The
Barber-Mizell Feud
Early
in 1870, Robert Bullock filed a complaint against Old Moses Barber for an
unpaid bill of sale on a number of cattle.
Judge John Mizell issued a warrant for Moses’ arrest and sent his
brother Sheriff David Mizell to bring him to Orlando for a trial. David took his 12-year-old son Billy and his
brother Morgan and headed south to the Barber Ranch.
The
lawmen stopped on the evening of February 21st to water their horses
at Bull Creek, a short ride from their destination. Suddenly, they were sprayed with gunfire. Billy and Morgan were unscathed by the
ambush, but the sheriff was mortally wounded.
Morgan
instructed his nephew Billy to tend to his dying father, and then galloped back
to Orlando for help. On his ride, he
encountered a man named George Sullivan who rushed to join Billy at Bull
Creek. The boy later recalled that his
father regained consciousness shortly before he died and asked that no one seek
revenge for his murder. Sadly, no one
honored this last request.
More:
8.
Aftermath