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The Kentucke Gazette
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
In a 1788 letter, William Cocke informs residents of Kentucky and Cumberland of suspicions that Capt. William Martin aided Indians in murdering 22 people, including the Minis and Fords families, based on timeline inconsistencies and witness accounts from Capt. Lock Stubblefield and William Owen. He calls for a proper inquiry into Martin's involvement.
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Gentlemen,
I think it my duty to inform you, that about the time that some families was barbarously murdered, by the names of Minis. and Fords and others, to the number of twenty two, as I have been informed, Capt. William Martin, tied his horse in Powels Mountain. came into this neighbourhood I live in, and hired a horse of one of my neighbours to ride to the Cherokee Nation; at the same time told Capt. Lock Stubblefield, and William Owen, two of my neighbours, that the above murder was done by the Indians. Sometime about the first of the present year, a report was current here, that a number of people in Kentucky suspected the said Martin to have been present, and aided the Indians in committing that horrid crime, when I heard of the said report I was in company with James Bunch. Capt. Stubblefield, and William Owen, and a number of others, and I expressed myself to be of opinion that Capt. Martin was innocent of the murder, where James Bunch replied to me to prove that he was at my house at the time he tied his mare four days before the murder was done, and at the time he hired Meridays horse. Capt Stubblefield immediately replied to Bunch and said, at the very time Martin told him of the murder of the Fords and Minis and said he would swear it Owen told bunch he would swear the same, on which Bunch remained silent. These things must be mysterious, and acknowledged to be so by the candid, why should Capt. Martin apply for evidence to acquit himself. before he was accused, the tying of his mare so bad that he was obliged to leave her in 12 or 15. miles from the place he set out from. Had he set out from the Kalley station which is the place he said he had. it is not very probable that Capt. Martin could tell Capt. Stubblefield and Owen of the murder four days before it was committed, the names of the persons murdered at the place, is hard to make the judicious part of the world believe Should Capt. Martin be innocent, the people of this country would be glad his innocency could appear, but if guilty, it is shameful to pass over such crimes unnoticed, it is therefore but just that a proper enquiry be had into the matter.
I am Gentlemen your obedient Servant,
March 25, 1788.
WILLIAM COCKE.
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Letter to Editor Details
Author
William Cocke
Recipient
To The Good People Of Kentucky And Cumberland, Gentlemen
Main Argument
capt. william martin is suspected of aiding indians in the murder of 22 people including the minis and fords families, based on timeline inconsistencies in his alibi and witness testimonies; a proper inquiry is urged to establish his innocence or guilt.
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