Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-03-18
THE BEAVER CREEK TRAGEDY
The Capture OF the murderer-A DeSpera,e
Struggle aud Death OF David Duncan

yesterday morning Thomas Sartin ar
rived 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 Rev.
nolds, an account of which was given al
the time. It will be remembered that
| David Duncan had been seen in the neigh.
borhood of Reynolds farm on the day pre.
vious to the murder, and was recognized
| by one or two persons as Duncan. That
he inquired the way to REYNOLDS from dir.
| terent persons, and finally that the de-
scription given of the murderers by Mrs.
Reynolds. pointed to David Duncan and
Joln WebD us the parties guilty of this
terrible crime.
1t will be further remembered that a mar.
" OF twelve men surrounded the house of
Duncan, at Frost Bottom. in Anderson
county, and demanded his surrender. but
that Duncan, instead OF surrenderinp.
fought his way out and for the time made
his escape.
From the women at the house, and neigh
bors of Duncan, evidence was elected which
established the fact without a doubt that
he killed Reynolds. Evidence was also
obtained, it is claimed establishing the
TACT that Duncan was only hired murder
er, and that other parties were the instipa-
tors of the whole affair. AT any rate "a
soon as the party returned from their search
after Duncan, Joseph Ayres was arrested
on the charge OF being the leader of the
entire movement.
Governor Brown was made acquainted
with the facts, and an application was
made that he issue proclamation and of
Ter reward for the arrest of the parties
charged with the crime. The proclama-
ton was issued on the 18th of March, and
after the usual introduction, is as follows
Now, therefore, |, John G.. Brown,
Governor as aforesaid, by virtue of the
power and authority in me vested, do here
by offer reward of $780, five hundred
dollars to any person or persons who NAV
apprehend the said David Duncan and
John Webb, or either of them, and deliver
him to the Sheriff or Tailor of our county
or KNOX, in order that justice in that be.
half may tie had and executed.
In testimony whereof, / have
hereunto set my hand and caused
the great seal of the State to be af.
LsEAL. fixed at Nashville, on the 10Th dav
of March, 1874.
JOHN G.. Brown, Governor
a special dispatch to the effect that the
Governor had offered this reward. was re-
celved by the CHRONICLE on the day the
proclamation was issued, and published ON
the 18th instant.
AS above stated, yesterday Thomas Sar-
TIN brought the body of David Duncan,
ana made the following statement in re-
gard to his capture and death:
ON the day previous he and his brother
took their stand about one and half miles
from CareyVille, having made previous ar
engagements for Duncan to come that way.
How this arrangement was made we did
not learn. But so it was, and Duncan ar.
rived. He was halted by Thos. Sartin and
N ON rn a NH .l, l..
throwing up his hands to show that he
had no arms, The Sartins closed in upon
him, when Duncan drew pistol and fired
at THOMAS Sartin, the ball passing through
his clothing, and, being very close to him,
his clothing was fired by the powder. Sar-
tin fired at Duncan, and Columbus Sartin,
his brother, closed in on himA the two roll
ing down hill, shooting Ell the time,
when finally ball took effect in the back
81 Duncan's head which proved fatal.
The Sartin boys state that he lived for
some time after he received the fatal
wound and confessed to the crime.
giving the name of the party who
assisted him, as well as the party who en-
gagged him to commit this horrible crime. |
James Kay, OF this city, soon arrived at the |
spot, having had something to do with the |
inception of the plans for the capture, and |
o him the Sartin brothers made the above |
statement. |
The body was brought to Careyville, and |
IN inquest was held, when the following |
'erdict was rendered:
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Campbell County.
AT an inquest holden at Careyville, i'm
he county and State aforesaid on the 18th
lay of March, 1874. upon the body of Da-
I'D Duncan, supposed to be, do say upon
ur oaths, that he came TO his death by
,lstols in the hands of Il. p. and G. G. Sar-
IN, and that he was shot and killed by
hem in trying to arrest the said David
duncan for the alleged murder of Richard
reynolds in Knox county, in the month
I February or March, 1874. In testimo-
y whereof we, the said Jurors, have
ereunto set our hands. This the 18th
ay of March, 1874.
G. w. Quinly, G. II. Wallertofl,
Joshua f. Adkins, John Kirby,
w. u. Huskins, JamesComton,
This Is to certify that I held said in.
ueSt, ana that this is a true copy of the
erdict rendered by the jury, and that said
iry delivered the body of the dead man
I. =. Sartin, to take to Knoxville to be
anded to the authorities.
Ihls March 18th, 1874.
w. G. WARNACK,
j. of the p. for c, c.
The body was removed from the depot
an office in rear of the court house, and
RS. reynolds, widow of the murdered
an, was at once sent after to identify the :
She came between two and !
iree o'clock, and being taken into the
ON, she recognized the man at once. A !