LURED INTO AN AMBUSH.; REVENUE OFFICIALS KILLED IN TENNESSEE

[tnvol11]

LURED INTO AN AMBUSH.; REVENUE OFFICIALS KILLED IN TENNESSEE BY MOONSHINERS
In 1892 a party of bootleggers led revenuers into an ambush near Flintville in Lincoln County, Tn.. Two people were killed and another wounded. Though violent confrontations were a dangerous possibility for many moonshiners, most were able to survive and profit considerably during this era.

ref: Sam Wingo US Marshall Cold Case Files
Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Oct. 8, 1892
Moonshiners led a party of revenue officers into an ambush near Fliutville, Tn.. S. D. Mather, a deputy collector, who lived at Belvidere, was killed. C. S. Cardwell, general deputy collector, who lived m this city, was fatally wounded and died soon after. J. L. Spurrier, general deputy collector of Nashville, was wounded so that it is hardly possible he can recover. Even if he should survive, he may never be able to walk again, as he was shot between the blades and is partially paralyzed.

A. Nunn, collector of internal revenue for the middle district of Tennessee,
with headquarters in this city, received a telegram early in the day from E. S. Robinson, deputy United States marshal for the third division, telling ihe story of the tragedy. The telegram received by Col. Nunn gave no particulars until the arrival of the train bearing Mr. Spurrier and the body of Mr. Cardwell.

Some days ago Mr. Spurrier, who has been connected with the internal revenue
service iu the middle Tennessee district, for twelve years, and whose territory covers the entire district, received an anonymous letter concerning some "crooked" brandy,
which, the letter stated, was concealed near Flintville,Tn.. Spurrier, who showed the letter to other revenue officers, said that there were about twenty barrels o£ the brandy and that it was located 10 miles from, Fliutville, in Lincoln County, Tn.. The letter he received not only stated the point of concealment but also told how and what route the officer should go in order to find it.

Mr. Spurrier went to Lincoln County and, accompanied by Messrs. Mather and
Cardwell along with E. S. Robinson, J. E. Pulver and Mr. Harris, all connected
with the revenue service, started early on Friday morning in search of the brandy, and also an illicit distillery. They rode along unconscious of danger, and had reached and passed some, bushes at a point 4 miles from Flintville when the reports of several gunshots rang out and Mr. Mather fell lifeless. Twelve buckshot had entered the back of his head. Mr. Cardwell was shot in the back under the right arm. Mr. Spurrier received a bullet wound in the back. The other members of the party escaped unhurt.

They at once returned the fire and a bullet from Mr. Robinson's gun killed a man named Patrick, the leader of the moonshiners. The names of the other men in the party who fled have not been ascertained. Messrs. Robinson, Pulver and Harris at once turned their attention to their fallen comrades. Mr. Mather was beyond all aid. Messrs. Cardwell and Spurrier were suffering greatly, but were conscious. A courier was quickly sent to Flintville with the news and soon a party of officers and citizens left for the scene of the assassination.
Cardwell and Spurrier and the body of Mr. Mather were removed to Flintville, that place being reached about 2:30 o'clock. Mr. Cardvell died half an hour later. He was conscious to the last and gave his jewelry and other articles to a friend, to be taken to his family. He also gave tender messages to be conveyed to his loved ones at home,
and with almost his last breath he prayed that God would forgive his slayer.

Mather, Cardwell, and Spurrier were men of tried and unquestioned bravery
and had , unimpeachable records for efficiency.

[Usge]

Not sure what the purpose of your first post is here.???

[Washashore]

lol... That is a very curious first post