Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1882-09-19
From the knoxville Chronicle of the 18th. ]
BORDER 0UTLAWRY OUT
DONE.
A Passenger Train Boarded at Sweet
water by Brothers of
A Prisoner, John Taylor They Shoot
and Kill Sheriff Gate and Deputy
Conway
Of Chattanooga, Capture the Train and
Run it on to Lenoir's,
Where They Leave the Train, With tn
Rescued Prisoner.


train, No. =, from Chattanooga, there
was enacted piece Of outlawry, asSassi-
nation and blOodShed, which for bold
ness and daring is not to be surpassed
in the annals OF history. In the atf'ray
Deputy Sheriff John j. Conway, of
Chattanooga, was killed instantly, and
Sheriff y. Il. Cate, of the same place, was
mortalv wounded by The Taylor broth
crS. who rescued their bro,hcr John
Taylor, n prisoner being brought from
Chattanooga to the Su creme Court, and
all escaped. The facts in detail, rs far
rs we can gather them from Varioms
sources, are about rs follows:
Sheriff W. Il. Cate, Of Hamilton Noun-
~. and Deputy Sheriff John j. Conway
started on No. passenger train, which
left Chattanooga ut l2;l0 p, M, having
in charge three prisoners, bringing them
to1hc Supreme Court, where they were
to havca bearing, on an appeal They
were Jolm Taylor, under sentence often
years for killing Captain John Fletcher,
j. l.. Carter, white, under sentence of
seven years for being implicated in muir
der, and Ed. Bivcns, coorcd, under SEN
tcncc for robbery. The train was in
charge of Capt. n. j. Bell, conductor,
and pulled by Engineer sam. Toms.
At SwectWater three men took the
train in n party, entered the first car, be-
hind the baggage and express ear, and
took seats towards the rear Of the ear,
Two of the men paid their fare to Lc-
noir's Station, and the other gave u tick
ct to the same place. In this same car,
about four seats from the front were
seated, the prisoners Two seats were
turned together. On one was seated
John Taylor and Jake Carter handculrd
together, one of each of their hands be-
ing enclosed in the cuffs. In the other
seat sat Captain Conway, next to the
window. facing the front Of the ear, and
by his side Ed BivcnS, handcutlrd to the
end Of the seat. Sheriff Cate sat in II
seat on the other side Of the aisle, nearly
opposite to the prisoners. No particular
attention was paid to the men. The ear
was crowded passengers. 1t was noticed,
however, that glanccs Of reorganization
passed between the prisoner and one OF
tile men.
At philadclphia, the first station, 7
miles this side OF SwcctwaIcr, the train
stopped. No sooner had the train slack
cd than two of the men got up and cUmc
towards the prisoners, aud the first thing
known the man who proves to have brcu
Bob Taylor, the older brother ofthc priS-
mcr, John, presented his pistol within
about six inches Of Conway's head aud
fired the shot taking eject in the left
temple and going through and through.
Conway barely sIicd his head, ~ II Ia
dodge. before The shot Il WAS u deadly
one. however. H." hardly hrcathcd, but
fell over. with his herd behind Bivcus,
Quivrrrd and died, Immediately upon
hearing The shot, sheriff Cate rose up,
drew his pistol AMI fired at the rcsrnr-
CrS.
\ soon rs Conway WINS shot Bob ldy-
Tor secured his keys ud pistol, uulorkrd
John Iuylcr's haudcu,i', and gave hIul
the pistol. According to the most rclW-
bic mlomalon. john then llGcd md shot
Sheriff tHlr, apparently in the bowels,
which seemed to slngg'r him. The Shot
Of Sheriff Cate wouunci John Taylor
slightly IN the arm. Surr eve witnesses
say Cate was shot again, Immediately. "
4
pear. A general stampede cnSucd, and
the coach was almost rNpl!cd. Slcrlil
Cate, II seems, who was near the nOnl
door, rot down on the plSllorm, ami was
IN thea OF aiming his pistol 1T Bot
TAYLOR lu shoot, when two more shots
were fired, he fell qriycriug To the
ground.
Capt. Bell, conductor, wasin the coach
behind Shcn he heard the shooting and
came forward. As soon ny the shooting
was over Bob Taylor and the man who
appears to have been his brother, Andy,
sud the rescued prisoner john, prvsrut-
cd thcir pistols 10 Capt. Bell aud order
cd him to move the train ont from there
nj once, or they would shoot him. Bob
appeared anxious 10 shoot him any how,
but John intrrccdrd and prevented 1t.
The train moved or vt once. The three
brothers then went forward with Then
pistols aud took possession " the engine.
I.OudUn wHs the next station, Hud en-
ginrrr Toms WAS ordered. NJ the penalty
Ut Nj. life. to pastthrough there without
Stacking speed no halt was made until
the train reached Lcnoir's where II was
NlNUIlNN' lll' lUl'' ldN VlN' N'''lll ''N'
I'D by another mau"-Who he was we were
unable to nscrHnln--lcrt the train here,
aud the foUr were srcn to 20 of down
the track. The lnylors told Engineer
Toms that they hal horses there and
would take them and make away.
JnkeAurlcr, the other white prisoner
who was released when TAYLOR wus ILL.
Grated, but had The two wlns pill hang.
ing 10 his arm, bore hlmsplruubly, The
'l'Nylors, hc snys,olrrcd olH,c him viii
them, but he declined 10 70. Bob want.
cd 10 XIII him aud get him out Of the
way M u witness, but John wouldn't let
him. Carter secured the Keys lo lhr
cuffs, cnm, ON In the coach 10 Knoxville
aud surrendered himself aud iivrus Ia
sheriff Homer Gilmore, of lhiy county
who took them ~ Jnh Carter received
u light wound In the right ankle FROM
one tr The sliuts.