Dixon was the Hardin County Sherriff. Gatlin was under contract with US government to transport mail from Cornith MS to Savanah TN. Gatlin also carried passengers in a Reo bus. Hardin County issued a distress warrant stating that Gatlin had not taken out a proper license to carry passengers. Gatlin claimed that carrying passengers into Shiloh National Military Park was under the jurisdiction of the US government therefore he was not required to have a license through Hardin County.