CHAPTER XXXII.
DETECTIVES REEDER AND McCALL.
It would be highly improper if some space in this book was not devoted to an acknowledgment of the valuable services rendered by detectives C. A. Reeder and C. W. McCall, in the location of witnesses who from fear of the White-caps, having left Sevier county, were concealing their identity and place of habitation in order to successfully avoid processes of law which would compel them to appear as witnesses in the Courts of Justice and reveal facts in their knowledge incriminating members of the White-cap organization and identifying participants in the many flagrant acts of lawlessness committed by them. As stated in a former chapter, deputy sheriff Davis, appreciating the original methods and ingenuity of these two officers in their detective work, induced them to contribute their valuable service. It will not be drawing too heavily upon the credulity of a mercenary age, to make the statement, that these officers were actuated more by a desire to uphold the majesty of the law and bring to judgment the guilty parties, than to secure any part of a reward which might possibly be offered for their conviction. The brutality exhibited in the Whaley murder appealed to the sympathy of every law-abiding citizen, and to the manhood of every officer of the law who witnessed the ghastly spectacle or were acquainted with the horrible details. It was the brutal manner in which the Whaley murder was committed which inspired so much terror, and drove from the county citizens who could furnish convincing evidences of guilt but who, fearing the same fate as the Whaleys=, felt all the terrors and tortures of criminals from justice. Many of these witnesses had located in Knoxville. A plan of work was agreed upon, and the result was not only a conviction of Pleas Wynn and Catlett Tipton for this murder but other convictions have preceded and others will follow this one. C. A. Reeder is now the efficient chief of the Police force of Knoxville, Tenn., while C. W. McCall is making a reputation as a U. S. Deputy Marshall. |