they assembled at the appointed place of meeting, armed and mounted. About sundown they started in pursuit of Moony. There never was a brighter moonlight night or a more serious looking set of fellows. They first searched in the neighborhood of what is now known as Ramer, making inquiries; afterwards they went in the direction of Tucker's precinct, and there they learned that in, all probability he could be found at the house of Dick Colbert, who was living about four miles from Tucker's, in the direction of Pintlala Creek. Colbert was a bachelor living by himself, and a man of some property. On their route to Colbert's house two or three of the men straggled - or got behind. In all armies there are more or less stragglers, and so it was in this case. In approaching Colbert's house there was a lane, and on the side of the lane there was a gin-house and old-fashioned wood screw [cotton press], and about one hundred and fifty yards below the gin was the dwelling. When they rode up to the screw there were two negro fellows sitting under it, and when asked if there was any body at the house they said, Yes, Mr. Kin Moony and Mr. Charley Spratt were at the house, and they hurriedly turned the screw. The Captain ordered his men to dismount quickly and surround the house on foot, but the turning of the screw was the signal of danger, and before the men could get in position Moony and Spratt ran out of the house and mounted their horses which were standing hitched, bridled and saddled, in the yard. They passed through the gate and out of the lane at full speed and made good their escape. The Captain ordered his men to fire; eight or ten shots were fired at them, but without effect -- neither of them was hurt. Moony lost his hat which was kept as a trophy. He realized then and there that he was an outlaw, and that he would have to surrender or leave the country, and that night was the last ever heard of Kin Moony. His family and friends never heard of him again -- where he went has never been known. He had some good traits of character; he loved his family; he loved his friends; and if his hands had not been stained with human blood he might very well have made a good and useful citizen. Return to Choice of Articles
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