The Tutt-Everett War, also called the Marion County War or the Tutt, King, Everett War (1844 - 1850) was a politically motivated feud that took place in Marion County, Arkansas, during the politically charged era preceding the American Civil War.
The feud involved the Tutt family, members of the Whig Party, and the Everett family, members of the Democratic Party. The Everett family had originally moved to Arkansas from Kentucky, with John "Sim", Jesse and Bart Everett being three of the most powerful and influential men in the area within a short amount of time. The Tutt family, originally from Tennessee and led by Hansford "Hamp" Tutt, were powerful and influential in Searcy County, Arkansas, and had been bitterly opposed to Marion and Searcy counties splitting into two separate counties. Another family, the Kings, also became involved in the feud, quickly aligning themselves with the Tutts due to that family being Whig Party members.
The first real violence took place during a political debate in Yellville, Arkansas, which quickly went from arguing to an all out brawl. The fight became intense, and peaked when Tutt supporter Alfred Burnes struck John Everett in the head with a hoe. Thinking Everett had been killed, many fled the fight. However, John Everett survived, although having a severe head wound. For the next four years, there would be numerous fist fights and brawls resulting from heated arguments between the two factions.
On October 9, 1848, the first gunfight took place as a result of the feud. That gunfight, taking place in downtown Yellville, involved several participants, and left John Everett dead. On October 11, 1848, the Everetts retaliated, shooting and killing "Old" William King and his son Lumis King. Billy King, son to William, and a friend known only as "Cherokee Bob", were wounded, but escaped. The two factions began attacking one another every month or so, often resulting in members shot and wounded, but with no recorded deaths. That year, Ewell Everett was elected to the position of judge, while Tutt supporter George Adams was elected as constable, with both appointments heightening tensions. Everett supporter Jacob Stratton and Jesse Everett moved to Texas that year, on business.
County Sheriff Jesse Mooney, who had developed a tough reputation due to several clashes with local outlaws he had captured or (in at least two instances) killed, organized a posse on July 4, 1849, intent on stopping the feud. That day, the biggest gunfight of the feud took place, with the Everetts having gathered in a building in downtown Yellville, across the street from a saloon where the Tutt faction were gathered.
Words passed, while Sheriff Mooney attempted to calm matters. Both factions, however, ignored any mediation, and a gunfight erupted between them, with Sheriff Mooney and his posse caught in between. The gunfight continued for the afternoon; after ammunition was expended, both factions rushed into the street and fought hand to hand. When it was over, Jack King, Bart Everett, Davis Tutt, Ben Tutt, and Lunsford Tutt all had been killed. John "Uncle Jacky" Hurst had been shot in the leg, having jumped between Sheriff Mooney and Tutt supporter S.W. Ferrall when the latter fired on the former. Several others were wounded, both by bullets and other objects. Dave Sinclair, who was suspected of having killed John Everett the previous year, fled, but Everett faction members tracked him down and killed him the following day, on July 5, 1849.
Jesse Everett, learning while in Texas of his brother Bart's death, returned to Arkansas to avenge him. Sheriff Mooney dispatched his son Tom to Little Rock, Arkansas to appeal to Governor Thomas Drew for help. Although it is definite that Tom Mooney reached Governor Drew, he disappeared on his return trip to Yellville; his horse was found, but his body never was. Governor Drew ordered a militia organized in neighboring Carroll County, Arkansas. The militia relieved Sheriff Mooney of his duties and took over control of Yellville. Sheriff Mooney has often been disparaged for not stopping the bloodshed, but there is little indication that he would have been able to; at the time, it was difficult to find potential deputies in the area who were not aligned with one faction or the other.
Several members of the Everett faction were arrested and placed in jail, but the militia disbanded six weeks later, prompting other Everett supporters to break into the jail and free their friends. "Hamp" Tutt, fearing Jesse Everett, went into hiding, unsuccessfully: Everett shot and killed Tutt in September 1850. This death effectively ended the feud.
Aside from the "Flynn-Doran feud" in the 1880s, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which preceded the Hot Springs Gunfight of 1899, this was the best known feud to have occurred in Arkansas. Davis Tutt, who was a child during the feud and whose father played a major part in the feud for the Tutt faction, moved west following service in the Confederate Army, and became associated with gunman Wild Bill Hickok. Hickok killed Tutt on July 21, 1865 in one of the more famous Old West gunfights.