The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-18
Hoods PILE are are the hest ,i- ailer-da .1
TWO PLUNGE FROM ONE TRAP.


They came down 70 the Butler place
and purchased the timber on il and began
TO cut crosstios and haul them 20 the road
and sell them. After cutting crossucs
several weeks Grady Reynolds left Brooks
at the Butler place cutting crossties, and
proceeded to Bolton, whore he proposed 10
buy Mr.. Hunts store and stock of goods.
He explained to Hunt that he and Brooks
had a big contract TO furnish crossues for
the Northeastern railroad, and that they
had the money here in bank to pay for the
store and goods Hunt and Reynolds took
stocks, agreed upon the price, and Hunt
filled out bill of sale of his store which
he was to sign here when he received his
money. Hunt and Reynolds then got in
Hunts buggy and started for the Butler
place, where they were TO meet Brooks and
go bird hunting that evening, and then all
come to Harmony Grove the following
morning and close trade by payment of
money and signature to bill Of sale
on arriving at the Butler place, Hunt
and Reynolds unhitched Hunts horse and
put it in the stable ana then Hunt whis
tied for his dog, shouldered his shotgun
and he and Grady Reynolds started over
the hill, i'm the direction of the place where
Brooks was cutting crossties upon the
banks of the Oconee, and that was the
last time Hunt was ever seen alive.
Soon after leaving the Butler house a
Brooks returned TO the Butler house and
told the people there that Mr.. Hunt had
gone on down the river TO the iron bridge
wehre he was waiting for them to bring
him to Harmony Grove. After eating a
hearty supper Brooks and Reynolds hitch
ed up Hunts horse and buggy and drove
off in the direction Of the iron bridge.
Brooks never returned, but Reynolds got
back to the Butler place about daylight
next morning. Reynolds returned to Bel
ton, exhibited a bin of sale from Hunt TO
store and goods, to which it seems that
Hunts name had been forged and took
complete control OF all Hunts property
Reynolds told every one that Hunt had
gone west to see Fitz and Corbett's big
fight, etc. etc.
Reynolds began selling out goods away
below cost, and this and other strange
actions aroused the suspicious of the peo-
pie of Bolton, who informed Mr.. Hunts
brothers of the sudden disappearance of
NJ. c. Hunt and the subsequent acts of
Reynolds.
The dead mans brothers came at once
to Bolton and began to make a thorough
INVESTIGATION of their brothers affairs In
the meantime, Reynolds got wind of what
was coming and left his store in charge
of a clerk, and returned to the Butler
place and began once more to cut cross
ties.
The Messrs. Hunt soon secured enough
evidence to authorize the issuing of a war
rant for Brooks and Reynolds. This war
rant was placed in the hands of Marshal
Scott Jackson of Harmony Grove, who
proceeded at once, alone and unalded, to
the Butler place, where he arrested Grady
Reynolds. Reynolds was carried to Bel
ton, where he made a full confession of
this horrible crime, duplicating Bud
Brooks, and telling where Merchant
Hunts body was concealed in the Oconee
river. The body was found cut open and
weighted down with large rocks in the
bottom of the river at the very spot men
toned by Reynolds in his confession An
inquest was held and the Coroner's jury
returned a verdict charging Grady Rey
nolds and Bud Brooks with the murder