Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-26
THE BURNSVILLE TRAGEDY.
How the Plot to Rob the Train
was Made and Discovered.
Further Details of the Affair.

We have already given our readers the
/ meager outlines of the shooting of JACK
| Davenport at Burnsville few days ago,
and the attendant lynohiDgs. The fol-
! lowing Is the only detailed account OF the
affair that we have seen, and is from the
| Nashville Press and Times
| For some months large and closely
| organized band of cut-throats have been
operating on the roads leading from Pa'
Iaski, in this State, all the way to Wash
ington, La. Recently this band, being
! encouraged by great success and an al
most perfect immunity from punish-
ment, or even pursuit, conceived an idea
OF extending the field of their enterprise,
and, with this view, attached to the
body number Of fiedgeliDgs in the busi-
ness Of garroting, burglary, horse steal
ing and general pjlfering. AS soon as
the augmented body was properly con-
solidated and satisfactorily organized a
council to determine the range Of future
proceedings, and to cast pRrts, was held.
AT this council 1t was decided, as the
very first job to be undertaken, to rob
the pay train on the Memphis and
Charleston Rsilroad, near Burnsville.
The plan was discussed in an Rbsndoned
log shsuty overlooking the Tennessee
river, in wild, unfrequsnted part OF
Alabama. It was remarked by some
boRtmen at Johnsonville day or two
ago that light had been observed shOoi-
ing through the open easements of that
house on the night in question, for the
first time in twenty years. The council
lasted until morning. The plan was
unanimously agreed upon, and every one
could rehesTss his part TO the complete
satisfaction of the chief, VINO was very
particular on that point.
AS soon as the conclave broke up. ona
- 80 .!.4 .,-e....."f- l.-,-,o6 IN ,,ied will.
painful pFesentimsnt Of coming evil, re-
solved to diVuige the plot. He hRstened
to Burnsville, told his story, and was ia.
ken care of. The robbery was to have
been peTpetrated on Monday. Piekets
were stationed on the roads leading to
and from the place, and on the day men-
toned, while going to some negro cabins
on the rRilIOad, Jack Davenport, the
captain of the band, suddenly confronted
one Of the citizen piokets, ana demanded
who anu what be was. Not receiving
any answer, he became enrsged, drew
his pistol, and, as ne hissed an oath,
fired. The missile Of death missed its
mark, and the citizen fred in turn, kill
ing Davenport on the spot. This trage-
dy tended TO increase the alarm, and on
Tuesday morning three men, named
Kingkade, Charlton and LeWter, and
two unknown, (lor the latter of
whom the sheriff had warrants pre-
viously Issued, were arrested and con.
fined under guard at BurnsYille. Later
in the day, the sheriff conveyed the two
unknown to the county jail st Jaointo,
where they were at last accounts. At
night the three men Isft under guard at
Burnsville were taken from their places
Of confinement and carried a short dis
tanee in the edge of the woods and shot
to desth-not, however, until it was
positively known, as We learn, that they
were guilty, sud members OF the band
who proposed to throw the pay train
from the track. Next morning their
bodies were brought TO the depot at
BurnsviIle and placed upon the platform
there. when taken to the woods, Lew
ter made a desperate attempt TO save
his life he broke and ran, but was killed
in the vain attempt ere he had reached
a distance Of fifty yards.