Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-18

county sftcr he left the 9th, and in what kind Z
business was he and his associates engaged l,.
His reputation was that Of a Desperate; be and hi
associates were engag ed ia picking up horses "a
r speculation. They elaine TO have captured them
Were TbornhiIs threats Communicated to Colone
Parsons, and what seemed TO be the general apprt
hension OF Col. Parsons and other officers Of til
4 regiment in rega-d TO ThornhiI2 x;ns They wer
irciueBtiy communicated TO Col. Psrsons Col
! Parsons expected 10 have deadly conflict with him
Several other officers expected the same
Was II safe for any officer OF the 9th Tennessee
Cavalry, known 10 be friendly to Col Parsons, {.
travel even on duty anywhere about Knoxville with
Out aguard or escort because Of the probability o
assassinstionl Aas don't think it was safe wher
II was Understood 70 be friend Of Col. Pareons
AT the time Of the difficulty at Nashville was
fhornhill dressed IN officers unfornl Arls He wa,
not.
You have stated that Thornhill said Capt. Cald
well never should command company hat ths
(Thornhill) had recruited. Please state bow man,
men Thornhill recruited for the pany command
ed BY Capt. Caldwell? -1ns. Three.
Was Marion Jones deserter from company B. o
the 9th Tennessee Cavalry? Ans. Yes sir; ae de,
serted some time in April 1864.
cRoss-ExAMrsATIcS.
Questions By Judge Adrocats-was not Newman's
difSllty with Capt. Bell at Knoxville pessonsl
ene2 Ans think it grew out Of the difficulty thai
have spoken Of between me and Thornhiil
Were not the officers who expected deadly dsf.
fculty with Thornhill those who knew that he con-
siderec them personal enemies7 Ans Somo of them
were and some were not. he considered them enc
mics to him because friends Of Col Parsons
Was any officer man of the sth Tennessee ever
attacked in going through jefferson county by
Thornhill or his friends? Ans Yes sir, Joseph Car
man, Sergeant, company D. was attacked by Capt.
Thornhill in going through Jefferson county in Feb
rusry or March, 1865.
What was the cause of the attack Ans. Ms un.
dercfandinU -
70 the difficulty bctween Parsons and Thornhill at
Nashville.
The testimony being read over TO the witness, be
was permitted 20 retire
The court then adjourned until 2, p. NJ, Aug 22
SIXTH DAY.
Two, P. NJ, Tuesday, August 22d, 1896, court met
pursuant to adjournment.
Present same members at last meeting, the
Judge Advocate, the accused, and counsel.
Wn. Ledgerwood second witness for the defence
being duly sworn, testified as follows;
Questions By Aectlsed-Wbat is your name, and
where do you reside2 das. VIM. Ledgerwood, Knox
county, Tennessee.
Do you know Col Parsons, the accused now bs-
fore the court so, how long have you known him,
and what is his general character? Ans. have
known him aboat twenty years; consider his char
acter as good as any mans
Did you meet. with John a. Thornhill at any time
during the wihter Of la63-e4, if 80, state when,
where and what was said 2 Azs. About the last of
February or first Of March, 1854, I met him in
Union county Tennessee. with three or four men.
/ had never sem him before, that know Of. When
/ met him few words passed, and some one said
that was Capt Thornhill, and be proposed trading
me two horses. BE told me bis price, which thought
too high. After Learning from the Captain that be
belonged to the 9th Tennessee Cavalry then asked
him when he was going 70 his command His an
swer, as / remember it. was, that He did not know
by Cd he should ever go TO it,"
The testimony was then read over TO the witness,
and he was permitted TO retire.
L. G. Hoss, third witness for defence being duly
sworn, testified as follows:
What Is your name, and where do you reside. Ans.
J.. O. Hoss Washington county, Tenn. / live in
Knoxville at present.
Did you see any part of difficulty between Ii.
