Contributed by Paul Lemasters

“Wholesale Indictment For Murder.” A few years ago, about thirty of Tinker Dave’s gang residing in Overton and Fentress counties, were indicted for murder committed during the war. Wm. THREAT and Gen. BOWLES have been arrested and lodged in jail. They were arrested at the instance [insistence?] of Mr. BAKER for the murder of his father, Matthew BAKER, in 1864. Matthew BAKER was a Lieutenant in the Twenty-eighth Tennessee (Confederate) regiment, of which John T. MAURY was Colonel. THREAT is said to be an illegitimate son of Col. Wm. CULLOM, ex-member of Congress from the Eighth District. On account of these crimes having been committed in  time of war, these men claim that their offenses are not punishable in the State Courts and have petitioned the United States Circuit Court to be released on habeau [sic] corpus. A case of the same character was tried by the United States Circuit Court about three years ago, and the parties were released on writes of habeas corpus and the State taxed with the cost of the suit. The Comptroller refused to pay the cost and the case is now pending before the United States Supreme Court. [Source: Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Knoxville, Knox Co., Tn, Sun., 19 Jan. 1879, Vol. IX, No. 206].