The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-03-18
SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN KNOX
COUNTY

COUNTY.
The Knoxville papers contain the
particulars of the murder of Richard
Reynolds, a respectable farmer who
lived on Beaver Creek, on the night
of the 9Th. 1t seems the assassins
effected an entrance to the house af-
ter nightfall, bound Reynolds to a
chair and deliberately shot him to
death in the presence of his helpless
family. Reynolds wife was ravish-
ed by one or the monsters, who then
fed. Suspicion fell upon Dave Dun
can, a notorious character who lived
in Anderson county, and the sheriff,
with a posse of men, went to his
cabin on the mountain to arrest him
The desperate, however, showed
fight, and after wounding one of the
posse and demoraiizing the rest.
made his escape. In returning. the
fire Of Duncan, a woman in the cabin
was shot through the thigh.
The Chronicle of Sunday morning
gives detailed account of the sub
sequent killing of Duncan by Them
as Sartin, from which we extract
this
Yesterday morning Thomas Sar-
tin arrived on the Knoxville and
Ohio train, bringing with him, in. a
rough pine box. the body of David
Duncan, the man charged with the
murder of Richard Reynolds.
On the day previous he and his
brother took their stand about one
and half miles from Careyville,
having made previous arrangements
for Duncan to come that way. How
this arrangement was made we did
not learn. But SO it was, and Dun
can arrived. He was halted by
.Thos. Sartin and asked to surrender,
which he consented to, throwing up
his hands to show that he had no
arms. The Sartins closed in upon
him, when Duncan drew pistol and
fred at Thomas Sartin, the ball pass
ing through his clothing, and, being
very close to him, his clothing was
fred by the powder. Sartin fired at
Duncan, and Columbus Sartin, his
brother, closed in on him, the two
rolling Down hill, shooting all the
time, when finally ball took effect
in the back of Duncan's head which
proved fatal.
The body was removed from the de-
pot to an Office in rear of the court
house, and Mrs. Reynolds, widow of
the murdered man, was at once sent
after to identify the murderer. She
came between two and three O. cleck,
and being taken into the room, she
recognized the man at once. A por
ton of his coat was covered by a
blanket, but she stated that it look
ed like the one he wore when at her
house, and if it was, it had side peck
cts. An examination proved that
she was correct. She recognized
the face at once, but stated that she
was under the impression that his
whiskers were fuller. An examina-
ton proved that he had within the
last few days shaved his Nhiskers
down. She was very positive that
this was the man who killed her
husband, but not the man who out
ragged her person.
This ended the matter. and the
body of Ducan was turned over to
Deputy Sheriff Fisher, who at once
made arrangements for its burial in
the county grave yard.
AS usual, there was no end to the
ulmors afoat in regard to the entire
transaction, and the subject of con-
versation at every street corner was
the capture and killing of Duncan,
and at no two street corners wodld
the statements agree.
Joseph Ayres again failed to give
bond yesterday and was committed
to Jail. lie has engaged the SER
vices Of Col. John Baxter and W. P.
Washburn, Esq, to assist Mesars.
Houb and Dowell. while Attorney
General Williams will he assisted
in the prosecution by w. A. Hen
derson, Esq. and Geo. Washington,
esq The cause will be an exciting
one.
The exact whereabouts of Webb
is not known. but it is Gained that
parties are on his trail Again it is
claimed that he is not the man, but
that the right man could be captured
in due time We hope he will be
brought in alive. IIo might disclose
some interesting facts.