Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-11-27
The Body Found By HIS Nephew
FeRrfulIy ManEIed.

Ing by the side of the road. He recog-
nized it as Scrugg's wagon.
A short distance further on |
the seat was seen lying in |
the road. Upon reaching the school
house, Mr.. Alley informed Richard
Davis Of what he saw. Richard is a
nephew of ESQ. scruggs, employed In
the wholesale grocery house Of Condor
& Bros, and was at the school exhibi.
ton with Esq. Scruggs' children.
Richard ct once procured q lantern
and proceeded back towards the city in
search of his uncle. At point about
100 yards beyond the creek, and
some 800 or 400 yards, per-
haps, beyond the point where the
wagon was seen by Alley. Richard
met the mule going leisurly along
down the road, attached to the spring
wagon. and then 1t was that he made
the horrible discovery of his uncle
dangling at the mules heels, under the
wagon, stark dead.
It was a frightful bit of experience
for the young man, and summoned all
the courage in him: He stopped the
mule and remained there some time
before any assistance came. Pretty soon
DR.. J. w. Slacum and Mr.. VIM. Haley
who had been hunting on Beaver
creek came along in buggy. They
came on to the city and notified Mr..
Reps jones, q half brother of Esq.
Scrugg8. Mr.. Jones went out imme-
dlateiy, reached the home OF Maj. D.
A Carpenter, who lives about mile
his side of the spot, and they pro
ceeded there. Some other parties were
gathered by this time. A messenger
was dispatched to the city for Coroner
A. 8. Hudiburg, who went
out accompanied by other parties,
and empanneled jury of inquest over
the body consisting of the following
gentlemen: Maj. D. A. Carpenter, G.
H. Davis, w. P. Kelsoe, James Bell,
81. c. Harvey, Isaac Lillerson and
Samuel Anderson. Such evidence as
was obtainable was taken, but final
verdict was not rendered at the time.
It seems that Esq. Seruggs left the
stable of Simon Bradford, where he
bitches, just about dark, and
that he was under the Influence
of ttimulants. An effort was
made to persuade him not to go, it be-
Ing go dark, to no effect, however, and
he started out alone, In his spring
wagon, drawn by the mule which be
usually drivee. The dash board Of his
wagon was broken at one end, and
bore marks of a fresh break when
found. The supposition arrived at by
some of the witnesses is, that he had
put his feet up against the board to brace
himself in refining his mule, and 1t
gave way. His left foot was hung
between the single tree and cross
piece between the shafts, where it wss
held with vice like grip, and his body
went back under the wagon, with face
upwards. In this condition he was
found. The head was badly shattered
up on the back, and in the forehead
bore marks apparently of ticks
from the corks of the mules
hind sh0eP. Besides, his
neck was broken, as was
also his shoulder blade and his
arms and legs in several places, so that
the body was maneled frightfully
His coat was stripped off and wa;
afterwards found at the creek, bearing
evidence Of being dragged off the
body. The hat was also found in the
road, and there were marks Of blood
on rocks at different points. What 6
terrible death it must have been
The mule had, from al
the circumstances, perhaps
wound about, back and forth in the
road, all the time dragging the body
over rocks and gravels, 1t being held
fast by the foot. A small quantity Of
silver change was found in the peck cts
and also receipt for some money de.
posted in bank that day.
After the inquest the body was taken
up and conveyed to his home. Yes
terday burial case was taken out and
the funeral will occur to-day.
Our community has not been so
shocked for many days, and the sad
affair has cast a gloom over many
households. Esq Scruggs was extern
sively related in East Tennessee. He
has been for several terms a justice of
the peace in the 18th district, was a
prominent, well-to-do citizen, and
good neighbor. He leaves a
wife and three small Child
dren, who are overwhelmed
with grief at the peculiarly sad and
tragic fate Of husband and father, and
they have the heartfelt sympathies of
all. The children were at and particle
pated in the school exhibition above
mentioned. The sad news reached
them just before the close of the exer>
cises.
There were numerous rumors sfioat on
the streets yesterday of foul play and
murder, but from all the surrounding
circumstances there seems to be but
little doubt that 1t was an accidental
death.