Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-25
SEVENTH DAY.

Judge Advocate the Accused, and Counsel
Court continued the trial Of the accused, 10. Pal
sons, Colonel, 9Th Tennessee Cavalry.
Il. Z. McEwen citizen Of Knoxville, Tenn, mint
witness for defence, being duly sworn testified a
follows:
Questions by Accascd-State your name and resi-
dence? 1Hs. r. +. McEwen, citizen of Knoxvill,
Tenn.
What business are you engaged in, and where
your house of business situated? Ans Merchant
on Gay street, in Knoxville Tenn.
! Are you acquainted with the accused What j
/ Col. Parsons stopping place when in Knoxville
/ Ans. l am. He stops with us, (Strong s. McEwen.
! Is 1t and has 1t been generally known that you
store house has been his stopping place? Ans. Yes
sir.
Do you or did you know John A. Thornhill? L
be ever made visits 70 your place Of business stat
under what circumstances, and state all you know
on the subject. Azls. Only by sight. He was there
frequently last winter while Col Parsons was stay
ing there. never remember having seen him there
except when the Colonel was staying there with us
or when his regiment was stationed near Knoxville
bow many times in one day have you known him
to visit your house? AnS. l never paid any atten-
ton have seen him as high as three or four times
Was Col. Parsons known to be in Knoxville at
the timer Ans. Yes sir.
Was ThornhiIl generally armed upon occasion OF
these visits? AHS. / do not know.
What business did ThOrnhill seem TO have at your
house? AHs. he always called for some article ]
don't know that be generally got anything Mr.
Strong usually waited on him.
Had Thornhill any personal acquaintance or
friends staying at your house? Ans. No, sir.
Did you ever give Col. Parsons any warning con-
corning Thornhill if so, what was it and why did
you give it Ans. spoke to him of Thornhill be-
ing in there, because had heard of the difficulty be-
tween him and Col Parsons, and Thornhilps threats
Do you know Of others having given him similar
warning? Ans No, sir, except heard Mr. Strong
telling him something similar
Was not the difficulty between the accused and
IhOrnhIil at Nashville matter Of general nOtori-
ETY. at knoxville2 Ans. 1 think it was
Was it generally understood at Knoxville that
IhOrnhill was seeking an opportunity to take the
lives of Col Parsons and other officers of his reg-
men2 Ans. do not know. Col. Parsons friends
thought SO.
The testimony was then read over to the witness.
and he was permitted to retire
Harriet McSpaddin, tenth witness for the defence,
being duly sworn, testified as follows
Please state your name and place of residence
Ans. Harriet McSpsddin, Jefferson county, Tenn
Were you acquainted with John a. Thornhill Of
Jefferson county, Tenn? Ans. 7 knew him very
slightly.
If you ever, at your own home or anywhere else
heard him say anything about Col Parsons, of the
Sth tennessee Cavalry or any of his officers please
state all you may know on the subject? Ans I
nave heard him speak of the difficulty. / heard him
say that he had been wronged by Col Parsons and
intended to have settlement; that when Col Par
sons lad ms shoulder-straps aside he was willing to
have settlement in any honorable way. I never
heard him say anything about the officers that re-
member. l never heard him make anv threats at
all. do not exactly remember when he said it. II
was last winter some time since this wear began at
cambridge, in Jefferson county
The testimony was then read over 10 the witness,
and she was permitted to retire
Sallle Meek, of cambridge, jefferson county,
,ToEo Ill,
sworn, testified as follows
what Is your name, and place Of residence? Ans.
Sallie Meek, cambridge jefferson county, Tenn.
We're you acquainted with John A. Thornhill, of
Jefferson county? Ans. Yes sir.
