Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-25

Arrest of a Tennessee MurtIercr-Ex-
citing Ciase-Figlif and surrender.
About last May man calling himself
j. Smith Taylor was passing along the
Louisville turnpike with several horses.
He sold his horses in the vicinity Of the
Edgeield Junction. The purchaser ofone
of the horses remarked that he would not
be surprised if the horse had been stolen,
whereupon Taylor drew pistol and killed
him. He then stole horse and escaped TO
Kentucky and was arrested at Bardstown
and put in jail. A requisition was made
upon the Governor Of Kentucky for him,
and officers sent up after him, bat on ae-l
count of some informality in the papers the
Governor OF Kentucky declined TO turn
him over. The officers came back and
had their papers corrected and then re
turned to BaFdstown, bat just before their
arrival he broke Jail and fed to Ohio
Detectives Joe Cheatham aud Ryan, sup
posing that be had gone to st. Louis, teie-
graphed to detectives there, giving a full
description Of the man, which caused his
arrest The st. Louis Republican, in speak
ing of the detection aud arrest, says:
On receipt of this information the chief
caused inquiries TO be instituted, but at
that time no intelligence was ascertained
of the wanted man. Some weeks ago Ser
geant Cook, of the Third district, received
some intimation that a man answering
to the description of Taylor was in the
city. He Immediately took the matter in
hand, and ascertained finally that the man
pointed out was staying at very respecta-
bic boarding house kept by Mrs. Mudd, ON
the corner of Fifth and Myrtle streets, and
yesterday morning, between and O'Clock,
he visited the house for the purpose of ma
king the arrest On entering the house he
told the landlady he wanted to see Mr..
Taylor. He was in his room up stairs and
was called down. Officer Cook immedi-
ateIy approached and informed him that
he was police officer, and that he was or
dered to place him under arrest. Taylor
demanded on what charge. Cook replied
he supposed on some local matter, but lie
would ascertain definitely at the station.
Taylor said he would then go up stairs and
get his hat. This Cook consented to, but
accompanied him to his room. Having
obtained his hat the man then said he
wanted to see Mrs. Mudd Cook refused
to permit him to leave his sight. Taylor
then drew huge bowie-knife or dagger,
and applying somewhat strong epithet to
Cook, said he would kill him, and made a
lunge at him as he stood in the doorway.
Cook sprang bach; and avoided the blow,
at the same time drawing his revolver he
attempted to shoot his assailant. The pis-
toll, however, would not go off and snapped
two or three times uselessly. Cook retreat
ed into the hall, Taylor following. cutting
at him with his huge blade, but without in
flicting any wound. Evidently, how
ever, afraid the officer would succeed in
shooting him, Taylor, after following few
steps, turned back into the room and sprang
out of the window into Myrtle
street, and ran down towards Fourth
street Sergeant Cook Immediately pur-
sued, again attempting 10 shoot the fugi-
tive, but the pistol still refusing to go off.
The chase now became quite exciting. The
runaway ran down Myrtle to Fourth, and
down Fourth to Spruce. Hundreds of
people joined in the pursuit, and two or
three times citizens attempted to stop the
fugitive, but a flourish of his lengthy
knife started them back appalled, By this
time officers O'Leary, Summers and Sturdy
had come to the assistance of Cook. On
Almond street Taylor entered house, and
was turning into a room on the third floor,
when a woman slammed the door in his
face. He then attempted to jump out of
window, but was moment too late, as the
officers we're upon him. One struck him
over the head with club, and another by
a blow Oh the wrist knocked the knife out
of his hand, and, so disarmed, he was ar
rested aud brought to the central station,
where he was locked up. A telegram was
sent to the Nashville authorities imme-
diately, notifying them of the arrest, and
in a few DAYS we will doubtless know
something further of the case. At the
station the party gave his name as Joseph
F. Taylor, and although this does not cor
respond exactly with the name given by
the Nashville detectives, yet the police
feel confident there is no mistake. A re-,
ward of $3.50 was offered in Nashville at
the time the crime was committed for the
arrest of the perpetrator. The knife found
in the hands of the prisoner when arrested
is nearly two pounds in weight, with a
blade ten inches in length fhe affair
viii doubtless cause Sergeant Cook to look
after his revolver more carefully for the
future.