USA > Tennessee > Sevier County > The White-caps : a history of the organization in Sevier County > Part 4
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enactment of the two laws above referred to in this chapter. He, in truth was the moving spirit in setting on foot this legislation ; he procured the assistance and influence of Hon. G. W. Pickle, attorney-general of the state, and even Governor Taylor himself.
Hon. John C. Houk, Senator from this Senatorial district, took especial interest in these measures and be- cante their champion in the Senate. -
Representative Parton took an active part and gave his influence in the House.
While Judge Nelson as has been stated, by his bold and fearless stand in dispensing the law inspired the people with new life and hope, it should not be forgot- ten that General E. F. Mynatt, the able attorney-gen- eral of the Knox county criminal district, has been no less a potent factor in bringing the guilty to justice and driving the White-caps from the courts and many of them from the country. Some of his efforts in prose- cuting White-cap murderers, were remarkable for vigor and ability. His closing arguments before the juries in the Wynn and Tipton cases is said to have been the finest efforts of his life and the most eloquent appeals ever made to a jury in Sevier county. Men and women wept like children, and the jurors were scarcely less affected.
The attorney-general was ably assisted in these prosecutions by his brother, R. A. Mynatt, assistant at- torney-general.
In these cases the judge and the attorney-general can feel that they have discharged their duty, acting under their oaths as officers of the law. In the discharge of these duties they were ably assisted by Sheriff Maples,
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and his deputies, Davis, Keener, McGill and others, to whom the people of Sevier county will always feel grateful for their services in driving White-capping from the county ..
No White-cap outrages have been committed in the county for nearly two years, and none at all we are told since Judge Nelson was assigned the duty of hold- ing the courts in that county.
There is as much quiet and order in Sevier county now if reports be true as any county in the State. And even the little town of Sevierville, which for a time was the center and hot-bed of White-capping, and noted for a gang of "toughs" and general lawlessness, is now as quiet and orderly as any town in East Tennessee.
A rather amusing incident has been reported to the writer as having occurred in Sevierville on the first night that Judge Nelson and General Mynatt spent in that town, just prior to opening their first term of court.
Perhaps a dozen of the young bloods of the town who had been in the habit of making night hideous with their escapades, and on this particular occasion no doubt backed and encouraged by the White-caps who had not yet made Judge Nelson's acquaintance, con- cluded that they would have some fine sport at the expense of the new judge and attorney-general. They thereupon organized their company and marched up and down the street in front of the hotel where the judge and attorney-general were stopping, singing : "Hang Judge Nelson to a sour apple tree," etc., and then they would repeat the same with General My- natt's name, much to the annoyance of the visitors who
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ETÈ . .
ATTORNEY-GENERAL E. F. MYNATT.
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had been told all sorts of stories about what they would see and hear in that White-cap town. But the judge, while no doubt annoyed, was not to be intimidated by this sort of conduct, and thereupon, sought the sheriff or someof his deputies and had him to secure the names of all of the night songsters, and turn them over to the attorney-general with instructions to indict every one of them for nuisances and general "cussedness" as soon as his grand jury was ready for work. It was not long before this was done, and some time on Monday the sheriff appeared before the bar with about a dozen pale-faced young Americans who were charged with belonging to the Saturday night's choir. The judge thereupon delivered them a lecture they will perhaps never forget, and ordered them to give bond for their appearance at a future day, at which time they must answer for their conduct on' the previous Saturday night. The boys retired feeling that they had awak- ened the wrong passenger. What became of the boys and the indictments against them we are not informed, but we understand that Judge Nelson and General My- natt have never since been disturbed by these or other parties in their night slumbers and meditations.
Sevier county is one of the largest and richest coun- ties in East Tennessee, noted for its rich farming lands and beautiful rivers and mountain scenery, as well as the intelligence and prosperity of its citizens. But it has one blot upon its history and that is its White-cap record. This only exists now, in history and not in
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practice. The people are now making rapid strides to recover what they have lost in the last few years in reputation. They have recently constructed one of the most beautiful and convenient courthouses in East Tennessee, and are now engaged in building a splen- did piké road from Sevierville to Knox county which will be worth thousands of dollars to them.
