Monday morning last about 2:30 a.m., the valuable mill of Mr W. R. KEARNEY, 2 miles west of Bolivar was discovered to be on fire. The flames had progressed to such a stage as to render it impossible to extinguish them and in a short while this splendid property was in ashes. Mr. KEARNEY was satisfied it was the work of an incendiary and began at once to investigate for traces of the criminal. He soon discovered a mule track going west, and following this they went to the house of Oliver McNEAL, col., about 2 miles west of the mill The negroes house was searched by his permission, but no evidence of the crime was discovered. He then left Oliver’s house, soon struck the mules tracks again, and in a short time discovered several sacks of meal and a sack of flour concealed near Oliver’s house. So soon as Oliver discovered that the meal and flour had been found, he broke for the timber and made good his escape. Sheriff Yopp and Deputy Sheriff Hudson hunted for him all that night, but failed to come up with the wretch. The negro went to some of his kinspeoples houses south of town, and told them that he had robbed and burned Mr. KEARNEY’s mill, and was going to Mississippi. It is to be hoped he may be caught, and given the full extent of the law. The mill was, perhaps, the finest mill in the county and a total loss.

The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.), 19 March 1886, Page 3. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.