The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1872-09-13
RCnOrted Murder.

"a IcIOIl IchNHci WIS plNNc lunl ''NU-
day morning that Col, Tom, Boyd, of
Swcciwatcr, had been bushw hncked aud
killed on TcllIco Mountain, in Monroe
comfy, THIS was said to have occur.
red on Friday previous, and was gcncr.
ally believed, rs ii was known BOyd had
some enemies among the mountain pco-
pie. But subsequent developments have
involved the affair in mystery and rails.
led grave doubts in the public mind
rs TO whether he or any one else was
killed at the time aud place named.
/ For this and the additional reason that
we sympathisc with Col. Boyd's family
IN the terrible alllicton that Inns been
brought upon thcm-tcrriblc IN any as-
4 cct OF the casc--wc shall sayns little "a
possible on the subject Indeed, il We
could we would cast the veil of silence
over I until the mystery in which it
seems TO be cnvclopsd is entirely re.
moved.
/ We were at Malisonvillc on Monday,
and give such particulars as could be
/ procured from sources that we thought
entitled 10 credit. II seems that Bovd
started in the direction of Tho noun.
tain on Friday, in company with Ben.
Reagan and Perry lIcnslcy. for tic os.
tcnSibIc purpose of subpTnning wit.
nesSeS IN the cases pending against him
IN the tnitcd States Court at Knox
vile. They took dinner at Coppingcrs
on Friday and proceeded up the noun.
tain 10 Laurel Branch. Boyd was riding
a few yards in advance, and Reagan and
llcns'cy side by silc-whcn five men,
with blackencd faces and otherwise dis
guiscd, suddenly stepped into the road
dwelling their pistols at the horscmen
and Selling the horses by the brides.
Young ilenslcy drew his pistol aud at
tempted 10 shoot, but the weapon was
knocked from his hand and exploded as
II struck the ground. llenslcy and Rea-
gan were then tied-hands behind their
baCks-blindloldcd. taken off short
distance and bound TO tree. lIcnslcv
conlrived TO get one eye uncovered by
rubbing the bandage against a bush.
when he saw pistol presented at Boyd
heard tie report and saw BOYD fall
Some time after one or two of the dis.
-u!sea party returned, united Reagan
and told lin he could release the other
mGn. snd git Their arms and horses
were taken away, and Reagan and Hens.
Icy. after wandering about all night.
found their wax back into the settle.
'meni mex: day and spread the news of
the affair.
The above isthe whole story as stated
TO us by Capt. Tom. IIcnsley. the father
Of the Young man named. who assured
us that he repeated it word for word as
he derived it from his son and Reagan
when they first came In. There is little
more to be told at present. On Sunday
some human bones were found in the
vicinity of the place where the attack
was made, burned aud charrcd bv fire,
which had evidently been built. over
them, beyond Identification. The skull
was nearly perfect, and the fingers of
one hand retained the nails. These
were supposed to be the remains ofCol.
Boyd, and as such they were gathered
up and inferred at the family buryiug
ground near Mt. Vernon.
We found good many people at
Madisonvillc on Monday, who seemed
to be divided ia opinion about the case,
some believing that it was a "put lp
JOBS others that Col. Boyd had been
Killed az stated, and that his murdcrcrs
burnt the body to create the impress
sion that he had fled the country to cs-
cape the prosecutions pending against
him at Knoxville. We take the latter
as the most charitable view of the case,
until further Developments Shall dcmon-
stratc that it is wrong.
Hundreds Of reports are in circula.
ton, and it is Il terrible ailliction for the
family whether Boyd be living or dead.
IATER.-Sincc The above was in tvpr.
information has reached Us that the re-
mains supposed TO be Eoyd's were
those of negro man, which had been
cXhumcd and conveyed TO the place
where found. The horse which Col.
Boyd was riding was found in the Low
cry settlement, two or three miles from
the Mouse Creek Depot, McMinn conn
ty; also, the saddle and bride near bv.
If these last report, be true the conclu-
sion is unavoidable that the Laurel
Branch Murder was a 'put up job,'
and that Boyd has fed the country
cruel and heartlcss dccep.
ton upon his family and friends, to
whom it would have been God, bless
ing comparatively had the first version
of the affair proved true.
Louis Dent.
Henry Reed, of the Copjta', who was
assaulted in cowardly manner by
j Judge Dent, writes Of the result of the