CHAPTER XVIII.
CAPTURE OF GREEN AND HENDRICKS
The capture of Newt Green and West Hendricks was the last and most important capture made by Tom Davis while deputy sheriff of Sevier county. Green and Hendricks were two notorious White-caps, and murderers of Aaron McMahan, as detailed in the preceding chapter. They were arrested soon after the murder, by sheriff M. F. Maples and deputy sheriff R. C. McGill, and placed in the Sevierville jail. They, however, were not satisfied with their accommodations and soon afterwards made their escape. For many months they ran at large, spending most of their time in the mountains of Sevier county, near their old home, where they knew every by-path and had plenty of friends. Sheriff Maples and his deputies laid many plans and set many traps for these two wily offenders, but Newt and Wes, as they were familiarly known, were slick ducks, and many times when the officers were elated over the prospects of their capture it was found, to their great surprise, that some gap had been left open and their game had fled. Newt and Wes were naturally shrewd, and there was no one who could endure more hardships than either of these mountain boys. The country surrounding their old home was one continuous range of rugged mountains. This and their many friends afforded them great protection from the officers of the law. But by and by the officers made it too hot for them and they pulled their freight for parts unknown. On Wednesday, during the July term of the Circuit court, 1897, the town of Sevierville was thrown into great excitement over the current report that Tom Davis, attorney J. R. Penland and Dr. Z. D. Massey were to be killed that night. Newt Green and West Hendricks were detailed to do the job. It was a well-laid plan, and had it not been for a friend of Dr. Massey, who was a member of the lawless band, giving him timely warning, the plan would no doubt have been carried into effect, and, perhaps, remained a mystery forever. For who would have suspected Green and Hendricks, who were then hiding in the mountains to avoid capture, of committing another crime, equally atrocious? Judge Nelson learned of what was happening and ordered sheriff Maples to summon a posse of men to intercept Green and Hendricks and capture them at all hazards, dead or alive. Sheriff Maples lost no time in calling his men together. A consultation was held and his forces divided, sending Tom Davis with a part of them on one road, while he took the remainder and started up the west prong of the river. It was a dark, dreary night. Two miles up the river, Sheriff Maples met some suspicious parties, on top of a hill. Neither party spoke. The sheriff and his posse rode to the foot of the hill, held a hasty consultation and decided to follow, as they were going in the direction of Sevierville, and, if possible, learn their mission. Evidently, the other party had also decided to watch the sheriff’s party, as both met again on top of the hill, the same spot where they had met only a few minutes before. Sheriff Maples and his men dashed to the foot of the hill, dismounted, and on foot slipped around to the other side of the hill just in time to see the other party fording the river at break-neck speed, having left the main road; and soon after, the clatter of hoofs died away in the distance. The sheriff and his men returned to Sevierville, and everything was quiet once more. Green and Hendricks left that night for parts unknown. But soon their old enemy was again on their trail. Tom Davis disappeared from Sevierville also, and for three long weeks he traversed the mountains of western North Carolina in a vain effort to capture these notorious outlaws who had so often boasted of their success in eluding the officers of the law. Tom’s failure did not discourage him in the least. He was not disheartened, but on the contrary, vowed he would yet capture Green and Hendricks. His ever-restless spirit nerved him on to greater effort and final success. Weeks went by and, apparently, no effort was being made to apprehend these two outlaws. Davis, however, was working a clew which finally led to their capture. Again he disappeared, and not a friend knew his whereabouts, except his brother-in-law, Andrew Love and Dr. Z. D. Massey. He was on his way to Texas, feeling sure of success. In due time, he reached Paris, Texas, in complete disguise as a book agent. His disguise, perhaps, was more like the garb worn by members of the Salvation army, as he was frequently asked if he was a captain of that organization. The sheriff of Paris tendered him a cordial welcome, but where were Green and Hendricks? They had disappeared, and not a trace of them could be found. Dr. Z. D. Massey, a relentless enemy of the White-caps and a lifelong friend of Tom Davis, was working the other end of the line. A telegram came: Your men at Honey Grove. - Z. D. Massey. Tom arrived at Honey Grove, thirty miles beyond Paris , at sunset the same evening. Officers were anxious to lend a helping hand, and the whole country for miles around was scoured. But again the game had flown. Green and Hendricks had been seen about there, but had disappeared as completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them. In the meantime, the two outlaws, becoming uneasy, had boarded a freight train, at midnight , over the same road they had traveled a few days before. Davis received another telegram: Your men at New Boston, going by the names of Frank Nolan and Charley Harrison. - Z. D. Massey. The news came too late to catch the passenger train that night, so he undertook to board a freight train, but the conductor told him that he was a new man and that the old conductor had been discharged for allowing two strange men to ride to New Boston a few nights before. Tom’s face lit up as he exclaimed Where is that man? The man was found and furnished an accurate description of the two men wanted. Tom grew more anxious than ever, and was at the depot next morning long before the train was due. He arrived at New Boston where he found the deputy sheriff, Ed Lynch, waiting his arrival. But the officers were out-done again. Green and Hendricks had arrived in the night, disappeared in the night, and left no trace behind. For several days the two officers scoured the country together, but in vain. The trail had been completely lost. The local officers gave up the chase and returned to New Boston. Deputy sheriff Davis began preparing to return home. He had kept up his courage all the while. For eight long months he had followed their foot steps over the rugged mountains of East Tennessee, and now he was trying his hand with them on the plains of Texas and had been out-witted. But fortune favors the brave. While standing at the depot, waiting for a train, a cattle trader came riding into town. Deputy sheriff Lynch said There goes a man who has been all over eastern Texas, buying cattle. He is a man who never forgets a face. This man, when questioned about the fugitives, said, Yes, I have seen your men, eleven miles from here, going in the direction of Indian Territory. No time was lost. The two officers and the cattle buyer, seated in a hack, were off at once in hot pursuit. At Red river they met an old-time darkey, who, in response to questions asked him, replied, Yes, sir, boss. I’ll tell you; they’re right over there in that cotton gin, right now. The last plan was laid. The officers crossed the river and the cotton gin was surrounded. Green was arrested first, and when told by deputy sheriff Lynch that he was wanted at Texarkana, hung his head a moment and then said: Hell, I’ve heard that old tale before. We ain,t done anything at Texarkana . I guess, by G_d, Tom Davis wants us in Tennessee. He glanced over at the other two officers and said, Hello Tom, by G_d, you’ve got your mustache blacked, but I know you. The two prisoners were hand-cuffed together and they started at once on the return trip to New Boston, Green and Hendricks singing Take me back to Tennessee; there let me live and die. They had been trapped at last, and deputy sheriff Tom Davis returned home with his two prisoners in charge and his ambition satisfied. He had paid out, in all, one hundred and sixty-five dollars, but sheriff Maples, always willing to share the burdens, tendered his worthy deputy a hundred dollar check. |