Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-12
THE KNOX COUNTY TRAGEDY.
what a DiaboIicSl Plot
A Pursuit, SiKirmish and an Escape.


The testimony of Mrs. Richard Reynolds
1t tie Inquest over her murdered husband
shows this to have been one Of the most
nefarious deeds ever perpetrated. The two
men. after having gained entrance, told Mr..
Reynolds that they had States warrant,
and 10 consider himself prisoner. ~jtav-
ing secured HE hands they next secured
Mrs. Reynolds, and being led out Of the
house she was TayiShed by the younger OF
the two men, after which they again led her
back in the house informing her that they
intended to kill her husband and then tie
her down aud set the house on fire. They
accomplished the first part of the scheme,
but the screams of the colored boy, Who
made his escape through the window with
hall in his thigh, prevented them from
executing the second part.
The testimony of Mrs. Reynolds, Nh.
TilIery and others, satisfied the communi-
" that David Duncan, of Anderson county,
notorious character, and John Webb, Of
Coal Greek, committed the outrage, (JOhn
Webb being the younger.) Saturday an
officer and posse of citizens, quite num-
Der, started in pursuit.
A DESPERATE FIGUTs
Tlfev proceeded to the neignDOrhOOd Of
Duncan's house, and diSmOunting, they leit
their horses and proceeded a short distance
up the mountain when they surrounded
the house-a small log hut. One Il the
party then approached the house, and look
ing at a window saw him and called him
by name, stating that he was wanted. he
gave thein 10 understand ne did not propose
to be captured. Lewis then kicked open the
door. and Duncan was standing in the mid
die of the floor, and gave them the contents
of his dOuble-barrel shotgun. i regular
skirmish then ensucd, the balls passing
through the clothing of some Of the Shcr-
lis POSSE, and finally when twelve or
thirteen shots had been fred on both sides,
Dock Cox. one o. the posse, received
wound on the side of his head, and making
the fact known the posse was confused fOT
4 moment. which moment was improved
by Dunccnt To step Tut a'tiCng them without
being known. and thus he made his escape.
Thinking they still had their bird in the
cage, they proceeded to torch the house.
with the idea of smoking him out. when
pavid's well KNOWN voice was heard from
the neighbOring bluff, saying: '1Ou
needn't torch the building, d-n yOu-I
am out" and then proceeded 10 use the
most abusive language. Tie party did not
think it advisable 10 follow David Duncan
ND into the bluffs, ami entering the l'0rse
lsaTntd some very interesting facts. In the
| house they found John Duncan a 49, 49,
illan. ana another neighbor and his wife
besides the Duncan woman, one Of whom
| in trying to sh,u the door with her foot
while living in bed had received a ball in
her thigh
Union AND SECESSION.
The posse learned that Duncan had
been absent from home about week, and
on his return had 4 rifle and shawl, the
description Of which filled that given by
Mrs. Reynolds, as the property OF Mr. Roy
holds taken away on the night Of the muir
der. From other parties they learned that
Duncan displayed large roll of money on
his return, something which he was seldom
seen with before. From two or three men
they learned that Duncan had tried TO per-
suRde them to assist them in the murder.
stetirg that JOseph Ayers had promised
old David Duncan and company that if
they would
KILL a CERTAIN OLD REBEL
on Beaver Creek, that there should be no
end to the pay they should receive for the
job. The young men in question refused
10 ASSIST MIN, anu iiCLtC Jul II
Webb had to be employed. On
the strength of this testimony and
some other facts in their possession, a por-
ton of the posse returned to Beaver creek,
and on Sabbath arrested Joe Ayers at Rob
ertsville. From the first, suspicion TO some
extent rested on Joseph Ayers, as bad
blood existed between the parties. Dur
ing the war Ayers father was a Federal
soldier, while Reynolds was on the other
side of the question. While at home one
time, on leave, Jesse Ayers was captured
by the rebels and turned over to a squad 10
bring to Knoxville. II was reported that
he made his escape, but sometime after
wards his body was found back OF the
LOnas farm. 1t was charged by Ayers
friends that Reynolds had something to do
with the murder, while Reynolds friends
claim that he had nothing to do with it,
and was not at home at usr time. Not
long since Joseph Ayres and Richard Rev
noldS had law suit, in which Reynolds
came out victorious.