The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-03-29
Sketch of Deputy Collector
Davis.

Davis:
Davis was born in Lincoln county,
and was about thirty-fve years old. He
entered the Confederate army when he
was but a bcardless boy, aud remained
in it until the close of hostilities. lie
was born detective and entered that
field shortly after the close of the war.
lie did not come into prominence, how.
ever, until after John G. Brown was
elected Governor. At that time large
number Of desperate men were proving
over the State, and no one seemed vii
ling to undertake the hazardous enter.
prise ofbringing them to justice. These
men were either horse.thieves or muir.
derers. Gov. Brown was so much i'm.
pressed with Davis capabilities as a de.
tectlvc that he gave the matter of ar.
resting desperadoes into his hands. Da-
Wis was skilled in woodcraft and loved
to roam in the forests, sleeping under
the trees at night as he had done when
a soldier, and being on the alert during
the day He could follow n trail like
an Indian and had an endurance that
was remarkable, often being in the sad
die three days and nights without sleep
lie was over six feet in height, dark.
haired, with large blue eyes, n fair com.
plcxion and a rather awkward, shamb-
ling gait.
One Of the most difficult arrests Davis
ever made was that of murderer in
Lincoln county. A reward having been
offered for the murderer's arrest, Davis
determined to capture him. Believing
Davis would attempt to take him, the
criminal wrote letter to the detective,
defying him to attempt it. AS soon as
he received the letter Davis commenced
at once to make preparations for the ar.
rest. 1t took him a week to accomplish
the undertaking, but it proved success
full. On the seventh day out Davis
tracked the murderer to clump of
woods He stole on him so softly that
the man, who was engaged in writing Il
letter, with double barrel shotgun and
two large revolvers by his side, failed to
hear him. When be had approached as
near as he thought prudent, Davis,
with his cooked gun, said to the murder.
er: "Jim, | have come after you, and
| reckon you will have to come with
me. I've got the drop on you, and you
might as well throw up your hands and
get away from that artillery" Jim saw
that he had been caught mapping, sur.
rendered, and was afterwards sentenced
to the penitentiary for twenty years. 1t
was not long after this that Davis was
employed in the revenue service, in
which he remained until the day of his
death. His salary had been increased
from time to time until it reached 81
800 per annum, the Department at
Washington having given him credit
for having broken up the business of il,
licit distiling in Tennessee. So much
confidence in his proves was entertain
ed by the Government authorities, that
about year ago he was temporarily
transferred to districts in Georgia ond
North Carolina, where he met with con-
siderable success
The first man Davis ever killed was
Jonathan Hampton, near Estill Springs.
Hampton, though indicted for illicit
distilling, had for four years deiied ar
rest. He never went unarmed, and
laid out almost during the entire period.
Davis and an assistant named Couch
left Murfreesboro one night, and ar
rived at Estill Springs at u o'clock mid
night, reaching Hampton's premises at
daylight. Himself and the other Off
Ger concealed themselves and waited I'M
til Hampton should start home Hamp-
ton made his appearance at 8 Il M,
went into his house and laid his rifle up.
on rack. He then sat down by the
fire, took little child on his knee, while
his wife stood behind him with her
hands on his shoulders. Davis and his
assistant then slipped quietly up to the
house. Leaving Couch at fence, Da.
Wis rushed into the house and told him
to surrender. lie had hardly laid his
eyes on Davis, however, before he
Jumped for his gun, leveled it at Couch
md attempted TO fire it The cap be.
ny wet, it refused to respond. Couch
llso attempted to shoot Hampton, but !
his cap was also wet and did not explode.
wife then gave him double
'arrel shotgun, when, greatly infuria-
ed, Hampton rushed at, Davis, who f
lad gone out the back door, and fired c
t him, but without effect, the balls hay
lg passed over Davis head. Davis re-
'eated ar ,und a chimney, while Hamp-
IN came to the other corner. Crossing
'eir guns at each other, and taking I
ght as well as they could, both fired N
each other simultaneously. Davis
Ill took effect in Hampton's breast,
lille one of Hampton's shot grazed his
ce, the larger proportion of the balls =.
oing into gum overcoat on Davis
BOULDER. Hampton then dubbed his
nn and attempted to strike Davis on
he head. Davis caught the gun, and
.cing that Hampton was about to fall
lsed him to the earth.
The next man Davis killed was jas
agnes, young man living near, Tracy :
Ity. He had shot, however, about
teen men, who fortunately recovered
Himself and party made raid upon
'mphell Morgan's distillery, and were
ct with determined resistance by Nor. r
N, who, alone in his still-house, fought |
c entire party until Davis shattered Y
arm, when Morgan surrendered
organ, who is regarded rs the uext