The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-14
DEATH AMID PROTESTATIONS OF INNOCENCE.
A Negro Executed at
Campbell, Va.


mitted under circumstances OF peculiar atrocity Their
names are John webb executed in this place for the
double crime and murder upon the person Of
Richard REYNOLDS and his wife; W. n Berry, executed
IN Rogersve the murder of hts wife, and Ananias
Honeycun hanged in Tazewen for the murder Of his
friend and companion, Thomas AnsmuA
In the month OF March, 1874, the people OF Knox
county were thrilled with horror at the details
tragedy enacted in quiet neghborhood on Beaver
Creek which involved the crime of and outrage
the victims being Richard Reynolds and his wife The
excitement had subsidized when suspicion, with
erring finger, pointed TO John Webb and a mountain
desperate named Dave Duncan the perpetrators and
the officers Of the law put their trail
and every effort made secure their arrest
Webb and Duncan came to Reynolds house on the
night Of March s. 1874 and ascertaning Mr. Reynolds
demanded his money, with drawn pistols, which
being forthcoming they tied the hands OF Reynolds
and his wife behind them and proceeded TO search the
house, finding Confederate and Tennessee State
Bank money jewelry, &c Webb then took Mrs
Reynolds, who rs elderly lady, being hy-hve years
OF age the time of the affair out into the yard when
he offered leave without doing them any harm If she
would give him $500 This she unable do, when
the scoundrel forced the helpless ground
her hands beng tied behind her back-and outraged
her. when he compelled her with him to the
house which he threatened to set fire after whipping
Mr. Reynolds whom he accused Of having murdered
Jesse Ayers
webb's companion Duncan had been standing in the
main room all the time, and finding nothing was be
gained the former ordered Mrs Reynolds to stand by
the side of her husband and TO the door, when
duncan
Reynolds and fired four barrels before leaving each
load taking effect the abdomen legs The unfor-
tunate staggered and fell on the bed when the
alarm was given and the murderers hurriedly de-
camped Reynolds died an hour after he shot
A few days after the murder the body Of Duncan was
found the mountain side perforated with rife balb
the supposition being that he killed by Webb to
prevent his disclosing anything regard the affair
Webb lay concealed until the nth Of March, when ne
found in the cellar Of q house in Careyville and
brought TO Knoxville by Messrs Lewis and Wallace,
where he identified by Mrs Reynolds had been
the body of Duncan previously
MURDER.
In view of the fact that Webb and Duncan were
strangers in the neighborhood suspicion aroused
and inquiry made 10 the probable Of the crime
Public opinion settled a man named Joseph Ayers
being the nsgator ofthe outrage and he after
arrested Circumstances went to show that this sup
position correct
In the winter Of 1868 Jesse Ayers father OF Joseph
Ayers found murdered, and while it then gen
orally supposed he killed by Of Longstreets
scouts the of the Confederate forces from
Knoxville young Ayers always held that Reynolds had
the deed he and Jesse Ayers having long been en-
gagged in lawsuit involving the title OF the farm
which Reynolds living when killed by Webb and
Duncan On the death Of hrs father Joseph Ayers con-
the lawsuit which decided against him. and
this enraged him that he declared Reynolds should
live to enjoy the possession. How well this
threat carried the above will show But though
Of revengeful nature Ayers was despcable coward
and lacked the TO carry out his murderous de-
signs In person He therefore set about finding plant
ruian who for sake Of gain would rid him OF his enemy.
Webb has up to the present time stoutiy maintained
his innocence though acknowledging his completely to
certain extent He made a statement 70 Sheriff Swan
few days ago IN which he nculpated several parties
and stated that the first overtures made 70 him from
Joseph Ayers through Richard Dowell, young
lawyer formerly Of Anderson county noted chiefly for
his want Of practice Dowei committed suicide on the
24th of June last in this city shooting himself with
pistol that the public will be left 70 form their own
The following letters we're obtained last week by the
Sheriff to whose kindness am Indebted for a copy.
The spelling and punctuation strictly followed.
From these IL will be that Ayers had heard Of
Webb desperate character, and his verbal negotia
tions having failed he resorted 10 correspondence
LETTERS OF AYERS.
DEAR sIR-i been Informed by mr. brown that YOU
air Of the Old boys and viii DO depend write
will go with me and help to XXX will give you
county No he is rebel and he killed nay asser and il yoS
vii meet me and Brown where Brown has said win satisfy
AND plenty q proRSs'y and ql store and vii give oa
~ 0wn n tiv vi" % mere o' ~ % eSosk that
You win and M Of truest xxx.
The time designated, Webb states was the night OF
fhe I'd Of March, and the place his brothers Ander
son county This letter delivered TO Webb the
appointment kept The murderous plan then and
there arranged and the parties separated But Ayers
uneasy and in order to prevent the possibility Of
failure wrote Webb as follows appointing place to
TDee he
near McBath's mill, about mile and half from where
Reynolds lived
Mr. Webb you come with dave duncan and he will
re .i HS % All Ts hs WIT
whssey and will have enc Hundred dollars u Inonsy o
showed the other night be and bring two good
have got plenty black muslin and and
viii have good times and will satisfy for all more too
You win and me one Of the truest
When the final preimnaries were arranged the muir
derous sooundrels, fortified by frequent draughts OF
whisky started on their deadly mission to the house of
their transporting victims and committed the terrible
deed for which they had been paid the blood money in
advance.
Webb tried before the Criminal Court Of Knox
county the term succeeding his and found guilty
from which decision he appealed TO the Supreme Court
which affirmed the judgment Of the court below and no
sentenced 70 be hanged on the 18th OF August,
which sentence was duly executed day. Since his
has been pronounced Webb has occupied cell
adjoining the In which Ayers is confined the
ground floor, and by removing the cement between
the stones In tho wall succeeded in making n
aperture large enough through which 70 pass
sheet of paper, and wrote Ayers note,
asking him n he was going TO him die like a dog
without making effort 10 get him OF Ayers, in
great trepdaton answered, on the back Of the
sheet imploring Webb for Gods sake 70 say nothing
for II be did he Ayers would be ruined that
as he could his lawyers he would take steps W
tect him and save him from an ignominous death
Mere promises however, did not satisfy Webb, and he
wrote again 70 Ayers In terminating VEN, saying
that If he had not been SO eager for Reynolds death
neither Of them would have been IN jail and Duncan
would have been still alive. Ayers replied IL know
that myself; but don't tell one thing for II you do
am ruined and you will ruin all OF us," concluding
.gi,h a., an,oaI fpr his wife children