Shooting in Hardscrabble

About dusk on Tuesday evening. one mile north of Hardscrabble, and about four miles west of Williamstown, Grant County, a shooting affray occurred, growing out of an old family feud existing between Thomas Red and James Littell, his brother-in-law, both citizens of the vicinity of Hardscrabble.  It appears from the coroner's evidence taken that night that Red was riding along on horseback on the Musselman road, and that Littell came up behind him and rode up to him, and as soon as they were together the firing commenced.  It is thought that Red fired first. They exchanged shots, and Red's horse, without a rider, started down the road, and Littell soon afterwards followed for about two hundred yards, when parties stopped him.  Red was found lying on the road shot in the back of the head, scattering his brains.  He was also shot in the left side, the ball ranging in the direction of his heart, both shots having evidently been fired from behind.  His entrails were cut out in a most horrible manner.  His throat was cut from ear to ear.  The cutting was probably done after he was dead.  Littell was shot through the left lung, jut above the heart, and at last accounts was in a very critical condition.

from the Maysville Republican, July 7, 1877