Blount County democrat. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 1879-1883, 1882-09-21
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff of Hamilton
County Killed.

Thursday afternoon, 18th inst, on
the passenger train, there was enacted
a bloody and terrible tragedy, Sheriff
w. Il. Cate and Deputy Sheriff John j.
Conway, Of Chattanooga, were taking
to the Supreme Court at Knoxville
three prisoners-John Taylor, under
sentence of ten years for killing Cap.
tain John Fletcher, j. l.. Carter, white,
under sentence of seven years for being
implicated in murder, and Ed. BiNens,
colored, under sentence for robbery.
The train was in charge of conductor
n. j, Bell and Sam. Toms. We con-
dense the accounts OF this affair as pub
lished in the Knoxville diiilieS, and
give tile maia part below:
At sweetwater two men boarded the
train and took seats in the same car where
the Sheriffs and the prisoners were seated.
at Philadelphia the train stopped, and the
two men got UP and came towards the pris-
coners, and the first thing known the man
vino proved to have been Bob Taylor, the
older brother of the prisoner, John, pre-
scented dis pistol within about six incbss q
Conveys head and fred, the shot taking
eject in the left temple and going through
and through. He hardly breathed, but fell
over, with his head behind Biyens, quiyer-
ed and died. Upon hearing the shot, Sher-
III Cate rose up, drew his pistol and fired at
the rescuers. AS soon rs Conway was shot,
Bob Taylor secured his keys and pistol,
unlocked John Taylor's handouts and gaye
him the pistol. John then fired and SHOT
Sheriff Cate, apparently in the jewels,
which seemed to stagger him. f&e SHOT OF
Sheriff Cate wounded JoAp FaylSr Slightly
in the arm. Some say Cate was shot again,
in the breast, but by whom it does not ap-
pear. A general stampede epsued. Sheriff
Cate, it cneRs, got down on the platform,
and was in the act of aiming his pistol at
ASb faylGr, WAeE two more shots were
fired, and be fell quivering to the ground
AS soon as the shooting was over Bob
Taylor and his brother Andy, and the res
cueG prisoner, John, presented their pistols
to Capt. Bell and ordered him to move the
train 0nt from there at once or they woald
shoot Kim. Bob appeared apxiO9s TO shoot
him any how, but John interceded and pre-
vented il. The three brothers then went
forward with their pistols and took pos
session of the eGgiRe. LOudOn was the
next station, and engineer Toms was order
cd at the penalty ofhis life, to pass through
there without Stacking speed. No halt was
made until the train reached LenOir's,
where it was ordered stopped. The three
Taylors Ieft the train there.
Carter secured the keys to the cuffs, came
Oh in the coach TO Knoxville and snrrsa-
dered himself and Bivens to Sheriff Homer
Gilmore, Of Knox county, who TOOK them
to Jail. Carter received a slight wound il
the right ankle from one Of the shots.
The Taylor brothers, especially the two
older ones, are said to be OH the dare
devil, reckless order, They are sons of
Tom Taylor, deceased, and were raised at
what is known as the Work place, about
two miles beyond KingstOa, Their home
lately has been in the Llttfet0n neighbOr-
hood. in Roane county, between IenOir's
and Kingston, John, who was the prison.
er, killed Captain Fletcher, an old sieam-
boat aud river man, at Chattanooga, nearly
two years ago. He made his escape and
and was afterwards captured by Sheriff Joe
ID. Foute, of LOHSt0n county, the deceased
Conway, and cthers, in Roane county. AZ
ter several tri8ls and mistrialS, ut the last
term of Court in Chattanooga, he was SEN
fenced to ten years in the penitentiary, for
but took an appeal, and his
case would have come up before the Su-
prcme Courta Knoxville last Friday.
DR.. Lenoir dressed John Taylor's wound,
the brothers pointing their pistols at his
head to hurry him up. At Lenoir's they
took three hNSses, one belonging to j. II.
Welcker, of E.oadop, one from DR. Foute>
and one from Vim. Bussell. After leaving
LenOir's tho faylors went to Kingston,
where they took Il quantity Nf amuBltion,
After leaving Kingston the Taylors went
TO the home of their broiher4inlaw and
procured fresh horses, afterwards going in
the direction of Emory Gap.
Forces were organized and started In
pursuit. There are a large number, prob
ably several hundred we'll armed men after
the despcradOes.
Gov. Hawkins has offered reward Of
81 800 for the apprehension of the EHylOrs,
and Judge Rae, Of Hamilton, has offered
an additional reward of $1,000, or $500 each
for the Taylors, dead or ALIKE.
AT this wriling the Tayfors are still
at large.
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