The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-03-03
Merchant Hunt Lurcd to Death.

HARMONY GROVE, Ga, February %
The foulest murder in the history Of
Jackson county was committed near here
Monday, February 18th.
NJ G. Hunt, a wealthy merchant OF
Bellton, Ga, was killed and his body
weighted down with rocks and thrown
into the Oconee river.
Grady Reynolds, of Bellton, has made
a full confession and is now in the Gaines
vile Jail.
A few weeks ago Reynolds purchased
Hunts store and contents, telling Hunt
he had the NJ oney here to pay for it. Hunt
came here with Reynolds to receive his
money.
Reynolds under some pretext, lured
Hunt out of town, and that was tho last
seen of Hunt alive.
Next day Reynolds returned to Bolton
in Hunts buggy. He had Hunts store
key, pistol, purse and watch in his pock-
ct.
Reynolds claimed that he had pur-
chased Hunts store and that Hunt had
gone to Carson City to see the prize fight
Reynolds began selling Hunts goods
for almost nothing, converting them into
cash rapidly and his conduct aroused sus-
picion.
Hunts relatives started an investiga-
ton. Reynolds heard of it, left the store
with the clerks and came back to the
scene of his crime. A warrant was issued
for Reynolds and he was arrested yester-
day and carried back to Bellton, where he
made full confession to-day, and alleg-
ing he had an accomplice.
Reynolds gave all the details and de-
scribed the spot where the body was sunk
in the river.
Upon receipt of this news large party
went to the spot described by Reynolds,
where the body of Hunt was found eX-
actly as told by Reynolds. Hunts va
| lise was also found in the river. The
| body was we'll preserved, and looked nat
ural.
Hunt was killed by a pistol shot, the
bullet entering behind the right ear,
coming out at the mouth and splitting the
| tongue. The murderer after shooting
Hunt took a chop axe and split his left
side open.
| Hunts body has just been brought
here, where an inquest is being held now.
Great excitement prevails at Bellton and
lynching there was feared by many. 1t
I is safe to say there will be no lynching ii
Reynolds is brought back to Jackson
county, as our citizens believe in allowing
the law to take its course.
This case is similar to the Crowley kill
ing in Atlanta by Will Myers, only ex-
ceeding it in boldness and design.
The murdered man always carried 8
large sum of money on his person and
had q foolish habit Of eXhibitin 6 this
money in public. Hunt was seen with a
large roll of bills, not less than 81, 900, on
the day he was here and this fact was well
known by Reynolds, and he lured his
victim on to his death.
The inquest is now being held over
Hunts body and will not be completed
before to morrow afternoon.
Reynolds, in his confession, duplicates
Bud Brooks, both of whom are we'll
known characters hereabouts.
Had it not been for the timely arrival
Of Sheriff Munday, Of Hall county, at
Bellton for Reynolds that place would
doubtless have been the scene Of a lynch
ing tonight.
| Hunt came to Belton about three years
ago and ran cash store. While of re-
| tiring disposition and not what one would
call familiar, he attended to his own bus.
mess. He was liked by all who knew him
| A cash store does not carry on rushing
business and recently Hunt was saying if
he could sell out his business here he
would leave. Grady Reynolds went to
Hunt, told him he had come into the pos
session of money aud would give him the
right kind of trade. Hunt acquiesced,
and together he and Reynolds lnvoiced
the stock of goods, drew up a bill of sale
and everything was completed except
the payment OF the money to Hunt by
Reynolds. Reynolds has been making
crossties on Mrs. Buffers place near
Harmony Grove. He induced Hunt to
90 with him to that place and there was
| where the crime was committed.
Reynolds claims that for killing Hunt
Brooks got the money which they found
upon Hunt amounting to $780, and that
| it was understood he was to have the
| stock of goods and the other property.