Long may they live to enjoy the peace and prosper- ity which now prevails in that beautiful section of East Tennessee, nestling as it does around the foot of the great Smoky Mountains.
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CHAPTER XI.
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SOME OF THE RESULTS WHICH FOLLOWED WHITE- CAPPING IN SEVIER COUNTY.
There is an old adage that "Politics makes strange bed fellows." The reader can no doubt recall one or more instances in which the above statement has been verified in his own experience. And what is true of politics in this sense, may also be said of White-cap- ping so far as it affected the public and the people in Sevier county. Indeed as a general proposition, may it not be said that this holds good in reference to any sub- ject or issue which becomes absorbing and calls forth different views and discussions by the people? Men with or without studying public questions, ally them- selves with one side or the other and thereby risk their popularity and their fortunes with the choice made. Nor are men always controlled in their choice by right . and wrong or the moral aspect of the questions in- volved. Some it is true circumscribe their conduct and actions by moral motives, while others are influenced by gain, or popularity, while still others are controlled by a sordid ambition which knows no bounds short of general deviltry and revenge.
As we have had occasion to say, perhaps more than once in these pages, those who took the initiatory steps in White-capping in Sevier county were prompted by proper motives but were evidently guided by false reasoning, but many persons, even on as grave
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matters as these do not stop to reason, but act from first impulses. From one motive or another a suffi- cient number of people were willing to cast their for- tunes with those who believed in the new methods of reform, to make it a strong and popular organization among the citizens of Sevier county.
Some men joined the White-caps for their influence in trade and from a business standpoint ; some for their influence in elections, for it was known that they could make or unmake officers at will; others joined then because of the protection the order could afford then in the commission of crime, or for crimes already con1- mitted. So it is well known that, at one time in Sevier county, the anti-White-cap had the laboring oar to handle, and was the "under dog" in the fight. Men were looked upon as odious, and were taunted and in- timidated because they saw proper to side with those who sought to lead the anti-White-cap forces and sen- timent.
In course of time though the tide changed, influen- ces fast accumulated against the White-caps and they were put on the defensive. Some of them were men of means and they had spent their money freely to for- ward the interest of their pet organization, and to as- sist those who had cast their fortunes with it for pro- tection. And when the general crash came, as we have seen that it did, many a White-cap woke up to the aw- ful fact that his investment in the organization had left him without money, without friends and without char- acter. He was regarded as unworthy of belief as a wit- ness in a court of record. He was disqualified by spe- cial statute from sitting on either grand or petit juries,
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and in effect rendered infamous. Indeed the way of the White-capper is hard. He is now down and every- body who passes gives him a kick. His crime is great and the full enforcement of the law is demanded against him.
The legislature is petitioned and grants new laws for the purpose of more effectually punishing him. judges are summarily disposed of and others installed in their places, in order that punishment may be more swift in overtaking him. He is indicted, arrested and put in jail, and disallowed bail. Public sentiment is so strong against him that it can be felt in the very air around him, and he cannot get a fair trial on his native heath, but is forced to go among strangers for a trial. How changed the condition of the White-cap now and a few years ago, when his word was law and courts and juries were to him as chaff before the wind !
The pendulum indeed has swung to the other side, and it may well be questioned whether wrongs and ex- ceses, though unintentional, may not be indulged in on the other extreme. This is generally true in refer- ence to all reforms. But let us hope in these matters that the golden medium may be found and accepted, and that scales of justice may be correctly poised so that every man may know and respect the law.