II you ever, at your own house or anywhere else
heard him say anything in regard to Col. Parsons,
or any OF the officers of his regiment please state
all you know about it? Ans. heard him speak of
Col Parsons in regard to the difficulty they had at
and he said that Parsons had treated him
would have settlement for it after
The war was over, when they could meet on equal
terms. He spoke of Capt. Caldwell, but made no
threats, but said Il he was in Csldwelrs place he
never would have accepted the company against the
wishes Of all the men. This was at cambridge at
my own house, some time think in last January,
when he spoke Of Col Parsons, and in April of Capt
Caldwell.
The testimony was then read over to the witness
md she permitted TO retire.
John Kibler, citizen of Knoxville Tenn. twelfth
witness for the defence being duly sworn testified as
follows
State your name and residence? Ans Jno. Kib-
er, Knoxville Tenn.
II you know anything Of d difficulty between TDo,
A. ThOrnbill and John \. Newman on the one hand.
and Capt. James W. Bell of the 9th Tennessee Cav
airy state where it occurred and all that took place?
Ans. did not see the commencement Of the fuss |
was gong down the street one evening last June
md two or three doors below the post Office saw
-apt Bell talking with q man did not know |
vas told afterwards that it was Mr. Newman l !
leard Capt Bell tell him he did not want to have
ny fuss with him; that if he called him liar again
lie would blow his brains out. With that the man 4
allied him liar sgain, and Capt. Bell snapped his |
evolver at him several times. Newman seemed to |
want TO get hold Of Capt. Bell, who, after he had
mapped the pistol, threw it 81 Newman. Some men /
Ook Newman away, and he tried TO get back, and /
hey pulled him back. I heard ThOrnhill say he !
would stand to Newman's back; that he had been /
bused, and would have revenge. Newman said he .
wanted TO get back to kill Capt. Bell and Col Ruth
rfOrd. Those were the names heard; they were
il strangers 70 me at that time. An this was on .
Iay street. in Knoxville.
The testimony was then read over to the witness /
nd he permitted to retire.
James B. Sharp, Captain, company f, eth Ten
lessee Cavalry, thirteenth witness for the defence
eing duly sworn, testified as follows:
State your Dame rank and regiment? Ans Jas
J. Sharp Captain company F, 9th Tennessee Cav
Try.
Were you acquainted with John A. Thornhill? if
st8ye all you may know in regard TO his conduct
urin the siege Of Knoxville in the winter of 1863
'4? Ans. Yes sir, l was acquainted with him du-
ing ne siege I was not present at the commence
len, and close. He was in command of company
), el Tennessee Cavalry, and with one or two other
oml snies ordered south of the river under Mai
armstrong, senior Major Of the 9Th Tennessee Cav
Try, On his return to the command ThOrnhill re-
marked to me that he, with some of the privates |
Rd difficulty with the Major and I understood
i'm TO say that they had got up petition asking
be Major 10 resign, and he hoped it would be re-
eved, if not, the regiment was too small TO hold
i'm and Maj. Armstrong; that Major Armstrong
7as a scoundrel, and he would not serve with him.
p day or two after that conversation the reSi-
lent was ordered to Camp Nelson, KY, with pris-
Dsrs from Knoxville. l was ordered to Jefferson
oInty TO gather up some recruits, &C. with one or
70 other officers Of the regiment. l next saw
-Ornhill shortly after in Jefferson county. I was
n attached as guide TO the 18th Pennsylvania
valry. I remained there until, I think, about
bruary l4th or 18th, 1864. Thornhin continued
h a few others he had picked up in that section
,asonally surprising the rebel pickets, and having
lie foraging parties, &c / was relieved about the
Ii of February, 1864, and returned to my COM
and then at Nashville near the Doth
What authority had Thornhill for his absence from
e regiment, and under whose authority was he
9erating in Jefferson county? Ans. None that
now of.
What kind Of men had he with him ? Ans Ny
Is, and my personal knowledge Of
me of them Is, that two or three were deserters
,om our army, and were Of rather reckless charac-
What was the general conduct OF Thornhill at
knoxville, and what was his general character p
ms His conduct as an officer there was reckless
nd lnspbordinate. His general character was that