Fulton Express
September 23, 1889
“The Enigma of the Dun Maylock: What Do They Want?”

From the archives. Contributor: Spence Hutchins, Curator of the Fulton Hills Historical Society.

By Arthur Price, Staff Writer

It has been said that evil flourishes in the shadows, yet no shadow looms larger nor more inscrutable over Fulton County than that cast by the Dun Maylock. These perpetrators of terror, whose bloody handprints have become their signature, continue to haunt our fair region with deeds both heinous and confounding. As the fires of their most recent violence smolder, one question resounds through every parlor, town hall, and church pew: What drives the Dun Maylock?

A Religious Zeal?

The name “Dun Maylock” itself hints at ecclesiastical origins, though scholars of language have yet to agree on its precise meaning. Some postulate that the group operates under a dark and heretical creed, waging what they perceive to be a holy war against those they deem unworthy or unclean.

Such a notion might explain their apparent randomness—why one victim is a wealthy landowner while another is a humble cowherd. It may also shed light on their occasional acts of charity, which, though rare, have been noted: a widow’s rent mysteriously paid, a poor farmer’s field sown overnight. Are these acts of mercy or twisted tokens of appeasement?

Revenge Against the Elites?

Another theory gaining traction among the more cynical of our populace is that the Dun Maylock are less a religious sect and more a group of dissidents intent on dismantling the social order. Their targets often include prominent figures: businessmen, landowners, and those with influence in the community.

Consider, for example, the recent attack on Mr. Thomas Cooley, a philanthropist and newcomer to Fulton Hills whose efforts to integrate into society were cut brutally short. Was his murder a warning to outsiders, or an attack on the very notion of progress?

And yet, this theory falters when we recall the murders of the grocer’s young son and the homeless woman found near Fulton Paper Mill. How could such acts be construed as part of any coherent agenda?

Agents of Chaos?

There is, perhaps, no more terrifying possibility than this: that the Dun Maylock operate without reason, driven only by an insatiable appetite for blood and fear. If their motives are truly without logic, then no one in Fulton County—regardless of rank, wealth, or character—can rest easily.

Some point to the peculiar humor evident in their pranks: the mayor’s horses in his office, the great haystack pyramid in Nudha, the rearranged books in our library. Could these acts be the work of a twisted mind that takes pleasure in blending the comical with the cruel?

A Warning or Invitation?

Lastly, there are those who whisper of the Dun Maylock’s darker intent: recruitment. By spreading fear and chaos, they seek to draw attention to their cause, however nebulous it may seem to outsiders. The bloody handprint, then, becomes not just a signature but an invitation to join their ranks—or a dire warning to stay away.

There are even rumors that some in our midst sympathize with the Dun Maylock, viewing them as avengers of injustices long ignored. These whispers, though unsubstantiated, cast a shadow of suspicion over neighbors and friends alike.

What Lies Ahead?

The motivations of the Dun Maylock may forever remain a riddle, locked away in the minds of those who carry out their deeds. Yet, as we search for meaning in their violence, one truth becomes clear: the Dun Maylock thrive in our uncertainty. Every unanswered question, every theory debated in hushed tones, adds to their power.

And so, dear readers, as we mourn the latest victims and brace ourselves for what may come, we must hold fast to the hope that their reign of terror can—and will—be brought to an end. Whether their purpose is divine or diabolical, calculated or chaotic, they are but men and women, not specters.

Let us resolve to cast light into their shadows, to uncover the truth behind their bloody marks, and to reclaim Fulton County from fear. Until then, may God watch over us all.