The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-08
REVENUE OFFICERS KILLED.
They Raid Still and are Shot by Moon
SINNERS.

Six men were probably massscred
/ in the wilds of the mountains OF Pope
county Ark. Tuesday afternoon. Two
were killed outright, two were fatally
wounded and left for dead, and two
have mystericusly disappeared and
are either dead or being held
captive bv bandits. The killed are:
Captain B. T. Taylor of Searcy coun-
| ty, deputy United States marshal; Joe
Dodson oi Stone county, deputy mar
shal. The fatally wounded are two
brothers named Renfrew of Searcy
county. The names of the missing
men are not known, but they are sup
posed to be deputy sherilfs from an ad.
Joining county. The victims we're all
deputy United States marshals and
deputy sheriffs, and the men who did
the work are moonshlners OF the bold
est and ncst desperate class. The
scene of the crime was 8 eulch or
ravine in the mountains OF Pope
county. at an isolated spot 35 miles
from Russellville, the nearest tele-
graph Office, and 10 miles from Witt
Springs. The region is wild and $50
lated. 1t has for year been the favo:
rite rendezvous for counterfeiterS and
moonshiners and is o district in which
no lawabiding citizsn can live. The
officers for a long time have been
trying to break up the lawlessness IN
that. vicinity and many battles between
them and the desperadoes have occur
red. Captain B. F. Taylor, the rich
est man in Searcy county, and a man
of much prominence, determined to
aid the officers in putting down crime.
He secured a commission as deputy
United States marshal and led the
posse in the raid that resulted in his
death.
A few days ago successful raid was
made in the same locality, in which q
dozsn moonshiners we're captured and
brought to Little Rock. One of them
told the officers that at least so large
distilleries were operating in the same
neighborhood. Taylor, with his posse,
located large moonshine outfit Sat
urday night and decided to make the
raid Sunday. Proceeding slightly in
advance of his men, Taylor was with
in 80 feet of the distellery when he
was fred upon from ambush and in
stantly killed. As Dodson ran up to
Taylor he was also shot dead. Rifles
began to crack in all directions and a
volley was fired into the officers. The
Renfrew brothers fell mortally wound
ed and lay by the roadside until later
in the day when traveller named
Pack came by. All traces of the ban.
dts had disappeared as well as two OF
the deputy sheriffs. The latter have
not since been seen or heard from.
Pack hurried to Russellville with the
news and the coroner, together with
sheriff's posse Immediately started for
the scene. No news has been received
since they departed. Pack thinks the
Renfrew brothers will be dead before
the party reaches them. 1t was not
known by whom the crime was COM
mitted but the officers believe the
gang is composed of desperadoes head
ed by Horace Bruce and John Church,
two of the most dangerous characters
in that locality. The United States
authorities were today requested to
offer a reward for the desperadoes,
and determined effort will be made
to capture them. 1t is very probable
that the effort will lead to further
bloodshed. Captain Taylor was an
OK. captain in the Federal army. He
had served two terms in the State leg
islature and was noted for his bravery.