After the collapse of the White-cap organization came, it is remarkable how soon its leaders disap- peared. Some left the county and the state to avoid prosecutions; others feeling that their credit. their character and in a measure their property was gone, disposed of their remaining assets and went ·to unknown parts. Some have been killed, while oth-
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ers are in the courts either awaiting trial or the execu- tion of the sentences that have been pronounced against them. Another large class of citizens who have either been regarded as White-caps or in sym- pathy with them, but in no sense leaders, are now liv- ing quiet retired lives and apparently show little or no sympathy with the now defunct institution.
Public sentiment has been so revolutionized that White-capism is now viciously attacked and unmerci- fully condemned on every hand. It is natural therefore that those who feel themselves guilty should want to be as quiet and retired as possible.
To show how much White-capping and White-caps are hated in Sevier county, and how the people regard those who took a leading part in breaking it up and driving it from their midst, it is only necessary to call attention to the late election for sheriff in that county.
Sevier county is one of the strongest republican counties in the state, there being about four thousand voters in the county and not over four hundred of these democrats, or about one out of every ten. In that elec- tion there were two candidates for the office of sheriff, to-wit : R. H. Shields a life long and consistent repub- lican, and T. H. Davis, a life-long and consistent demo- crat. Not only is Shields a republican, but a man of unblemished character and splendid qualifications to discharge the duties of the office. He was never a White-cap nor a White-cap sympathizer, but a man of exemplary habits, who believes in the supremacy of the law. Mr. Shields, however, is not aggressive in his manner, but rather quiet and unobtrusive, and during the White-cap upheavals in the county he took little
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or no stock in them so far as was generally known, be- ing content to let them alone if they would him.
On the other hand, Mr. Davis as stated was a strong democrat, but like Mr. Shields a man of good character and excellent qualifications for the office. He is, however, a man not only of pronounced views on important questions, but very aggressive in declaring them and carrying them into execution. So when the White-cap subject, became the all absorbing topic in the county, Davis was among the first to speak out boldly against it, and declare it unlawful and revolu- tionary in its character. He showed the White-caps no quarters, and vigorously attacked them wherever he went. By reason of the bold stand he had taken against this lawless element, he, though a pronounced demo- crat, had been appointed a deputy sheriff of the county by M. F. Maples when elected sheriff in 1896. It was unusual in that county for the sheriff to appoint even a deputy who was a democrat, but in this instance he took the risk and made the appointment. It was soon learned that he had made no mistake, for Davis at once showed himself to be an active, wide-awake officer. This appointment afforded him a field of operation he had long wanted and that was to hunt down White- caps and bring them to justice. His work along these lines has been referred to in another place in this vol- ume, and need not here be repeated.
His two years experience as a deputy sheriff had given Davis an extended acquaintance over the county which was worth a great deal to him in his coming race. Shields had likewise been before the public be- fore and was well known to the masses of the people.
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The two candidates thus equipped entered the contest. Shields had the advantage in his politics, and to off- set this, Davis launched forth his anti-White-cap rec- ord. On these two issues the battle was waged. Se- vier county had not elected a democratic sheriff since the civil war, nearly forty years, and it was not be- lieved by Davis' most ardent suporters that he could overcome the enormous political majority against him. While men were wedded to their party and hated to break away from it, yet they felt that to get rid of White-cap domination and all the attendant evils it had brought upon the people, was far more preferable at this time than a party victory. The White-caps did not stop at party lines, neither should those who in- tended to wage war on them. Politics, it was argued, was a good thing in its place, but when men's lives and their property, the protection of their homes, their wives and their children are all at stake, men should close their eyes to politics and vote for the man who stands and has stood closest to their interests. The war on White- caps has been successfully waged and they were now on the run, but it would not do to give up their general at the critical movement.
Arguments like these were used by Davis friends with telling effect. Old men who never had voted a democratic ticket in their lives, ignored the question of party politics and voted for Tom Davis. Republicans and old Federal soldiers left their business, and can- vassed the county in his interest. Shields' friends could not check the tide. They argued that Shields was no White-cap nor White-cap sympathizer and if elected would show them no favors, and besides he was
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a republican, all of which was true, but Davis had fought the White-cap battles and won the victory and he must be rewarded.
