Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal, August 7, 1886, p. 4.
A FAMILY FEUD
Lexington, Ind., Aug. 6Four brothers by the name of Staples, residing in
the vicinity of Nabb Station this county, met a young man named John Gray in
the woods on his fathers farm late last evening and attempted to kill him
by beating him over the head with a heavy blacksnake whip. Grays head and
face were horribly cut from the blows inflicted, and probably the murderous
crowd would have succeeded in their purpose had not a young brother appeared
on the scene.
Recently the Staples boys raised a disturbance at a spiritualistic séance
being held at Nabb Station when Gray, who is a constable, attempted to place
them under arrest. In this, however, he failed, and received a severe
beating for his trouble. Since then they have endeavored to quarrel with
Gray, but he invariably avoided them until yesterday when the facts related
above occurred.
For many years the Gray and Staples families have been bitter enemies and
seldom meet without having a fight. The whole crowd from old to young go
constantly armed.