The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1893-06-08
A KENTUCKY INSTANCE,
STORY OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVI-
DENUE SUGGESTED BY HAIR.
RIS' CASE...HANGED,
BUTNOT GUILTY
One Man Hanged and Another Con-
feesses the Murder In Peru After
Lapse Of Twenty Years.


The conviction of Carlyle Harris on
circumstantias evidence and his death
protesting to the last his innocence OF
the crime Cor which he was condemn
ed, makes it but natural that a deep |
interest should be taken in convictions
on circumstantial evidence. The re-
markable tale which follows was furn
ished to the Washington Post by al
gentleman Of standing, who youches
for its verify, save that the names
and places are fictitions. The name
of the lawyer appointed Minister
to Preu by Presidus Lincoln, he
writes, can be ascert aimed by any per-
son wishing to take the trouble, and
from that gentleman or his decehd-
ants can be, obtained full confrms-
ton Of the facts stated.
Kentucky about the year 1840 was
more noted than now for its bitter
and deadly family ieuds. The fre-
quent fatal encounters between rival
families within its dominions fully
warranted it's retention OF "The Dark
and Bloody Ground" given it in
early pioneer days. An eye for AN
eye, life for life, was observed to the
letter. Tradition said that the Red
wins and Larches had almost always
been at war, and it was common
knowledge that about 1910 Thomas
Redwin and Robert Larch, owners OF
adjoining plantations in Henry coun-
ty, bore no love for each other. The
increasing influence OF the law had
repressed encounters between the two
families for some years. In difference
to this growing sentiment against vio-
lence, Redwin and Larch avoided
each other as far as possible.
Game was plantiful in those days,
and it was the custom to keep rifles
suspended under the shelter OF the
porches Of plantation houses in
readiness for instant use. Among the
array of fires arms suspended beside
Larch's front door was long rife
with a queerly carved stock, which
had belonged to his great grandfather,
one of the pioneer settlers in the coun-
ty. In the year 1910 Redwin made
his annual visit to Louisville, sold
quantity Of corn for cash, and left the
town with much money in his pocket.
His roadlay through thinly settled
and rough country, and he started
home alone ahaed OF his teams.
When the latter arrived Redwinhad
not been heard of. Search was at
once commenced, and RedWin's body
was found near the most lonesom part
of the road. An examination showed
he had been shot. Aather further
search, Larch's rifle was found not far
distant from the body in The under
growth. Larch was arrested on suspis
ton, and upon his preliminary ex-
animation he started thai he had been
away from home about the time Red
win left Louisville, searching for some
cattle which had strayed away. He de-
MED carrying any weapons with him,
but could give no reason for his rifle
being found near the body, unless
some one had stolen it. As he was
the only enemy Redwin had and was
known to have threatened him, he
was indicted and tried for the murder.
On the trial it was clearly pr sed
that Redwin left Louisville alone, with
considerable money about his person /;
that he was found dead near the road
side, and that bullet or, bullets had
killed him; one was extracted from
his body. It was also proved that
E Larch was away from his home at the
time Of the murder; that he had borne
! ill-will to Redwin, and had sometimes
made threats agaist him that his rife
. was found concealed a short distance
fronrthe body that the bullet ex.
\ tracted from Redwin's body fitted
: Larch's rifle, and bore the marks Of
the grooves in it; that Larch had been
away from home about the time Of
!. the murder and had returned home
! late, and that we're thsre prints o
Q two horses hoofs found by the road