, 1872-11-06
HORRIBLE MURDER,

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HORRIBLE MURDER.
A Fearful Crime in East Tennessee.
From the Al Atlanta {Ga.) Herald, Nou. .,
A short time since an account Of the murder
Of Captain Thomas J. Boyd, Of sweetwater, East
Tennessee, VAS published in some OF the New
York papers, and the facts, as they stated them,
were derived from source that was unreliable,
on account of the antagonism Of feeling existing
at that time between Captain Boyd and the par
ties who furnished the statement It was also
alleged that there was strong suspicion Of the
whole matter being 8 hoax, and that the muir
dered man was still alive and at large
The version we give OF the affair is from q
party who heard the evidence Of the gentlemen
who herewith Captain Boyd when ewas murder
ed. From his statement it appears TINT Captain
Boyd, soon after the var, engaged in the claim
business with Colonel Carter, OF East Tennessee,
as clerk. After continuing with him unit he
became familiar with the business, he then COM
menced soliciting claims on his individual re-
sponsibllity.
His thorough acquaintance With the citi-
zens, and his established reputation for hon.
esty secured him large share Of the claim
business, and he was prosecuting his busi-
siderable notoriety, and it Was while endeayor-
ing to secure some evidence in regard to an i'm
portant caso that he fell into the hands Of this
band Of robbers, who brutally murdered him
The facts are as follows: Captain John T.
Boyd, accompanied by E. P. Reagan, q Justice
Of the Peace, and q man named Hensley, left
Sweetwater on the morning Of the 9Th Of Sep
tember for the purpose of going to Tillico Noun
tain, to take some testimony in regard to some
claims that he had in his possession for collection
against the United States Government. After
visiting several parties in the country along the
route, they arrived at Captain BIS fathers
house, where they spent the night.
On the following morning (rriday) they re-
sumed their journey, visiting several parties for
the purpose of serving summons, and taking
evidence to be used in certain cases then pend
ing for collection. About IL NJ, they arrived at
the foot of the Tillico Mountain, and stopped at
the house Of q friend for dinner. After dinner,
their friend, and commenced the toilsome ascent
Of the mountain. After reaching the summit.
and resting their tired horses for a moment, and
surveying the grand panorama that spread out
before them, they proceeded on their
way across the mountain. The mountains
in this section of country are very broken, their
surfaces dotted with high peaks or eminences.
while occasionally an immense gorge breaks of
from the road, and desoends almost precipitous
ly to the base. These mountain goTges are
thickly set with an almost impenetrable growth
OF ivy and laurel, with an occasional pine, strug-
Cling for 8 hold upon it's side.
The party having proceeded across the noun
tain, we're descending the further slope when
they arrived at Laurel Branch, clear and beau
tifui stream that breaks from the mountain side
until it reaches the mountain's base. Here the
party halted to let their horses drink, when sud-
denly band OF armed disguised men, rose up
from the thick undergrowth that fanked the
road on either side, and demanded their sur
render. Seeing the utter uselessness OF any at
M +bay affv anhmitfa1 tn
their demand. They were then taken. from their
horses and securely bound with cords, then
blindfolded and placed upon their horses again,
and carried some one and half or two miles (as
they, supposedly, when the party stopped. The
and they we're dismounted. Reagan and Hens
ley we're then more securely bound by . cord
around their ankles, and we're then left laying
upon the ground. Captain Boyd was carried
about fifty yards from the spot to the brew OF
they lad ''got the old fox at last, " and telling
him that they we're going to kill him. Upon
his attempting to plead with them, they stopped
him, telling him it g. would do no good" as they
intended to kill him. One Of the party then
drew pistol and fred at Captain B. who was
standing with his hands tied, powerless to offer
any opposition. L second shot Was fred quickly
after the first. when he fell to the ground and
rolled down the declivity out OF sight OF his
friends, who were compelled to wltness this
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several other shots were heard which were sup
posed to have been fred into his body after he
rolled out OF sight. The murderers then came
back to Reagan and Hensley, who were calmly
awaiting their turn. They unbound them and
carried them of some distance into one Of those
thick1y shaded gorges, when they loft them again
securely bound until after dark, when they re-
turned. telling them that they had concluded not
to kill them, as they had 'gos the man they
wanted"
to their fate. They wandered among the noun
tain fastnesses all night, without food and with
the knowledge of the horrible tragedy occupy
ing their minds. At last the dawning of day
brought with it the welcome light that guided
them to a friendly path that led them down the
mountain to neighboring settlement. When
relating the story OF the terrible tragedy, num-
Der Of citizens collected together and proceeded
to the spot where the terrible scene vas enacted,
that hurried an innocent man into eternity, and
plunged family and friends into unutterable
grief and sorrow.
Arriving upon the ground, they discovered a
short distance from the scene Of the murder, the
burnt and charred body Of the unfortunate man.
The blood upon the rocks and some Of the pa
pers of tho deceased, that were found & short
distance from the scene of the murder, and the
statement made by two Of his friends was evil
dence sufficient that they had attempted to con-
ceal their crime by burning the body OF the IN
fortunate man. Coroner's jury was summon
ed to set upon the case and ascertain the facts
connected with the terrible affair. The United
States officials, however, interfered, and pre-
vented the jury from acting at the time and we
have been unable since tlat time to ascertain the
final result Of the Investigations in the case.
The opinions OF the unprojudiced is that he
was murdered, not only for his money, but for
the purpose Of gratifying some feelings Of per-
sona1 hatred-tho result OF an antagonism OF
feeling during the late war-Captain Boyd be-
ing in the Rebel service. 1t any ratio, the matter