Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-16
JOHN WEBB'S DARK DEED.

The Thrilling story Of an East Ten
nessee Murder-VerdIef, Guilty
and Sentence Of Death Passed. Ym
Gone up,''
Knoxville Press and Herald, March IS.
Our readers remember the shocking de-
tails Of the diabolical murder Of Richard +.
Reynolds, a quiet, peaceful citizen Of Knox
county, and the fiendish outrage committed
upon his aged wife, which were given TO
the public through these columns about a
wear AGO. The murderers were entire
strangers, and, at first, public attention was
at fault to designate them or assign a
cause Of or a motive for the
deed. One person was known to
have borne malice against the deceased,
but he was unquestiOnably at home, miles
away, at the time. But soon evidence be-
gan to appear and accumulate, until it was
generally believed that the actual murder
ers were Dave Duncan and John Webb, Of
Anderson county, and that they had done
the principal felony for blood money.
These men were lying out. Then
came the offer of a reward of
$500 BY the Governor, for each of these
men; then came the killing Of Dave Dun
can in the mountains, the bringing Of his
dead body to this city, and the bogus de-
mand for the reward, and its refusal, be-
cause it was ascertained he had been muir
dsred by his accOmplices in the crime.
Then came the interview with John Webb
in the mountains, and his romantic capture
by William Lewis the next day, out Of
Sartin's cellar, and his arrival In this city
in chains and under guard
Since that time Webb has changed the
g to AnIa-=nr' f,raf
has remained in the city Jail.
On last Saturday he was delivered, hand
cufed, to the jailer Of Anderson county,
at Clinton, which lasted till Thursday
noon.
The case Of the State was supported by
about twenty witnesses, by whom was
showed the solitary meeting Of the deSper-
ADDE'S at the house Of Webb's mother in the
Cumberland mountains, and thence they
tracked them on their devilish route, almost
mile b. mile, to Clinton, to Webb's
mother-in-law's in Clinton; thence over the
railroad bridge to the neighborhOOd Of
Reynolds dwelling. This was sworn by
witnesses, whom they constantly met, or
with whom they Travelled. Shortly
before this a blacksmith had driven
IOur peculiar Halls III one OF
Webb's boot heels. The tracks up
to the very door showed this popularity.
Thenithe old lady and small cOlOred boy
detailed to the jury and the dense audience
what was done at Reynolds house on the
night of Thursday, the 9th Of March, 1874.
Upon being asked if either Of those men
were then present in the house, each one
arose and pointed out John Webb. They
were then heard recroSsing the railroad
bridge, at , O'Clock in the morning back to
| Clinton, where they slept till daylight, and
| then tLey were retraced back to the noun
| tains, the one carrying Reynolds rifle, which
was returned and identified, and the other
/ Reynolds shawl, both taken from the house
| that night. Afterwards the twOwere proved
| TO have lain out in the mountains together.
| The jury brought in a verdict Of guilty Of
murder in the first degree, without miti-
| eating circumstances a motion for a new
| trial was oveuuled and Webb was sentenced
| to be hanged at Knoxville on April IS.
Webb went into the trial with a bold,
lively appearance, which gradually lessened
as the evidence cOiled its links Of steel
about him, until the examination Of Mrs.
| Reynolds and the little negro boy, when he
| seemed hOpeleSsly depressed, aud remarked
/ to a deputy sheriff, "I'm gone up
! An appeal was taken to the Supreme
| Court, which will review the case at Knox
| vile, in June.