The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-06

The Effects OF Harsh Measures I'm Missouri.
The people of Pleasant Hill were thrown
into great excitement on Monday last 10y the
deliberate murder of TWO OF their citizens by
the notorious desperate and bushwhacker,
Bill Reynolds, who afterwards died by the
hand of the brother of one of the men he muir
dpred. The facts, rs We have been able to
ascertain them, are about rs follows
On Monday last the Deputy Sheriff Of cass
county, James Holmes, learning that the noto-
rious bushwhacker, Bill Reynolds, was in
Pleasant Hill (old town., proceeded 10 serve
State warrant, issued on an indictment for
murders, upon him. Deputy Holmes. accom-
panied by Mr.. James Copeland, of Pleasant
Hill went in quest of and overlook him In
front Of DR.. Taylor's Office, when, we are
informed, the Sheriff proceeded TO read the
warrant, Reynolds listening quietly until it
came TO the part saying 81 am commanded to
take you, alive or dead" when he drew his
eyolycr and shot Holmes, killing him
instantly. Copeland then shot and severely
wounded Reynolds, though not danger
ously, his pistol being too small. Reynolds
then turned and shot Copeland through the
lungs, causing almost instant death. Cope
land, however, rs he fell, shot Reynolds the
second time in the leg, but still doing him no
serious damage. Reynolds then sprang upon
his horse and gallOped of, shooting, IL is said,
over his shoulder once or twice rs he went.
He was afterwards traced 10 his fathers house
by 4 party, three Of whom We're considerably
in advance OF the main force. They found the
house strongly defended, the number Of shots
fired indicating that at least five, and perhaps
seven, bushwhackcrs We're inside. Before the
main body came mp, REYNOLDS succeeded in
escaping to the bushes, when he was lost track
Of for a time. As soon as the house was found
to be vacant, il was burned. Warrants for the
arrest of Bill Hays and George Maddox being
also n the hands of Sheriff Judy, the posse
divided and went in search of them. Hays
was found Monday night ut the house of 4 Mr..
Phillips, where he generally made his home.
He resisted, and was shot and killed. Maddox
was found II his own home on Tuesday morn
ing, and gave himself up quietly, and was
AIKEN TO prison.
During the search for Hays and Maddox. one
OF the parties came across son of the widow
Common, about six miles north of Pleasant
Hill, the wife OF Il man whom REYNOLDS killed
about Il year since. Suspccting that the boy
knew Of the whereabouts of Reynolds, they
threatened him until he finally confessed that
he was in his mothers house, stating at the
same time that Reynolds had ordered his
mother TO take care of him, and that they
should not expose him, or he would kin them
all. The party then proceeded TO the house
aud found Reynolds in bed, suffering from his
wounds. They put him into wagon and
took him 10 town on Tuesday. When the
wagon arrived at the spot whore the aifTay
occurred the day before, Il brother of Copeland
saw Reynolds in the wagon, and shot him
twice, once i'll the body and once in the head,
causing his death-thuS ending the career Of
that this section of the country has Yet pro
duced. 1t required, we are told five pistol
shots ana quantity Of buckshot he receiving
the latter III the melee NJ his fathers house,,
to terminate his career.
There is no language in which to properly
express the regret that such Il terrible affair
should have happened among Us; yet this
country Is not no% IN 4 state OF war, and the
peaccable, law abiding people Of this section
are determined, 1t every hazard, ana though
it cost the life Of every bushwhaCkCr in the
country, TO re-cstabish and enforce and sus-
tain the civil law. II they choose 10 obey Its
hchests, well and good aud II not, let them
abide the consequences. Quite number of
these gentry have seen tit 10 return 10 their
old hauuts within the last few months, and
have not been sparlng OF their insults and
threats toward pcaceahle people.
We trust the lamontabe affair Of Monday
and Tuesday last, though il cost our commu-
nifty the lives of TWO good citizens, may not b.
wholly lost on them, rs three of their leaders,
ana the most dangerous men among them, are
put out of danger, the law having hold ON
Maddox that he Will probably never be able 10
shake or.
In addition these three 4 posse from John
son county came up on Wednesday night and
arrcs ted two or three more of these sCoundrcS
at Lees Summit, in Jackson county, thus re-
duciug their number by some five or six.
Our county has now returned 10 its usual
quiet, viii Il fair prospect Of continuance Of
the same.
One occurrence took place during this affair
which is greatly TO be deprecated, though the
prOyoCation was very strong, we admit. We
alluGo To the burning Of the house belonging
10 Hedge Reynolds, father Of the buShWhackrr.
Such an act Is contrary 10 law, and il 4 bad
precedent every way.-I"rrjS,"rW lNo.) D.m-
ocrat, Jotnu1ry27.
The reader will remember in reading it, that
this account is written by Missouri so-called
Union man, of the same kind with those who
4, 49, In. I'm