The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1889-01-03
THE GOODSON MURDER.
All the Circumstances Point to William
Hunnicutt as the Murderer.
Tt The Knoxville Tribune.

hOAN MOUNIAlNj lem, DeC. 10 -
Belew | give you the facts as taken
from the family and reliable citizens
in regard to the murder OF Thomqs
Goodson. Deputy United States Mar.
shal Goodson was an Erglishman by
birth, and came to America at the age
of l8; married Miss Debbie jenkins
in Illinois, who was visiting relatives
there, in 1871. They have lived in
this country for sometime. He was a
very industrious and energetic man.
In August, 1887, he was appointed
Deputy United States Marshal and
has made a very efficient officer. On
december l, Mr. Goodson came here
after an absence OF about q week.
VIM. Honeycutt, man that has been
with him since he has been Marshal
and also lives on his place, was with
him on the evening he came home
and told him that q Mr.. Barnett who
lives four miles from Goodson's up
under the Roane, had told him (Hon
eycutt) to tell Godson to come Up as
soon as he got home as he had rev.
enue case for him, which fact Mr..
Barnett swore he had told Honeycutt.
Goodson and Honeycutt talked a
great deal together that evening and
about dusk Goodson left in the direr.
ton where he was murdered Hon.
eycutt left about the same time or a
little befole. His wife says he was
out until late that night. He was
tracked around hill between where
he lives and Goodson's in the gap ot
the ridge. He cut stick about IL
inch at the big end and trimrncd
down small az the little end. This
club was found where Goodson was
murdered, split open. 1t was taken
to the stump on the ridge and CORES
ppndHd exactly with the stump Good
son left to be back next day, but rs he
was absent from home most OF hi~
time his family did not become alarm
ed until about the middle of the week
following, and then could not alarm
any Of the neighbors until Sunday. A
week after he had BE- en- killed, his wife
went across the Roane in North Caro-.
lima and could not hear anything from
him, and on her return the people con
cluded he was murdered On Mon
dty, ten days after he was killed
search was made, and it was reported
that fire of gun was heard about 1C
O'Clock in the night. Goodson was
missing in the direction of where
Hunnicutt had told him to go to this
Mr.. Barnett. Search WAS made ther
first on Monday. BY Tuesday he ex
citement was getting high and severa
men we're in the woods. Tuesday
morning they searched where the
shots were heard again and found hi,
body where tree had been blown up
with his head put under the log, bu
his feet were exposed. They founC
him 90 be in~no offensive condition
Several men were together, and it wa,
announced that they all must sta,
there until the Coroner came anC
made his jury, but Hunnicutt said h,
would run and tell his (Goodson's
wife, and started off. Two or thre,
men told him to do so. After the jur,
was empanneled they brought tn
body home, distance of four miles
At noon Hunnicutt was arrested AM
searched and found three 38 cartridge
in his pistol. After examination b,
the physicians they found seven Sc
we're blows on Goodson's head and tw
balls in his head, exactly the size q
what Hunnicutt had. Mr., Goodson'
money and pistol were gone. Good
seon was seen with $40 or $50 the da
before in Elizabethton and got SO
from Mr., t. M. Allen at this place. ]
is uncertain how much money he ha
s on his person. A day or two after h
! was gone, Hunnicutt bought CO..
from Mr.. David Osborne and drove tn
COW back by Goodson's house. Mr.
Goodson asked HIM where he had e
the COW. He told her, and said sh
cost him his two yearlings and thi
teen bushels -oE corn but on the d"
J. of trial Mr.. Osborne swore he gay
d him two yearlings and ten dollars i
e cash and presented the money, te
y dollar bill. Mr.. T. A. Allen swore I
the bill Of money. Hunnicutt ce
tainly had little chance to get an
money. Hunnicutt did not try
prove where he was on the night If ii
murder, on Monday after Goodson w
killed. Hunnicutt came to Mr.. A
a lens store in this place and got eig'
dollars in goods and said Goodson to
= him to get them, as he had got a fe
things this way, they let him ha
them. The clerk told him he wou
rather have an order, but Mr.. ALE
told him to let him have the goot
As to the cause of the murder no O
40 knows vat