Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-02-26
The Cnss County Trnxedy-Fuli Par
ficulnrS.

ticuinrs.
The Harrisonville Democrat, Of the
eth OF January, gives the following de-
tails Of the late ,ragical occurrences in
Csss county. Missouri. of which a brief
account had eeen transmitted:
The people Of Pleasan; Hill were thrown
into crea. excitement on Monday last by
the deliberate murder OF two of their citi-
zens by the notorious desperate and BUSH
whacker. Bill Reynolds, who afterwards
died by the hand Of the brother Of one OF
the men he murdered. The facts, as far
as we have been able TO ascertain them,
are about as follows:
On Monday last the Deputy Sheriff OF
Cass county. James Holmes. learning that
the notorious b~ushwhacker. Bill Reynolds,
was in Pleasant Hill (old town., proceeded
10 serve a State warrant, issued on an en-
dic,ment for murder upon him. Deputy
Holmes, accompanied by Mr.. James Cope
land. 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 II an commanded to take you.
alive or Dead when he drew his revolver
and shot Holmes, killing him instantly.
Copeland then shot and severely wounded
REYNOLDS. though not dangerously, his
pistol being too small. Reynolds then
turned and sho: Copeland through the
lungs, causing almost instant death.
Copeland, however, as he fell, shot Rey-
nolds the second time in the leg, but still
doing him no serious damage. Reynolds
then sprang upon his horse and galloped
of, shooting, it is said, over his shoulder
once or twice as he went. He was after
wards traced TO his fathers house by q
party, three Of whom were considerably
in advance of the main force. They
found the house strongly defended, the
number Of shots fred indicating that at
leas, Ave and perhaps seven bushwhackers
were inside. Before the main body came
up Reynolds succeeded in escaping to the
bushes, when he was lost track Of for a
time. AS soon as tho house was found to
be vacant i, was burned. Warrants for
the arrest Of Bill Hays and George Mad
dox being also in the hands Of Sheriff
Judy, the posse divided and went in
search Of them. Hays wa found Mon
day nigh, a, the house OF Mr.. Phillips,
where he generally made his home. He
resisted, and was shot and killed. Mad
dox was found at his own home on Tues
day morning, and gave himself up quietly
and was taken 10 prison.
During the search for Hays and Mad
dox. one Of the parties came across a son
of the widow Common, about six miles
north Of Pleasant Hill, the wife OF a man
whom Reynolds killed about a year since.
Suspecting 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
20 take care of him, and that they should
no, expose him or he would kill them all.
The par,y then proceeded TO the house and
found Reynolds in bed suffering from his
wounds. They put him into a wagon and
took him town on Tuesday. When the
WAGON arrived at the spot where the ARRAY
occurred the day before, a brother Of Cope
land saw Re, nolds in the wagon. and shot
him twice, once in the body and once IN
the head, causing his death. thus ending
the career Of one Of the most oold n
hardened villains that this section OF the
country has yet produced. Il required,
we are told, Ave pistol shots and a guam
,i,y of buckshot Che receiving the latter IN
the melee at his fathers house) to termi'
nate his career.
There is no language in which to prop
srly express the regret that such a terrible
affair should have happened among US;
We, this country is not now in a state OF
war, and the peaceable. law.abiding people
Of this section are determined at every
hazard, and though it cost the life OF every
~bushwhacker in the country, to re.estao-
li,h and enforce and sustain the civil law:
II they chose to obey its behess', well ana
good. and IL not let them abide the consa'