The Murder of Enos Gwinn: $100 REWARD! M Gwinn, December 30, 2025January 27, 2026 Share on Social Media x facebook linkedin emailwhatsapp Well, howdy there, neighbor! Let’s talk about a murder that shook the good town of New Richmond back in 1872. It seems some folks were willing to pay serious money to set things right. 1872-007Download The $100 Manhunt This notice, put out by Menifee Varner & Co., is a straightforward WANTED poster offering a hefty one hundred dollars—a fortune at the time—for the arrest of a man named Garner. The reason? Murder. Garner is wanted for the killing of Enos Gwinn the night before. They describe the fugitive in detail: Slender, fair-skinned, and brown-haired. About 5 feet 8 inches tall. Has a thin light mustache and goatee. About 25 years old and “rather prepossessing in appearance” (meaning he looked respectable). He was a young fella who didn’t look like trouble, which likely made him all the more dangerous. Justice in the Hard Days 1872 was a tough time right after the Civil War. Before modern police forces took over, local citizens or companies had to put up their own cash to track down criminals. A reward like this was the entire justice system for a personal tragedy. One hundred dollars was a huge incentive, meant to stir a farmer or traveling man into action, making him an instant bounty hunter. This notice shows us a world of personal responsibility and rough justice, where money talked louder than a town crier. The Final Word This little scrap of paper tells a big tale. For $100, a young man named Garner became a fugitive, having violently ended the life of Enos Gwinn. It reminds us that over a century ago, the cry for justice was just as urgent, bought with a cash reward and relying on the keen eye of any soul who saw a good-looking young man with a thin light goatee riding out of town. Keep your eyes open, folks! Transcription New Richmond 11th 1872We offer one hundreddollars for the arrest and detentionof Garner for the murder of EnosGwinn on last evening, Is a slenderfair skinned brown haired manabout 5 feet 8 inches in heightthin light mustache and goateethin sharp nose about 25 yearsold and rather prepossessing inappearanceMenifee Varner & Co Share on Social Media x facebook linkedin emailwhatsapp History 1872Enos GwinnGarnermurderNew Richmond