Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-09-14

aIteF ureakIaSI witness ana denSley went o
their way and reached Jos. Coppenger's hous
about noon, passing several persons on the way
among whom were Robert Maham and Mi
Gray, whom they told of the tragedy Re
l manning short while they proceeded in the di
rection of Belltown, and stayed that night q
distant or 8 miles from Col Boyd's, to whom
he related their tribulations
On Sunday morning they went to Hensley'
to get change Of clothing, where they wer
when Alfred Hamilton and George Balm cam
over from the Boyd settlement and wished hin
to return to Laurel Branch with them an,
point out the location of the seizure and Boyd
murder. ...... ...r-
When they arrived at Coppenger's the,
heard Winfield Boyd had found the body ant
they stayed there that night On Monday he
WAITED FOR CROWD
to collect and piloted them to the place wher,
he and Hensley were tied and to where tn,
bones were found which was only short dis
lance from where Boyd fell. Some one suggest
ed that an inquest would be correct, and, being
the only officer present, witness impanneled thu
following gentlemen as jury of inquest: Jos
| MARI Rev Z. d. Shields, DR.. J. r. Leonard
| VIM Mari, T. j. Hunt, w. G. Gormley, jacob
Graves, a. Pearson, j. Rogers, j. Garden, Johr
King, and Henry Raper, twelve in number
who were qualified by witness. Reagan testii
ed before the jury, though not under oath, nc
officer being present to administer it.
| The charred remains were placed in box on
Monday afternoon and taken to Mr.. Graves,
| at the foot of the mountain. The jury could not
agree Some thought it hoax. Dr. Lenard
said he would never consent to give in thew
were Boyd's bones and asked if he, Reagan,
could not possibly have been hoaxed Witness
replied that it began to look that way. He was
| led to this because the papers were scattered in
such manner. Did not think it possible for
| any one to tell whose bones they were. BOyd's
papers and his also were scattered-they were
| collected and are now in possession of the jury.
| They went to the place where Boyd fell but
| there were no indications of blood on the
ground-there had been q fire there. The pa
| pers had blood on them iE spots. The blood
| looked as though it had been put on inten-
| tionally.
| Winfield Boyd was the only one of the family
who manifested much interest in the matter
Witness went to Col. Boyds with Alvin Boyd
Thomas G. Boyd's wife was there, but he did
not see her. He went in advance of the wager
containing the remains with Mr.. Hamilton. They
were taken to the burial ground without stop
ping at Col. Bovd's house The funeral sevices
were brief and were conducted by Rev. Mr..
Morrison, of Sweetwater.
The father, mother and wife of Thos. G.
Boyd and Alvin Boyd were at the funeral.
The remains were buried in the family grounds.
After the funeral witness returned to Col.
Boyd's. riding one Of Mr.. Hamilton's horses.
There he ate bupper and stayed all night The
yet He was not present when Samuel Bowlos'
grave was opened by the authorities.
The witness was
CRoSS-EXAMINED
Briefly, and in response to the question whether
he did not think he had been deceived by Thos.
g. Boyd in view of subsequent developments,
replied that he now thought he must have been
hoaxed.
During the cross examination, witness said he
- 81
and Hensley were tied, and stated that the bug
gy was broken between Madisonville and Col.
Boyd's house Witness was not bindfolded, but
Hensley was When Boyd was led off he gave
the Masonic signal of distress.
Reagan gave gave in his testimony in cool
manner generally, though occasionally he hest
tated in his replies and at onetime was little ex
cited when told that his evidence conficted with
Hensley's as to the time Of their final release
after the alleged shooting of Boyd.
HENsLEY's STATEMENT.
am a years old. live at Ball Play, Mon
roe county, Tennessee. On the I'd day of Sep
TENDER, Mr. Reagan and myself went to Sweet
water. Reagan said that Thos. G. Boyd had
agreed to give him 81 per day to go with him to
summon witnesses. r. said that he would give
me 81 per day if would go with him. He said
Boyd would pay all expenses.
On Wednesday we left Sweetwater to go to the
old man Boyd's We went in q buggy. We
stayed at old man Boyd's all night. On Thurs
day night we stayed at Sheriff Hawkins, about
we went to the old man Boyd's. We there met
Thos. g. Boyd. We all started from there to go
to the Garden settlement. When we got to the
big road Boyd gave me subpoena for J. ID. Kel-
so and asked me to go to his house and summon
him. Reagan and Boyd took another way and
were to meet at Gormley's. We met at CORN
ley's then went to Coppenger's and took dinner
After dinner we started to go up the mountain.
About one-half or three-quarters of mile
from Coppenger's, five men came out of the
woods-two had their faces blacked-two with
cooked pistols in hand, "jobbed" them against
me. They took us from our horses, tied
our hands and babe us get on Our horses
again. They took us to the top OF the
mountain and into the woods about mile.
They then took us off own horses and tied our
feet tied handkerchief over my eyes and laid
us down on the ground. They then took our
horses out of sight. They then said to Boyd,
Come on, Cd d-n you; you are an old fox
we've got you now-your time has come"
When they were tying me they said Those
are ID nice boots to die In"
They then took Boyd off IS or 100 yards
down a hollow and over brook. L could not
see him all the time, but just as they raised on
small rise of ground l saw one man point pis,,
toll at Boyd and fire: After the shot Boyd fell
and rolled out of sight About an hour and a
half after two men came back up the hill to US.
We were captured and tied about o'clock, P:
NJ, on Friday. They united our legs and told
us to get up. They walked us up the branch
about thirty yards and laid US on the ground.
They left us and were gone about one hour;
They went back to where Boyd
was shot in about one hour one man
came back to us. He said to Reagan: Il know
you I've nothing against you; you saved my
fife once" Reagan asked him when. He said
ask me no favors and 1 II grant none. He then
united Reagan and told him to unite me. He
babe us good by, saying perhaps we shall never
meet again. We then struck out for the road.
We tray eled until it was quite late, and then
laid down in the woods till the sun was up. In
the morning we came into the big road about
four miles from where we were captured. We
rstwent to Johnson's, there we.got some water.
We then went to Kings and got dinner, from
there to Coppengers there met Robert Maham
and Graves. We were on our way to old man
Boyds to inform him; told Coppenger of it;
stayed all night at Nose Humphreys; didn't go
to old man Boyds; but on Sunday morning
went to my home at Ball Play Sometime
during the day thew came for ma IN 90 tn hunt