The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-12-30
TT Is A FURIOUS FEUD
Davis Killed Three Men in Cold Blood
in Tennessee.
BETRAYED BY GUS THOMAS
Davis Determined To Have Revenge
and He Waited for the opportu-
nity--A killing Followed

Nashville, Tenn. December 2.-(Special)
There il an interesting story behind the
recent revenue raid into Hardin county.
on which Ed Thomas was killed while at
tempting TO shoot the officers who had
captured his Illicit still IL Is a story OF
jealousy and deceit treachery and muir
der. revenge and outlawry all combined.
and serves as an excellent illustration of
the disastrous results that inevitably at
tend dissensiOns among men combined lor
a purpose.
Hardin county is one Of the southern
border counties. touching Mississippi ana
is divided by the Tennessee river. The
ninth civil district known as the Red SUI
phur Springs district, lies on the west side
of the Tennessee river. Chambers creek
known for wears as the dead line for reve-
nue. officers, forms the western and north
ern boundaries, while Yellow creek is the
southern boundary.
The district is an ideal one for moon
sinners. and for nearly thirty years it has
been notorious as their iavorfte and IN
accessible retreat. They have been modest
cd but little until recently, because OF
their splendid organization and the ma
bility to secure a guide into the country.
There is but little tillable land in the
district aud negro is allowed TO live In
the community. OF late years it has be
shun the district. as they are always
looked upon with suspicion.
Only a few weeks back State Senator
Sims. Of Lawrence county, while going
through the country on business, was cap
tured Sy party Of mon who suspected
him Of being revenue officer and pre-
pared to hang him. lie gave one of them
SO 20 hasten away for a friend in the
nearest town. who identified him. lie
was released. but warned never to come
back.
The making Of mooushine whisky here
has been the leading Industry ever since
the war. Gus aud "a Thomas. who were
cousins, were moonshiners. as were their
fathers before Their II is the history of
The Thomas family that all the males die
with their boot on. The fathers of Gus
and cd were bushwhackcrs during the
war; sympathizing with the confederacy.
bat never onlistug. Directly after the
war ended I'd Thomass father killed
man named HAYES in his own stiiInouse
for an alleged insult to his wife. This
crime nec,saitated Right and he removed
20 the indian Territory. where I'd grew
up. Gus ThoHlaS's father was sometime
afterwards killed in quarrel ana Eds
falher also died in fight Tho Thomas
boys are legitimate products OF a back
woods life They tread the ground like
a eat, never 80 without rife and intui-
- ~ ei''" - ~ ~ "H04 e'S
slightest noise.
Davis Was a Queer One.
George Davis. ROW serving a four years
sentence at Columbus, o.. for wildcatting,
had been Tor ten years ~ TO his capture
cbe King of The Hardin county moon
sinners. lie is a bright. fearless fellow
OF keen native Wit, easy in manners and
fairly well educated lie would not sell
whisky on Sunday mar to minors and did
not drsr> h.uSllf
lie was both feared and respected Cp
70 TWO years ago be was quite influential
with tAe Thomas boys. and al stuck to-
eether SO that no successful raids had
ever been made into tho country Several
years ago Deputy United States Marshal
Glenn Lee was sent into the district with
several warrants for the arrest OF par
lies charged with selling whisky. lie was
heid mp on the roadside by men with
sho,guns. who turned him around and in
structsd him never 20 return. He cDeyed
Instructions.
AiiS1 u i''i ''.''' i'''lu
Inc hrs' rAla 81 any Importance mace ibto
Una. country ana one Whlch tAronSh sub
scuu'at events mas resulted SO DISASTROUS
~ I" lae moohs'ihtis. was ID june 1898,
Nh"h Ih4lVu states fAIdf@Au Brown OF
Memphis iDd party .1to The Red sulphur
Springs district 1Cet hrst went 70 Gus
ihchi-SS mouse anu hudins MN asleep,
arrested him re Vac then wanted only
Tor selling While Gus was putting his
clothes On he WhisoSed TO his wife TO
send his brother Jesse$thcn about thirJeen
years old. To warn Davis. This she did.
and when the posse reached DatIs's home
he ana three or four men were Standing
on the porch with guns ia their hands.
when ordered 10 surrender they all re-
tired into The house. Shooting at once
began. Deputy Marshal Garner was kill
ca and Marshal Brown was wounded. The
posse being compelled to beat retreat
About year afterwards Davis surrendered
to United States Marshal Manson, and
was released on 5000 bond. In June. 1894
Revenue Agent Clark and General Deputy
Collector EutlcdEe made another raid into
the country and captured Gus Thomas and
his brothers Bob and Dick. hut owing
20 the descrtion 81 the guide were unable
20 find their Soils They gave straw bonds
which they forfeited
Do,vie Av-o;d- c.,.,,;o.
- iNN-O-i-
George Davis was, in he mean line, lead
Ing a double life. lie was making wild
cat whisky an the time, but told the fev-
enue officers that he had n.Ncr made any.
though he admitted having sold scme. lie