COL L. G. Rutherford, Of the 9th Tennessee Cavalry,
and J5hu A. Thornhill at Knoxville Tenn, on or
about the 18th Of june last IL 50, state all you
know Of it2 1ns heard part of the consersa-
ton that occurred between them. The difficulty
CURED in our store house. was at the end of
the building and did not hear the first part of the
conversation. The 6rst thing heard Thornhiii
charged tho Colonel with swearing Id lie against
him. suppose he meant at former trial be had
in the regiment. He did not mention when. He
then told him il he had any business in that house
TO settle it quickly and leave The Colonel said he
had scnlo business and said something to gentle
man III the store and went out After he had gone,
Thornhill said 1t was well he (Thornhill) had no
arms with him, for If he had he said he would have
killed hiu.p he was good deal excited, bu! in a
few minutes his feelings changed, and he seemed to
regret the difficulty very much
David r. N. Blackburn, citizen Of Jefferson
county, Tenn, being duly sworn testified as follows
What is your name and where do you reside r.
4as. David r. n. Blackburn, New Market, Jeffer-
son county, Tenn.
We're you formerly connected with the eth Ten
nessee Cavalry, and in what capacity Aas. Twas
lst Lieutenant and Adjutant 9th Tennessee Cavalry.
Are you acquainted with Col. Parsons If so. what
is his character as man and soldier? Ans. !
am; his character as man and soldier, as far as
/ have ever known him, has been as good and as
pure as any man ever knew.
Are you. acquainted with the character of John A.
Thornhill, IF So what was it2 Ans was slightly
acquainted with John A. Thornhili; he had the
character Of O man who would revenge an injury
that he had received TO the fullest extent.
Was he not ver3 apt to imagine that be had been
injured when none had been done him2 Ans Ac-
cording TO the best could learn of him, he was.
Were you with the regiment st Camp Nelson. Ky,
in the wintar Of ls63-'42 Did you carry dispatch
TO the telegraph Office at that place addressed TO
either Mai. Armstrong or Mai Hunt at Knoxville,
srecting that John a. Thornhill and Others should
Do ordered to the regiment Ans. was at Camp
Nelson, and carried dispatch addressed to Major
Hunt ordering them 70 report to the regiment.
What authority had Thornhill for being absent at
that time Ans. None, that know Of
Were you with the regiment a. Nashville about
the last Of March, 1884 at the timo of difficulty
bet 7een the accused and Thornhiii 7 4ns / was.
Have you since that time had difficulty with
Thornhil il so state what it was and what It arose
from Ans. / had at Knoxville. It arose from
the fact that he supposed had given Col. Parsons
the pistol with which be shot him lThornhill) He
said il did would have to settle with him for It.
I did not give the Colonel pistol at that time re-
ferred to.
Had YOU ever given Thornhill any cause for this
difficulty other than your connection with the regi
ment and your friendship towards Col. ssrsons.--
Ans. No, sir.
would You not have expected adeadly dfh enlty with
him at any time upon meeting him. Ans. lwould.
rs DISCRIMINATION.
Questions by Jssdgs Adaoeate-what reply did you
make 10 Thorphills statement "that II you did hand
the pistol % Col. Parsons, he would have settle
ment with you Ans. ! told him was ready
any time. -, :, n,.n.,;on :. . whether voo aia
or did not Ans. ] told him / did not
Question 5v Cburt.-Did Thcrnhill at any time
uiolest or abuse any person or persons without
jus. csuse. Ans. don't know.
RE-xxAMISATIoS.
caestio. 5e .acoessd.-Did be nave any just cause
for attempting the life of the accused at Nashville
Ans. / did not think SO.
The testimony was then read over 70 The witiieSsi
and be was permitted 10 retire.
Court then adjourned 10 6, A. NJ. Wednesday, Aug
asd, 1866.
sEvESIH DAY.
Eight, 4. NJ, Wednesday August 2sd, leea, court
met pursuant 90 adjournmeat-
Present same members at last meetlng, the
Jadre Advocate, the accused, and counsel.
By consent Of the court and accused, residing OF
tho proceedings Of lsst meeting was omstteo.-
fsri fi,an continued the trial OF the accused; Jo
Pmzons Colonel, 9th Tennessee Cavalry