Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-09-01

about II, but l know that l ala not sell
Ayres' plow. Norman took the plow
| sold away, and has it yet as far as /
know. / never stole any thing,
swear. He told me that 1 could use
any thing about the place ! wanted to.
He took away everything he did not
allow me to use and locked them up.
JAMES II. RUNYoN,
said, l will be 81 years old next Octo-
her. l am blacksmith by trade. 1
live at Powell's Station Knox coun-
ty. | have lived there since some time
in March or April, 1871. l can't say
that l am acquainted with Jos. Ayres,
had "a passing recognition, | first had
that passing acquaintance about Feb
ruary or March, 1871. ! had Il conver-
satiun with him at one time, only one
time when we were by ourselves. This
conversation took place during the
last days of November, or the first
days of December, 1872. Itcommenced
in front of Ayres' house. Beaver
Creek Valley, to Powell's Station, du-
ring the whole course of the route we
had that conversation. | can't say
positively how far 1t was, but | should
say four or five miles. l had been in
the neighborhood of Mr.. Ayres, and
by accident / fell in his company. Mr..
Ayres' teamster came in the road driv-
ing "A wagon, and he followed walking,
and we went 20 Powelps Station to-
gether. We were both walking. While
going we had no conversation about
Mr.. Richard f. Reynolds, until we
came in trout of his house, or about
opposite the house. 1 spoke to Mr..
Ayres that / had been collecting bills,
and that / ought to stop at Dick Rey-
nolds' and collect a bill there. Mr..
| Ayres asked me how much he owed
me, and L told him some five or six
dollars, wasn't sure how much. He
said, :" If you'll stop aud put ball
through his damned old heart l will
pay his bill" l looked at
Mr.. Ayres and said that
would be pretty cheap job wouldn't
it. He next said. If 1t costs any more
language he used verbatim. That en-
ded the conversation at the time. I
took occasion to change the subject.
Had no other conversation with him
on the subject. Heard no threats made
on any other occasion. Did not know
that there was a difference between
them. Didn't know who drove the
wagon-knew at the time, but don't
know now. 1t was young like man.
CROSS EXAMINED.
Col. Baxter read Runyon's testimo-
ny to him, and it was pronounced cor
rect. Col. Baxter asked him what his
standing was in the neighborhood. He
replied that they must ask his neigh
bors. Col. Baxter insisted on an an
swer. He replied that he could give
his own opinion of himself, and being
insisted upon, he said he had
good opinion of himself. (Laughter).
He was asked If he was not hard
working man, he referred the Colonel
to his neighbors. The Colonel asked
him if he knew the estimate his
neighbors put on him. He said he did
not positively know what his neigh
bOrs thought of him, they treated him
kindly, and he treated them the same
way. | know Mr.. J. n. Matthews.
but don't know his general character.
Court then adjourned for dinner.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Court opened at las p. NJ, and the
first witness called in the evening, and
the Goth of the list, was
MATHEW A. RULE,
Who said: / am so years old. live
} in Knox county, in the 10th district,
} on Beaver Creek, and about II miles
, from where Richard f. Reynolds
; lived. | am acquainted with Joseph
Ayres. ! have known him for
between II and 20 years, l don't
know precisely / am miller by
trade at present. / have hak a con-
, versation with the defendant in rela-
ton to Richard it, Reynold-. 1t was
2 some four or five years ago, 1t was at
. the mill ! manage. | only had the
one conversation with Mr.. Ayres. L
r said to Mr. Ayres that as he and Mr..
F.. Reynoni- were close neighbors, /
4. would 80 To hear of them being on
l better terms, as there were some diff
ferences existing between them. He
= remarked that he would rather take
his blood than to live in peace and
quiet with him. That was about the
. closing of the conversation. / may
! have spoken to him in regard to enter
: tanning such feelings. / remarked to
: him that Mr.. Reynolds had assured
/, me that he had nothing to do with the
: killing of his father, and that, if he
: would come to him face to face, he
= would satisfy him that he had nothing
T to do with il, and then ensued the
= conversation above alluded to. l don't
" think that there was anything else
said.
CROss-EXANIINED BY COL, BAXTER.
q The evidence was read to Mr.. Rule,
e and approved by him as correct. After
' which the following answers were
2 made:
I Mr.. Ayres has been absent from that
( neighborhood twice, from the time l
h first knew him. 1t was some IL or Ia
: years ago that he moved to Missouri,
K and remained until after the war
d when he returned. He moved from
I that neighborhoOd again some three
# years ago, when he moved to Ander-
+ son county, about II miles from hi:
+ former residence, and his family have
:, resided there ever since.
I RE-EXAMINED,
IS 1t was about one and half year be
: fore Mr.. Reynolds was killed that ht
u moved away; maybe longer, | won
l be definite.
4 A. II. WILLIAMS
ID Said: l am about SO years old. L an
,e farmer. Ireside in Anderson county
-. | am aouuainten with los AVreS for RI