FESTUS BARNES BADLY CUT BY FRANK CURRY

There was considerable excitement on the streets yesterday in consequence of an assault made on Mr. Festus Barnes of Stark by Col. Frank Z. Curry.

The trouble began about 8 o-clock p.m. near the post office. Curry had a claim again Barnes and in a dispute as to some details of the matter Barnes called Curry a liar. Bystanders say that Curry said -if you call me a liar again I will cut your-..throat- Barnes replied, -you are a liar and a --..rascal.-

Whereupon Curry made for him with a knife. It is agreed by witnesses that Barnes plead for a fair fight, saying he was unarmed, but he refused to back down and stood bravely up until he had been fearfully stabbed with a pocket knife. One blow pierced the left breast, above the heart, touching the lung, while another fearful gash was made in the left cheek, which was laid wide open. This stroke of the knife also knocked out one of the jaw teeth. The third stroke was a tremendous cut high up on the left arm. All the wounds were bleeding profanely and Barnes was carried to Dr. Starnes- office in the Bank Hall where his wounds were dressed. He suffered greatly from loss of blood, and though very seriously wounded he was carried to the home of his uncle, Mr. J. J. Barnes on Third Street. Immediately after the cutting Curry walked around to Mallet-s warehouse, and he was there placed under arrest by Policeman Crawford. Later a bond was assessed at $500 which was signed and the prisoner liberated.

The affair has caused great regret and it is probable that the trouble is not yet over.

Jackson Argus - Butts County
January 28, 1898

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Curry-s Side of it

Col. Curry Tells About His Fight

Last week The Argus contained an account of a fight which took place between Col. F. Z. Curry and Mr. Festus Barnes of Worthville. Col. Curry says the report does him an injustice by saying that Mr. Barnes asked him to fight him a fair fight. Curry says there was nothing said about a fair fight and The Argus learns, that Barnes, himself, says that no such language was used. This being true the reports was inaccurate and is corrected accordingly.

Col Curry says that he regret the occurrence very greatly and that he would greatly swap places with Mr. Barnes who was so seriously injured. -My regret is,- said he, -that I was provoked into a trouble with one of my friends. It was done in a second and no one regrets it more than I do.-

Jackson Argus - Butts County
Week of February 4, 1898

 

Submitted by Don Bankston