The people voted for Davis not because they liked democrats more, but because they liked White-caps less. On these lines the two candidates for sheriff waged their contest. What White-caps were left in the county and their sympathizers had no candidate in the field, but as between Shields and Davis they naturally went to the former. They all hated Davis too bad, he had been their unrelenting enemy, and pursued them into the last entrenchment. No argument could draw this element to him, so it naturally went to Shields, who if he had not helped them, had not done them any harm. This was the turning point in thé election. A large number of people only wanted to know whom the White-caps were for, and this known they would vote for the other candidate. Many former admirers and supporters of Shields, when they learned that the frag- ments of the White-cap forces had gone to him, imme- diately left him and went to Davis, saying they hated to vote with the democrats, but preferred it to voting with White-caps.
Although Shields saw that this very thing was weakening him, yet he could not afford to say to the White-caps that he did not want their support. This is one of the times the candidates supporters defeated him-his strength became his weakness-and when the conflict was over and the smoke of battle cleared away Davis was elected by a majority of 74 votes, out of a total vote of 3,530.
Thus it is that Sevier county, almost solidly repub lican in a single-handed race between a republican and
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a democrat, neither having the advantage of the other in point of character and qualifications, to-day has a democratic sheriff. It cannot properly be said that it was Shields' weakness that caused his defeat, because he was not a weak candidate, it was rather the strength of the other man, combined with the peculiar condi- tion of things as they then existed and had existed in the county. "It was a condition and not a theory" that confronted the people at this time, and no other repub- lican perhaps in the country under the same circum- stances could have been elected. It is just one of the strange things that sometimes happens in the history of any people, especially in times of excitement and great agitation over grave public questions. It is the fruit of a revolutionary spirit that sometimes possesses people.
Ten years ago, if one in a serious mood had asserted that in the year 1898, the people of Sevier county by popular vote would elect a democratic sheriff in a sin- gle-handed race between two good men as in this case, he would have been laughed at in derision, if not put down as a lunatic.
Tom Davis never would have been sheriff of Sevier county had it not been for the White-cap question. It is part of the sequel of Sevier county' "Reign of Ter- ror."
There are some other questions and coincidences growing out of Davis election as sheriff and the White- cap question which it is deemed appropriate to be men- tioned here.
Sheriff Davis, Pleas Wynn and Catlett Tipton were all raised up together in the same neighborhood. They
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were school boys together and played together in the common sports of the day. Always friends, they would fight for each other at a moment's warning. When baseball was the "rage" among the boys of that section several years ago, they all belonged to the same team of which Tom was their captain. They planned and took counsel together as to how they would defeat their foe upon the ball field, and scarcely ever went down in defeat. But in course of time their paths di- verged, and they traveled in different fields and oper- ated on different lines.
Davis settled down and for several years lived the quiet life of a farmer. Tipton followed his chosen trade, a carpenter ; while Wynn had no special occupa- tion, but drifted around ; much of his time being spent in idleness and unprofitable fishing and hunting. When White-capping sprang up in the county, Tipton drifted into that and became its leader and captain, with Pleas Wynn as a good lieutenant, while Davis became the . leader of those who opposed it. In this sense they were enemies. Davis was after the White-caps and Tipton was after anybody that was pursuing him or his men. When the final clash came fortune favored Da- vis. . As deputy sheriff he arrested Wynn and Tipton for the murder of the Whaleys, took a leading part in their prosecution and this naturally made them his bit- ter enemies, but it helped to make him sheriff of the county. Now Wynn and Tipton are condemned to die on the 4th of January, 1899, upon the gallows, and un- · less this decree is changed, it will become the duty of Tom Davis, their former friend and playmate, but af- terwards their most hated enemy, to carry into effect
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this solemn decree of the highest court in the common- wealth of Tennessee.
