In the small town of Harriston, Mississippi, a night of gambling turned into a horrifying spree of violence that would ultimately claim the life of Constable Benjamin Frank Kinstley. The 43-year-old male lawman was at his home when two brothers, fueled by alcohol and narcotics after losing money in a game, began a deadly rampage. Their violent outbreak started with the shooting of several men and a woman at the gambling den.
The brothers then moved their assault to the local railroad
station, where they opened fire on employees, killing a conductor. As the chaos and bloodshed spread through the tiny town, the assailants made their way to Constable Kinstley's residence. They called him to the door, and upon his appearance, they immediately shot him. The gunfire not only ended the constable's life but also wounded his son. In total, the brothers were responsible for the deaths of nine people and seriously wounded fifteen others.
Following the murder of Constable Kinstley, a responding posse tracked the two brothers to a nearby house where they had barricaded themselves. An intense shootout ensued, with an estimated 3,000 shots fired into the home. One of the brothers was killed during the siege. The second brother was captured by the posse and was subsequently lynched.
