The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-03-25
OUR KNOXVILLE LETTER.
INTERESTING HISTORY OF THE KNOX
COUNTY COMPLICATED TRAGEDIES.

LEAR. GAZETTE s--hHO4AAAI6S AOG
the past several days, has been the
theatre of many very interesting in
cidents.
You gave your readers an account
of the murder OF Reynolds, and the
more diabolical deed pcrpetrated on
his defenseless wife by one Of the
two iends that invaded their quiet
home that terrib night.
A few days after, one Sdrtin, and
his brother, brought to the city the
dead body of 'sold one-eyed'' Dun
can, and stated that they had cap
tured him in his den in the mountain,
in Anderson county. That they had
been at very great risk of their own
precious lives that they had taken
him alive, but he had fiercely resist
ed and fred On them, and they
showed their pierced clothes in proof
of the allegation, and that in self
defense, and TO bring an old, con-
tinued and dreaded offender to jus
tice, they had reluctantly rendered
him harmless by shooting him in the
back Of the head. The Sartins were
disinterested conservators of the
peace, and virtuous avengers of out
ragged innocence and law.
They generously proclaimed that
OF their own accord they had sailed
forth to arrest the murderer of their
acknowledgements had, one time,
gone on a bond for Sartin's appear
ance at court and that they would
take no compensation at least from
Mrs. Reynolds, in whose degradation
and distress they most deeply SYM
pathized. This liberality excited
both admiration and surprise; and
neither the one or the other was
abated when they further announced
that they would soon bring in Dun
cans comrade and accomplice in the
crime, one Webb.
Webb was known TO be a daring,
dangerous devil. Devil that is
the true name; for such as they are,
are truly devils in the flesh. How
he was to be reckoned on so conf
IDENTIFY, so certainly, and that too
after his fellow devil Duncan had
been killed, and that fact everywhere
known, were regarded by inquring
minds as not entirely free from mys-
terry.
Why are the Sartins able to do
what warrants and sheriffs are I'M
able to do? How is it that they are
so intimate with the Duncans and
Webbs? Mrs. Darlington, or some
other old lady, equally as wise, said,
People will ask questions" CUES
tions and answers elicit information,
and sometimes enable us to see what
would not otherwise be seen.
While the matter was in this ex-
citing and interesting condition,
William Lewis, a prominent citizen
of this county who had some &C
quaintance with the Sartin brothers,
concluded that there was "milk in
the cocoa-nut," and that he would
tap it and see. So, while Sartin was
at Knoxville, shutting his cards to
his own entire satisfaction, Lewis
with trusty friends, called at Sartin'
house and demanded Mr.. Webb
The bear-idea Of Webb being a
Mrs. Sartins, and her exemplary
husband away off at Knoxville, wa!
terrifying to that good lady. Blu
Lewis is an old hunter, and haC
smoked out coons before, and pro
posed to try the fire test in this in
stance. Mrs Sartin did not wan
her house burnt, and rather thai
that should be done, disclosed til
fact that Webb was in the cellar
} Lewis soon embraced him with iron
round the wrist and ankles, an
brought him safely to Knoxville.
A reward of 500 dollars, was o.
fered for each of these worthless
500 dollars, or rather the hope of
bought Webb. ard caused Duncan t
die sooner, and in manner diffei
, emit from what the law desired
Webb might have shared in this Ii
tie booty had not Lewis seen the
: hands, and the game they wer
playing. The Lewis episode wa
. not in the Sartin-W ebb programme
! and they are at loss to know whs
business he had to go to Sartin'
house. Sartin may we'll sing wit
the learned poet,
8 'who's peen here since rs peen gomez"
g There are people who are uncha
{ liable enough to think and say IT,:
: the whole pack of four in the gam
E might with great propriety and ju
tice be handed over to the exec'
toner.
: "They say" that Webb kille
Duncan TO get the 500 dollars r
: ward that Sartins were to act 8
a the real parties, and divide. So "
: have, as ''they say Ayers, payin
Duncan and Webb to kill Reynolds
. they perform their part of the col
I tract a reward is offered for bot
d Webb and Duncan. and Webb
; make more money, and with q hoE
4 of saving his own neck, kills Duncal
, and turns his body over to the Sa
a tins, on presentation of which
! the authorities, he expects the r
Re ward, which is to be shared betwee
g them, and Webb is to make GOO
his escape.
What q bloody programe to be /
nearly carried out!
But, "Bilr' Lewis, as he is
g miliarly called, regardless of the
It plans and feelings broke into Il
|. arrangement, and prevented Il
. completion Of portion of their 70
|, purposes.
IL 1t remains to be seen how judg
and juries will dispose of the I
: manning actors in this horrib
c drama. JOHN j..
n E Senator Brownlow, in his la
communication to the public, Civ