Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-03-24
MURDERED BY mooNsnlNERs.

JIM. Davis. one Of the most calebrat-
ed raiders OF mosnshinels in the south,
was waylaid and killed near McMinn.
vile, Tenn, on Monday, by gang of
twenty illicit distillers. His assassine
were concealed behind An embankment
of logs covered with fresh cut cedar
boughs. aud we're armed with shot guns
and pistols. Vickers, the companion Of
Davis, was riding by his side. Campbell
and the Others were following quarter
from his horse. Vickers galloped back to
the others Of the revenue party. Camp
bell and party coming up, saw one Of the
assassins run out from the bush and put
his pistol to Davis head and shoot. Oys.
ter cans were found behind the ambus.
cade freshly opened. They had been
purchased in McMinnville at Martins
store. Davis brains were shot out, and
there were over thirty bullet holes IN his
body. During the war Davis was in. the
confederate army, and afterward
showed such superior ability as q dctec-
tive that the revenue officials were not
long in finding him out and employing
him. At that time he could not read or
write his own name, but he acquired
both, as he found the necessity for it in
his business. In woodcraft he had no
superiore. The turn of Q broken blade
of grass, . bush thrust aside, or broken
twig gave him clew to his prey, and it
was generally an unerring one. He once
arrested man in the midst of forest
who had sworn never to be taken. He
was seated on q log writing letter, and
with every means Of self protection at
his command. Davis approached HIM
from behind, laid his hand with an iron;
like grip upon his shoulder. and said
OF his desperate encounters and hair
breadth escapes q volume could be writ
ten. He has arrested fully 5000 men,
and has done more than any other indi-
vidual to break up illicit dlstilling IN
Tennessee. He has killed several men,
and in time his nane grew odious to .
large class Of law breakers who were
sure to revenge themselves sooner
or later. On one occasion he
attempted to arrest . man named
Hampton, who lived near Winchester,
not far remote from the spot that saw
Davis death. Ho went to his house long
before the break of day and waited, With
another officer, any sign Of life. Hamp.
ton soon came to the door. Davis ap.
psarsd and desperate fight ensued.
Hampton Was killed, and Davis had Z
doublst, which vas folded on his shoulder
cut in seventeen places by buckshot
Hampton's friends threatened vengeance
and Davis was forced to leave secretly
on horseback and take the train ct dis.
tant station. OF hard pressed fights there
was no end. He onoe attacked noted
character. named Campbell Morgan, in
his stronghold. Morgan bad intrsnched
hinsslf in true military style in the
strongest Of fortrssses, with loopholes fol
shooting irons. In this stronghold Davis
surprised Morgan when without sufficient
Morgan, in the course Of time, became
one Of Davis frmist friends and most
valuable assistants, and il now the only
man WHO car in any degree fill Davis
place. Shortly after this Davis and hii
mon were besiegsd for three days a
Peaks house, in Putnam county, BY lO(
moonshiners. Phillips, ono OF his me1
was wounded at the commencement o.
the desperate fight. While the NOR
hated Davis and vowed vengeance on
him, the women Tor the most part wert
ready and willing to help him in break
ing up moonshine concerns. Davis made
narrow escape of his life some month.
ago. At Tracy City, where hs killsi
Haynes, some unknown ASSASSIN
fred on him from the bushes, killing til,
man who walked with him. He was al
most fatally wounded some months sino,
By the Weld brothers, in Putnam county
In faot, he has been pursued so closely
and with such demonstrations that clear
y meant nothing short of death. that 9
less, brave and daring man would hav,
retired from the service ere the fatal sho
that robbed him of his life could havl
been fired. Capt. Davis besides killing
Hampton aud Haynes. has shot not les
than fifteen men, all OF whom recovered
and broke up. during his career, 700 ill
cit diatillariea.