Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-03-11
THE BEAVER CREEK MURDER.
The Murderer Traced 90 the NOuntains--
Surrounded at his House-A Desperate
Fight and EaraUe.

Mr.. Richard Reynolds was known and
would I've pursued. AS 1t seems. these
rumors were founded on facts. ON the day
before the murder a man named David
Duncan, Of Frost Bottom, Anderson coun.
ty we'll known a. n notorious charac er,
and one John Webb, of Coal Creek, were
met 10y Mr.. Samuel 1illery and John Childs
in the neighborhood of Reynolds farm
and Duncan, who inquired the way to Rev
nolds' house, was at ONCE recognized by Mr.
Tillery. The description given by Mrs
Reynolds OF the two men who committed
the outrage pointed at once to Duncan and
John Webb, who, il will be remembered
was one of the Coal Creek disturbers of the
peace, and, we believe, is now under bond
for shooting and wounding "a man during
the Coal Creek excitement, about Christ
mas time.
Her testimony before the Coroner's
jury shows this to he one of the most hor-
rble crimes ever committed. The two
men, after having gained entrance, told
Mr.. Reynolds that they had n States
warrant, and for him to consider himself
a prisoner. Having secured his hands,
they next secured Mrs. Reynolds, and hav-
ing led her out of the house, she was raw
ished by John Webb, the younger of the
two men, after which he again led her
back into the heuse, informing her that
they intended to kill her husband and then
tie her down, and set the house on fire.
They accomplished the first part of the
DRAMA, but the screams of the colored boy,
who made his escape through the window
with ball in his thigh, prevented them
from executing the second part of the pro-
gramme.
The testimony of Mrs. Reynolds. Mr..
Tillery and others, satisfied the cOmmuni-
ty that "one-eyed David Duncan as he
ig Familiarity lynnNt-n onA Vphn NVahl,
mitted the outrage, and on Saturday morn
ing posse of citizens, in charge of the Of
| ficer of the 10Th district, started out
| in pursuit, and among them We're
| the following persons: George Weaver,
| eX-pOliceman Bird, Col. William Cross,
Britain Cross, Dock. Cox, Lee Lewis,
| young towards, young Parker and VIII
| liam Robins, Sheriff OF Anderson county
as we'll as two or three more whose names
| we could not learn.
They proceeded to the neighborhood of
| Duncan's house, and dsmounting, they
left their horses and proceeded short dis
| lance up the mountain, when they sue
! rounded his house-a small log hut. One
| of the party, Lee Lewis, then approached
the house, and looking in at n window saw
him, and called him by name, stating that
he was wanted. He gave them to under
stand he did not propose to be captured,
aud how well he succeeded, the sequel
shows. Lewis then kicked open the door,
and Duncan was standing in the middle OF
the floor, and once gave them the contents
| of his double-barrel shot gun. A regular
skirmish then ensued, the balls passing
through the clothing of some Of the Sher-
iff's posse, and finally when some twelve
or thirteen shots had been fired ON both
sides, Dock Cox, one of the posse, received
a wound on the side of his head, and
making the fact known rather confused the
Co. .s~I.
proved by Duncan to step out among them
| without being known, and thus making
his escape. The excitement being over
and they thinking they still had their
! bird in the cage, proceeded to torch the
house, wi h the idea of smoking the house,
when David's well known voice was heard
from the neghboring bluff, saying: "You
needn't torch the building, d--n you'll
| am out, and then proceeded to use the
most abusive language. The party did not
| think it advisable to follow David Duncan
up into the bluffs, and entering the house
| learned some very interesting facts. In
! the house they found John Duncan, a
young man, and another neighbor and his
wife besides the Duncan women, one of
! whom in trying to shut the door with her
foot while lying in bed had received ball
in her thigh.
The posse learned that Duncan had been
| absent from home about a week, and on
his return had rifle and q shawl, the de-
| scription of which filled that given by Mrs.
Reynolds, as the property of Mr.. Reynolds
| taken away on the night of the murder
From other parties they learned that Dun
| can displayed large roll OF money on his
| return, something which he was seldom
| seen with before-at least with such a
quantity.
From two or three men they learned
that Duncan had tried to persuade them
to assist him in the murder, stating that
Joseph Ayres had promised old David
Duncan and company that if they would
kill certain old rebel on Beaver Creek,
thRt there should be no end to the pay
they should receive for the job. The young
men in question refused to assist him, and
hence John Webb had to be employed.
On the strength Of this testimony and
some other facts in their possession, a pOr-
ton ofthe pOssee returned to Beaver Greek,
and on Sabbath arrested Joe Ayres at Rob
ertsville. He will have hearing before
Esquire Chandler, on Beaver Creek to day.
Yesterday, Ayres in company with a
strong guard proceeded to Anderson eoun-
ty, for the purpose of getting up his wit
nesses. . q. .... ..
From the first, suspicion to some extent
rested on Joseph Ayers, as bad blood ex-
isted between the parties. During the war
Ayers father wa Federal soldier, while
Reynolds was ON the other side of the
question, While at home at one time on
leave, Jesse Ayers was captured by the
rebels. and turned over to a squad To bring
to Knoxville. 1t was reported that ne made
a. lNstf l..