Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-08-27
NAMES SINNERS WHO
AMBUSHED OFFICERS
In Dying Statement johnson
County Man, Tells On Others
In Murder Gang
(By Associated Press)

| Melvin. Paint ntsvillc Chief of Po-
lice, and J. H. Reynolds, prohibi-
tion agent, in dying statement
made today by Patt Mckenzie,
tsaid to have been member Of the
gang. Manuel Fitzpatrick, as
sistant chief of police Of Paints
Vile, was wounded The shoot
ling occurred while the officers
were cndeavoring to locate an il
licit still in the vicinity OF the
Mckenzie farm.
Five men arc i'll Jail here in
connection with the killing. They
include Hugh Mckenzie, from
whose cabin the ambushers fired,
Ray Mckenzie, Tollie King, OF
to Young and Dennis Blevins.
Trapped in d deep hollow, sur-
rounded by a heavy woodland.
along Mud Lick Creek. four miles
from Paintsville in Johnson coun-
lty, John II. Reynolds. revenue
man. and James Melvin. marshal
OF Paintsville, were shot and in
stantly killed by moonshincrs
in pitched battle Friday morn
, ing. Two others were wounded.
one fatally. and five arc i'll Jail,
charged with the crime.
Deputy sheriff Manuel Fitz-
patrick, Il member OF thc raiding
party, was seriously wounded.
He was brought to the hospital
at aPintsvillc. where all cxainina-
| ton showed that he was shot
through the body. the arm and
suffered scalp wound.
Hugh Mckenzie, said to have
been one OF the moonshiners. is
also i'll a hospital in Paintsville.
! fatally wounded. Mckenzie was
shot through the abdomen twice
and is expected to die within the
incxt "a hours. -
Five others arc i'll jail i'll Paints
Vile. charged with the killing of
tRcynolds and Melvin and the
wounding OF Fitzpatrick. Those
now in custody are Jesse Nc
Kcnzic, Ray Mckenzie, Otto
Young, Denny Blcvins and Tollie
King.
A posse is securing 'he noun
tains for several other mcn said
to have been members of the par
ty which aInbushcd the group Of
officers.
Details of the shooting recciv-
ed in Lexington at the Office OF
State Prohibition Director Sam
Collins were that little was
known other than that Reynolds
had been shot to death.
The party OF officers left Paints
vile carly and had progressed
Lut four miles up Mud Lick creek
when they were trapped.
They were following the creek
bed when the shooting occurred
and were i'll Il deep hollow sur-
rounded by heavy woodland.
From the sides Of the creek the
mocnsh nerS poured several vol
llcys mo the ranks OF the officers.
! Reynolds and Melvin were killed
instantly. Deputy Fitzpatrick was
wounded on the second volley.
| Lying OH the ground he returned
! the FIRE, and according to his
story. when brought to the hos
pital, wounded Hugh Mckenzie.
The iuoonshiuers had shotguns
and high-powered rifles. Rey-
nolds was killed by buckshot,
which riddled and badly tore his
body. Melvin's body contains
buc kshot, though he was also
struck by several rifle bullets.
! Agent Reynolds was one of the
most efficient men OF the force,
according to his comrades in the
work. He had gained wide
Reputation as RAIDER" and had
!engaged in active work both in
Ieastern and western Kentucky.
J, Previous to his assignment to
Lexington, six or seven months
Eago, he had been attached to the
Louisville Office.
/ His home is at Pikeville and he
twas AZ years old. During the
tyears he had served on the reve-
Inue forces he had gained repu-
ftation for fearlessness and dar-
ling.
Years ago he participated III
the Wright Reynolds feud i'll
fletcher county,. According to
fellow officers he is reputed to
have k,lle~f a;trbt t,,st,,,. ~ more