About 7 o’clock this morning, some persons who were on their way from Tate Springs, in Grainger County, to Morristown, discovered the dead body of a man lying by the roadside on Boatman’s ridge, about a mile from the springs.

The head was horribly mangled, the skull being crushed to a jelly. An investigation revealed the fact that the remains were those of John Goforth, who for the past four years has been employed as head clerk at the Tate Springs Hotel.

How he met his death is not known, but it is probable that he was thrown from his horse striking his head upon some projecting stones. He was seen yesterday at Kenneficks railroad camp, a short distance from where the body was found. He started from the hotel and had proceeded but a short distance when killed. The horse returned riderless to the stables at the hotel.

The deceased was 21 years of age. He was well known in Knoxville and had hundreds of friends and acquaintances all through the South. His parents live near Bristol where the remains will probably be taken for burial.

The Evening Sentinel and Knoxville Daily Tribune — Monday, February 16, 1891

Transcribed by Robert McGinnis and used by permission.