Sutton-Taylor Feud - The Bloodiest Fued in Texas

TEXAS LEGENDS

The Sutton-Taylor Feud of DeWitt County

Though feuds and range wars in Texas were not uncommon during the days of the Old West, the longest and bloodiest was the Sutton-Taylor Feud, which arose out of bitter feelings following the Civil War. Some accounts say that the Sutton and Taylor families were both from South Carolina where the feud began as early as the 1840’s, though no written evidence supports this, other than the speculation of journalists of the time.

But, of the “war” in DeWitt County, Texas, there is no doubt. The area, which was in the midst of “Reconstruction” following the Civil War was, for its citizens a time of turmoil, rather than of “rebuilding.” Disputes between neighbors were rampant over land boundaries, cattle ownership, and water rights; outlaws were running amuck; and Vigilante Groups, frequently little better than the outlaws themselves; were often the only “law” to be found.

DeWitt County Courthouse in Cuero, Texas, photo by

Larry D. Moore, courtesy Wikipedia

Making matters worse was a general depression, drought, and poor crops, but in the midst of this, were also soaring cattle prices which soon made many a young man into a cowboy, or alternatively, a cattle rustler. DeWitt County was in chaos and ripe for an old fashioned feud.

The two families involved in the feud were the Taylors, headed by Pitkin Taylor, brother of Creed Taylor, a renowned Texas Ranger. Opposing them were the Suttons, headed by William E. Sutton, a former Confederate soldier, who had moved to DeWitt County, along with his family. A rancher, Sutton also became a deputy sheriff in Clinton, Texas and on March 25, 1868, shot and killed a Taylor kinsman named Charley Taylor when he tried to arrest him for horse theft. Later that year, on Christmas Eve, Sutton killed Buck Taylor and Dick Chisholm in a saloon in Clinton, after an argument regarding the sale of some horses. Making matters worse for the Taylor faction was when Sutton was appointed to the State Police Force, under Captain Jack Helm. The Police Force, along with Union soldiers, was tasked with enforcing “Reconstruction,” much to the chagrin of many a Southern sympathizer.

The feud evolved into a struggle between the Taylors, their strong-minded southern friends, and cousin, John Wesley Hardin, against the State Police, often referred to as the Sutton-Helm Faction, with each side recruiting about 200 members each.

Ostensibly in pursuit of horse and cattle thieves, the State Police terrorized Southeast Texas and on August 23, 1869, ambushed and killed Jack Hays Taylor. Almost exactly a year later, the Sutton-Helms men arrested Henry and William Kelly, sons-in-law of Pitkin Taylor, on August 26, 1870, on a trivial charge. However, rather than taking the men in, they shot them down. Jack Helm was dismissed from the force when this and other examples of his misconduct became known; however, he continued to serve as DeWitt County Sheriff. With Helm gone, William Sutton then became the recognized leader of the group.

In the summer of 1872, Pitkin Taylor, was lured from his home by a party of Sutton sympathizers and shot down. Severely wounded, he died six months later. His son, Jim Taylor, avowed to revenge his father’s death and on April 1, 1873, shot through the door of a Cuero saloon, wounding

William Sutton. However, Sutton lived, but Jim was not yet through. He again tried to kill him in June, but Sutton was able to escape. In the summer of 1873, the Taylor faction killed a man named Jim Cox and another member of Sutton group. In July, Jim Taylor and

John Wesley Hardin shot down Jack Helm.

After Helm was killed, the Taylor faction moved on Sutton member, Joe Tumlinson's stronghold, near Yorktown. However, a posse talked the factions into signing a truce. However, the peace lasted only until December, 1873, when the killings began again. Finally, William Sutton took his family out of the county intending to leave for good. However, as he and his wife, along with friends, Gabriel Slaughter and his wife, boarded a steamer at Indianola, Texas on March 11, 1874, the two men were shot down by Jim and Billy Taylor, in front of both of their wives.

In retaliation, the Sutton Faction lynched three of the Taylor group, including Kute Tuggle, Jim White, and Scrap Taylor who were driving a herd up a cattle trail.

Finally, the Texas Rangers under the leadership of Captain Leander H. McNelly, were called in to attempt to return peace to the region. For the next several months they worked diligently at breaking up the feud; however, they had little success.

In the meantime, Billy Taylor, who had been arrested for the killing of Sutton and Slaughter, escaped from jail at Indianola on September 15, 1875. On November 17^th, Reuben H. Brown, the new leader of the Suttons and marshal of Cuero, Texas was shot down in the Exchange Saloon by John Wesley Hardin. The following month, a gunfight occurred in Clinton, which took the lives of Jim Taylor and two of his friends. With Jim’s death, the feud slowed but on September 19, 1876, yet two more men were to lose their lives in the bloody feud. On that night, a group of masked men ordered Dr. Philip Brassell and his three sons out of the house. Though Brassell’s oldest son George, was a known outlaw, with a price on his head, Dr. Brassell was a peace loving man and well respected in the community. The masked men marched the four men down the road, where they coldly executed the doctor and George Brassell. The two younger sons were able to escape. These killings once again brought in the Texas Rangers and ultimately eight men were charged with murder and held for trial. However, no one was willing to testify, and a series of legal maneuvers resulted in all but one being released. Only one man was convicted and he was eventually pardoned.

The Sutton-Taylor Feud finally came to the end, with neither side being victorious. During these bloody years, the Taylor faction lost some 22 lives compared to 13 fatalities among the Sutton faction.

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