These are not only interesting facts and coinci- dences when studied in connection with the lives and histories of these three Sevier county boys, but they form a part of the sequel in the history and downfall of one of the most noted gangs of outlaws known to mod- ern civilization ..
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CHAPTER XII.
THOMAS H. DAVIS.
Thomas Houston Davis was born in Sevier county on the 7th of August, 1864. He is the son of J. D. Davis, a prosperous farmer, living four miles below Seviervilie, on the Knoxville and Sevierville road. His mother, Mary J. Davis, is the daughter of Judge Samuel Pickens, of Sevier county. His early life was spent on the farm. He attended the public schools of the county, two terms at Carson college and one at the Knoxville Business college. He taught school four sessions and then returned to the farm. In the year 1887 he was married to Linnie A. Adams, daughter of T. F. Adams, of Strawberry Plains. After his mar- riage, he lived a quiet farmer's life up to the year 1894 when he was appointed deputy sheriff by sheriff M. F. Maples.
The fight which he made against the White-cap organization in Sevier county presents a case of unpar- alleled bravery, perseverance and skill. He stood alone against 650 outlaws, turned the tide and won the victory.
White-caps no longer rule supreme in Sevier county. Overawed by his boldness, determination and shrewd detective work, they at last weakened and gave up the fight. Like a trembling culprit, standing upon the very verge of eternity with the gallows staring him in the face, they, too, saw that justice had at last over- taken them. Thus, the dense clouds that over-
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shadowed Sevier county began to break and move slowly away while gleams of sunshine flashed between them as they passed, lighting up the hearts of the people with rays of hope.
They recognized in Tom Davis a leader that knew no such word as defeat, and, rallying to his support, vowed they would all stand by him to the " bitter end." Thus began the great struggle to overthrow White-capism and restore law and order in Sevier county.
Few men have endured as many hardships or had as many hair-breadth escapes in the same length of time as the subject of this sketch. Fearless and undaunted,. he pressed forward with a determination to win or die in the effort, and therefore overcame all opposition and surmounted every obstacle. Although many threats were made against his life, his road waylaid at differ- ent times and his close friends and relatives advised him to give up the struggle, resign his office and flee the country until excitement abated, he still went about wearing the same usual smile on his face and quietly working up the evidence that was slowly, but surely, weaving a web around the necks of some of the most noted outlaws that ever set foot on Tennessee soil. He was not deterred from his purpose, and when warned by his friends of his perilous undertaking only replied : " The time has come when some man must undertake it, or our county is ruined."
The day that Pleas Wynn and Catlett Tipton were arrested on the public square in the town of Sevierville and led to the court house by deputy sheriff Tom Davis is a day that will ever live in the minds of the
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people. The crash had come at last, and the turning point in the lives of two noted White-caps and outlaws had been reached. They had evidently run their course, and the first link in the chain that for years bound together a band of desperadoes had been broken.
We will not attempt to give a detailed account of all his exploits, but will mention some of the most noted ones ; those pertaining to White-caps alone.
He has arrested and assisted in the arrest of thirty- four White-caps, and is familiarly known in East Tennessee as the famous White-cap detective. When asked as to how he had achieved such great success, he replied : " My success is due more to the fact that I kept my own secrets than anything else."
He would often disappear and be gone for weeks at a time, when even his closest friends would not know his whereabouts. The White-caps would grow uneasy when he did not appear every day on the streets of Sevierville. And oftentimes his friends would be very anxious to know about him. In the course of time, Tom would return from some other State, bringing with him some noted criminal.
When the famous Whaley murder occurred; Tom was on his way to East Burnstead, Ky., where he bad located one J. J. Robison. He went to his home one night and knocked at the front door, but no response came. He attempted to batter it down, but it had evidently been well barred on the inside. He at last effected an entrance at a back window, and once on the inside, made a thorough search. He struck a match, but there was no one in the room. He then went to the door of an adjoining room, carrying the lighted match with him. On reaching the door, he
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