Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-09-04
DEPUTIES MURDERED.
shot Down by a Gang of Desperate
Moonshiners.
Two OF the Posse Killed Outright, Two Fa-
tally Wounded and Two Missing, and
AitThousht to be Dead Rewards
offered for the Assa,sIns.

"i"ought 10 De DtDead-Rewards
offered for the AssassIns.
LITTLE Rock, Ark, Aug. 3i.-Six
men were probably massacred in the
wilds OF the mountains of Pope county
Sunday afternoon. Two were killed
outright, two were fatally injured and
left for dead, and two have mysteri.
ously disappeared, and are either dead
or are being held captive by the blood.
thirsty bandits who committed the aw.
full crime.
The killed are:
Capt. B. +. Taylor, of Searcy county,
deputy United States marshal.
Joe Dodson, of Stone county. a dep
uty marshal.
The fatally wounded are two broth
ers named Renfro, of Searcy county.
The names of the missing men arenot
known, but they are supposed to be
deputy sheritfs frem an adjoining
county.
The victims were all officers, deputy
United States marshals and deputy
sheritfs, and the men who did the
work OF carnage are moonshiners OF
the boldest and most desperate class.
The scene of the bloody crime was a
gulch or ravine in the noun tains of
Pope county, an insulated spot 80 miles
from Russellville, the nearest tele-
graph Office, and ten miles from Wits
Springs
The region is wild and isolated. 1t
has for years been the favorite rem
devious for counterfeiters and moon
sinners, and district in which no
law-abiding citizen could live. Vet.
Grams, who were years ago hunted and
bounded out Of Georgia, North Caro-
lima, Tennessee and other states, have
settled in that mountainous country
and continued their illicit distilling.
Counterfeiters have operated there and
criminals of other classes have taken
refuge in the hills Of Pope county. For
years it has been considered the worst
and most dangerous section in the
state, and the crack of the rifle has
warned many deputy marshal to be
gone.
The officers for long time have
been trying to break up the lawless-
ness in that vicinity, and many bat
ties between them and the desperadoes
have occurred.
Capt. B. +. Taylor, the richest man
il Searcy county, and man of much
prominence, determined to aid the Off
GERS in putting down crime in that
section. He secured IA commission
as II. deputy United States marshal
and led the posse in the raid. Two
days ago a successful raid was made in
the same locality, in which a dozen
moonshiners were captured and
brought to Little Rock. One OF them
told the officers at least so large dis.
tiLleries v ere operating in the same
neighborhood. Taylor, with his posse,
located large moonshine outfit Satur-
day night, and decided to make the
raid Sunday in daylight
Proceeding slightly in advance of his
men, Taylor was within 80 feet of the
distillery when he was suddenly fired
upon from ambush and instantly killed.
AS Dodson ran up to Taylor he was
also shot dead in his tracks. Rifles be.
gan to crack in all directions and a
terrible volley was fired into the re.
naming officers.
The Renfro brothers fell mortally
wounded and lay like dead by the
roadside until, later in the day, trav.
elcr named Pack chanced by. All
traces of the bandits had disappeared,
as well as two of the deputy sheritfs.
The latter have not since been heard
from and are believed either to have
been killed or wounded and taken
away captive by the moonshiners.
Pack hurried to Russellyille with the
news, and the coroner, together with Il
sheriff's posse, Immediately started for
the scene. No news has been received
since they left. Pack thinks the Rem
fro brothers will be dead before the
party reaches them. 1t is not known
by whom the crime was committed, but
the officers believe the gang is com.
posed of desperadoes, headed by Horace
Bruce and John Church, two of the
most dangerous characters in that 10.
cality.
The United States authorities were
yesterday asked to offer reward for
the arrest of the gang, to which the
state will contribute, and determined
effort will be made to capture them.
1t is very probable the effort will lead
to further bloodshed.
Capt. Taylor was an ex-captain in
the federal army. He had served two
terms in the state Legislature and was
noted for his bravery.
Marshal Cooper yesterday afternoon
received the following telegram from
the attorney general
WASHINGTON, Aug ~.
Expen e of posses, subject to executive ap-
proval, not to exceed 5000, authorized. Five
hundred dollars reward authorized for capture
and delivery to marshal of all persons impli- |
Gated in the murder. MCkENNA