The election-day Battle of Athens on August 1, 1946 caused a great deal of concern among citizens of other counties in East Tennessee, and some looked at McMinn County with a suspicious eye. “Those people in McMinn County” had shot their own Sheriff out of his own jail, forced almost every office holder out of office, and were changing county government.  A lot of people considered McMinn Countians in one of two ways: patriots or violent vigilantes.

So a few months after the “Battle”, on Monday, January 13, 1947, it was with a little trepidation and a lot of anger that Monroe County Sheriff Virgil Tallent drove down Lee Highway out of Sweetwater, crossing into McMinn County. In his coat pocket was an arrest warrant for the new McMinn County Sheriff, Knox Henry.  The circumstances surrounding the warrant made Sheriff Talent downright furious, because to him and a lot of other Monroe County citizens, McMinn County’s civic problems seemed to be leaking into Monroe.

It all started the day before, on a sunny winter Sunday afternoon when McMinn County Sheriff Knox Henry had taken his wife and child for a car ride up to Sweetwater.  As they enjoyed the day, they passed another car, one Henry recognized all too well: the car of Tom Ghorley.  Ghorley was a Sweetwater resident who owned a dress shop and a taxi service, and according to Henry he was also an alleged moonshine runner who frequently crossed into McMinn County to do business.

Since his election, Henry had made several unsuccessful efforts to catch Ghorley, often pursuing him around until Ghorley could make it back to Monroe County.  Due to their frequent confrontations, neither man liked the other, so when Henry pulled over, Ghorley pulled up beside him.  Words were exchanged, and also a few threats.  Ghorley then punched Henry in the face, stepped back, and challenged him to a fight.  For whatever reason, Henry left, and for a few hours everything seemed to die down.

But that evening, Sheriff Henry returned to Sweetwater. He claimed later that he was intending on taking out a warrant for Ghorley, but it is interesting to note that he had taken his wife home and returned with two of his own deputies: Otto Kennedy and Blaine Click.  Ghorley later stated that as he stepped out of a car at Valley Cab Company near TMI Academy he was struck in the head from behind. He claimed he tried to get away but was caught and given a severe beating. He identified the assailants as Henry, Kennedy and Click, and also claimed two other unidentified deputies were involved.

Sweetwater officials were outraged.  Mayor Sam Pickle stated his resentment at Kennedy’s actions, and went on to remind Kennedy that Sweetwater and Monroe County did not want any of McMinn County’s troubles to carry over the county line.  And to prove the point, Sheriff Tallent served both Sheriff Henry and Tom Ghorley with arrest warrants the very next day.

Both men grudgingly paid their $10 fines and court costs and went on their way.  Sheriff Henry stated that he regretted the incident, and claimed that only Kennedy and Click were with him.  Ghorley was more matter-of-fact about the matter:

“When I am in McMinn County, Sheriff Henry chases me around,” Ghorley told a Sweetwater newspaper. “I figure when he is up here, it is my turn.”

Joe D. Guy is a nationally published author, newspaper columnist, and historian residing in McMinn County, TN.  He may be reached via email at guyjd@hotmail.com or at PO Box 489, Englewood, TN 37329.