Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-23
Letter from Judge Brown.

Letter from Judge Brown.
We give Judge BRowN, of Monroe coun-
ty, the full benefit Of his letter explaining
out Of the Douglas affair, in this city, three
years ago And to his letter we will append
few brief but comprehensive facts
MADIsoNvIIE, Tenn, April H. 1864.
Dclr SIR: l have seen AN article in your newspa-
per Of the 9th instant under the head Of "Tbe Pole
Raising, which docs me great injusticc / know
Of no reason 20 induce the belief that YOU would
knowingly or Willingly, do p,c any injustice But
on the contrary have reasons TO believe that You
Will do me full and entire justice when correctly
adv ised Of the facts.
1t is stated in the article above referred TO- that at
the time Charles 5, Douglas was murdered, Judge
Brown, of Monroe county, was here looking on and
consening TO the murder
it is true that happened to arrive in Knoxville
u few hours before this tragica affair occurred. I
heard, after my arrival, that there had been some
difficulty on the day previous between Mai. Geo. w.
Morgan, of Vaughn'S Regiment, and Charles s.
Douglas but was informed that no injury sus-
tanned by either party.
In the evening was out in the city purchasing a
few articles in the stores and met with some citi-
zcns on the pavement at the King corner iu. where
Gay and Cumberland streets cross We were stand
ing there convcrsing whes we heard the report of n
gun or pistol from the south end Of the Lamar
House up stairs, and towards the river, which is on
Tho window from which II wac aod H.
was fred WINS mot ,n Ina COON ro ,oro w., ,'a' So,
talking
J. nor no other person then on the street knew,
to my knowledge, who it was that fired the gun or
pistol or what ut.
some few Minutes .f,or tbo ro,,or, Of tho ~
some citizens came from towards wber. I no,es' J.
lived and informed ~ that Don,yIos v,s b, "a
made inquiries about the circumstance, and dive were in
formed thnt Douglas ,,,,s ~, s,ir in bi h',s
ing at window fronting Gay street, and while thus
in the Lamar House. ''' f~'''' ''''" "'''1'"
The Lamar House You know, is on the opposite
siderobIe rc was not ,r.Scrt or WITHIN hi si'b,
nor Ind apy bo,"vor " n .r oGn p,Gv
to kin or shoot Douglas.
ora no. srg ,.%IS ~ M i n re,cnoer at any
ing on or conscnting in any way to this affair. Ne
t9Gr 90 | know Tho Ply IT. was that Killed Douglas
Vsughns Regiment. '''' "''' 1'''' y ''''''
All of the parties that were believed to be CON.
r mcs and bnd ' onn".c msii n O enc
the bitter end and no intimacy had ever existed be-
5WJeT VS. or i"vse reasons uI Owing 10 my Ju
would have communicated their criminal design. to.
:Dougl,s was man tlat Ilaa never dohc me any
kind feelings toward him, and no desire to see him
injured. l have uniformly through life opposed all
ders when brought before me as judicial officer,
The foregoing is a correct statement of the facts
nv recollection md bono vou will do ma ,I the o Kind.
ness to give them place in your paper or place mo
right oe''fe your fe" WITS. .......,.or.
GEO BSowS.
REMARKs.-First, Judge Brown was here
on the day Douelos was killed. stayine At
the same hotel out of the window of which
the gun was fired a componv of his county
folks bcino in tho room bovinr coma into
town in n close carriage and went IN at the
ladies' entrance CARRYING tho loaded gun
with them. Judge BRowN, he will distinct
" rccolloct, gave il as his opinion that Dou.
elias was shot BY soldier from Georgia-
though he now feels confident that some
one in yauphns REGIMENT did the dostardlv
act.
Second Judce BRowx held n crc,it court
here in n very short time thereafter. and
.I,hourh Rail hard.fstod working man
had bcon shot down tbc dov bctarc Inv q
roho, holl M ottoun, w,s modo ,o lool, into
tbo motter or 10, nm an Indictment ,goinst
INV ono Had tho man l,;llod hco, , r.hcI
ord tho nor,;es kilI;nc hin, I-r;on mon
would not his cour, and Jury have looked
;r,o tbo oa+,oro
Third Tho Judoe s,vs ,bo n,r,;es L;lI;ra