Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-04
FROM DYER.
Particulars OF the Late Hang
ing.
The Truth of the Affair by a
Reliable correspondent.

DYERsBURG, DYER Co, February l, 1869.
Editors Memphis Appeal:
Allow me to give you q brief and l be-
lieve q correct statement Of affairs ia our
town and county for the past week or
two, including the killing OF J. II. Evans,
Jas. Evans and Giles Moody, on the
night OF the 29th ult.
On Wednesday nfght, the 20th ult., q
horse and mule were stolen in Madison
county, near Bell's depot. The owners
and some of their friends traced the
stolen property into Dyer county, and IN
Sunday morning, the oath ult., they
found the stolen horse and mule, four or
five miles east uf Dyersburg, in the river
bottom, in the possession Of two men,
named Fox and Taylor, who admitted
they had stolen them.
The thieves were taken back at once to
Madison county, and delivered up to the
civil officers, from whom they were taken
by unknown men and put to death.
Before this latter event was known in
our county, a large number of our most
respectable and influential citizens, be-
iieving that there was an organized band
Of horse thieves and counterfeiters In our
midst; and believing hat the EVanses,
with whom Fox and Taylor had been
living, we're one of the number, on last
Tuesday, the 26th ult, arrested the two
Evanses, brought them to town and lie
livered them to our sheriff. Writs were
Immediately sworn out and served on
them. On Wednesday, the 9th ut,
Moody was also arrested by the citizens, |
and delivered to the sheriff. On Tnurs- /
day the three prisoners were brought be-
fore q committing court, snd remanded
TO Jail until Friday morning, the 29:h
ult., n the magistrates also ordered the
sheriff 10 summon 8 guard for the Jail.
Moody, when arrested gave information
as TO the whereabouts Of q fine horse and
mare, which were stolen a month or SO
ago from tive OF our citizens, which en-
aOIed them at once togo a%ndrec0yer their
property.
On Friday the two Evanses were put
on trial before two OF our magistrates, de-
Tended by able counsel, and the examin-
alton not being completed, they we're at
night remanded to jail, and the sheriff
himself remained with the guard About
midnight the Jail was suddenly and
quietly surrounded by q body Of armed
q unknown men, numbering consider
ably over one hundred. The guard were
made prisoners before they could make
any resistance, lin fact, resistance would
have been msdnsss), dissrmed and them
selves placed under guard.
The three prisoners we're then taken
from the jail by this force, aud after
examining them sepsrately-they with
the guard still as prisoners, were taken
q short distance from the Jail, and the
two Evanses and Moody were shot t.
death. This large body of unknown
men-masked and In uniform, then sep
sTsted u departed in two or three diff.
terent directions, leaving their victims,
pnl6 IN death in fha hands - tho tail /
guard.
On Saturday q large and respectable
heeting OF u citizens was held st the
courthouse, and raised resolutions
which will be publishsd) strongly dep
reeatinR and denOuucing the killing,
and resolving and pledgiog themselves
TO enforce the law against all offenders,
and TO sustain the civil officers. The
killing lie especially regretted by that
portion Of our citizens who were active
in having the deceased arrested and de-
liyeTed over TO the civil officers. Bat
they feel that they we're conscientiously
iischar2iDg their duty, and they are de-
teTmined TO carry it out and on Satur-
day evening writs were sworn out
against the two notorious DuncaUs-
father and son-cOncerned in the killing
OF young Harrington last year in our
town and that night young Duncan
WAS Arrested, and IS nov under guard
awaiting an Investigation.
J. II. Evans, one Of the party killed,
was a sOn-in-lsw Of old Duncan, and
they, and Fox aud Taylor, who were
killed in Madison county, are all be-
iiavad to be part Of an organized band of
horse thieves and counterfeiters, which
our citizens are determined, if possible,
to break up,
have thus hastily given you a state
ment Of matters in Dyer for a week or
two past. They are Of my own knOwl
edge and reliable Information, in the
N ain correct. There is no political ques
ton mixed up in the matter. The ciii-
zens most prominent and active in mRk-
ing arrests, SIS well IS the arrested par
ties, are ali, I believe, ex-rebels, and the
Union men among Us are highly pleased
with the exhibited determination on the
part Of the citizens to put 3 stop to law
lessness. Yours, truly,
CITIZEN"