Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-06-17
EXCITING RUMORS FROM ROGERS.
VILE,
Deputy U. S. Marshal Larkin Shoots a
Moonshiner,
Who Resists Arrest a Warrant for Vio-
latiOn.
He Starts to Knoxville to Report, But Is
Arrested and Taken Back.
Fears of Mob Law, and the Old Knoxville
Rifles Ordered to the Scene.

ing by Col L. IL. Reeves, United States
Marshal, from Deputy Marshal G. L. Lar
kin, at Rogersville Junction, to the effect
that he Iarkin) had shot a revenue violator
in self-defence, he having resisted ar
rest, and that he had been arrested and
was being taken back to Rogersville. Col
Reeves also had information that he
feared lynching and was asked to come
to his assistance.
Capt S. j. Couch, Of the Morristown
Times, arrived on the II o'clock train and
brought further particulars. According to
the report Capt. Couch brings, George
Larkin went, on Wednesday morning, to
Hawkins county, with warrant to arrest Art.
Larkin, who is relative, for violating the
revenue law. George found Art. in his field,
about six miles from Rogersville, and in
formed him of his errand and purpose,
whereupon Art. swore that he did not pro-
pose to be arrested, and drew knife and
made for George, cursing and protesting
that he would not be taken. George,
although armed, backed a considerable
distance, demonstrating with Art, and fired
off his pistol in the air. but Art kept COM
ing on in his threatening attitude, and
George, still backing, again fred, not in
tending 10 infiict mortal wound, but to
check his antagonist From the effects of
this shot, Art fell as if mortally wounded.
About this time, George saw anoth-
er fellow, perhaps a brother
of the former coming across the field, with
an open knife also, and knowing the char
acter of the yiolators in that locality, and
not caring to have any further trouble,
George took his horse and rode at once to
MOrristown. There he intended to take the
train which arrived here at o'clock yester-
day morning to report to headquarters,
but he was met there by Sheriff r. t.
Blevins, of Hawkins county, who arrested
him and took him on his way back to Rog-
erSvile
Sheriff Blevins as we learn, gave an en-
tirely different version of the affray. to the
effect that George killed Art in cold blood,
and that there had been an old
gludge between the two, notwithstanding
their kinslp. Whatevea the facts may be,
no one who knows George Larkins believes
that he would exceed his authority to the
extent of making it deliberate murder.
| George has been in the revenue service for
| several years, and has always been known as
strictly sober, discreet officer, and cool
and deliberate in the discharge of his official
duties.
We learn, in addition, that Sheriff Blevins
| manifested much more excitement and feel
ing in the arrest of Larkin than the occasion
demanded, and was very rough. Although
Larkin offered not the slightest resistance,
the sheriff put his pistol into his face very
| abruptly, and hand-cuffed him tight and
fast. 1t is known by a great many that the
sheriff does not entertain the best of feeling
for Larkin, on account of a former dis
charge of official duty by Larkin, but this
should certainly not effect the sheriff in the
discharge of his duty, in turn
Captain Couch brought communication
from Sheriff Maze, of Hamblen county, to
Col. Reeves, giving a statement of the case,
and also the information that there were seri-
Gus apprehensions, considering all the
circumstances that Larkin would be mobbed.
Colonel Reeves took the first train, at 2
o'clock, to make an investigation of the af-
fair, and would reach Rogersville about
o'clock last night. Before leaving he mott
| fed Governor Hawkins of the situation.
Soon after the train had left the following
telegram was received:
NASHVILLE, June 16-2.15 p. m.
T07,f No7rYnO1l RiHee.