Blount County TN Archives News.....News Articles March 21, 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Glenn Teffeteller glennt@icx.net August 20, 2005, 3:03 am THE WATCHMAN March 21, 1882 THE WATCHMAN Tuesday, March 21, 1882 Murder Of A Deputy Collector---James M. Davis, who was recently murdered near McMinnville, in this State, has a remarkable history. At the time of his death he was nearly thirty-three years of age. During the administration of Gov. John C. Brown he was appointed Deputy Sheriff and succeeded in bringing to justice a gang of horse thieves who had murdered his brother. Since then he has spent his life in arresting criminals, many of whom were desperate characters. He has killed several who resisted him, and in several instances he has been wounded, and narrowly escaped death. With his own hands he has cut up over 500 wild cat distilleries, and has captured about 3,000 prisoners since he has in the revenue service. He was murdered by men in ambush about three miles from McMinnville, and it is reported that at least thirty bullets were found in his body, while his head was torn to pieces by pistol and rifle balls. A reward is offered for his murderers. It is said of Davis that he never swore, drank, or used tobacco, was kind to everyone, just and humane to his prisoners after their surrender, and was respected and liked by all law- abiding citizens. His life was insured to the amount of $14,000, which will be a great help to his widow, who has several children to support. Killed On The Railroad---At Knoxville, on the 14th inst., a terrible accident happened, resulting in the instant death of Thomas Bruce, a colored brakeman on the Knoxville and Augusta Railroad. While engaged in switching, he fell off the bumper which he had mounted, and was run over. His head was cut almost from his body, and his shoulders fearfully mangled, before it was known that he had fallen. The jury which was summoned rendered a verdict of accidental death through carelessness of the deceased, and no blame is attached to the railroad. The body was brought to Maryville, his home, and buried. Died---In the 8th District, on the 11th inst., Mr. Lyle Anderson, an old and respected citizen of this county. J.M. Rorex, a young lawyer of this place, left here recently for Texas, which he will make his future home. We wish John success. Rev. James G. Carson, of Xenia, Ohio, a former resident of this county, was in on a visit, last week to relatives, and friends. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/blount/newspapers/newsarti89gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/ File size: 2.9 Kb