Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-04

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fcers and men Of the regiment is as good as could be
I required.
! Has not Col Parsons always sustained the charac-
ter of brave humane and gallant officer; Ans.
/ He has sustained it to the fullest extent
! Was not the character Of Th0rnhill that ot de5-
! perado and outlaw Ans. l. was
Do you know why Thornhill fsiled TO receive his
commission as d captain if 81 please state to the
court all YOU know about it? Ans. 1t was from
the fact that he absented himself from the command
and refused to report; 1 knew Of his absence, but
never saw an order directing him 20 report
How many l4an did Th0rnlill recruit for the 9Th
Tennessee Cavalry Ans l do not know exactly;
very few.
of deadly difficulty with Thornhlll since you were
commissioned as Captain of company B, in the 9th
Tennessee Cavalry? Ans. l have always felt that
if met him where he had sufficient adv ntage, l
would have trouble and probably be killed.
Here the court adjourned until 9, o'clock A. NJ
August 18th, 1865.
Court met pursuant 70 adjournment A NJ.
August 18th. 1865
Yesterdays proceedings were read and approved,
and examination of Cap: Caldwell continued.
Was not your apprehension from ThorDhill in
regard to deadly difficulty solely because you had
been commissioned as Captain of company 5, in the
9Th Tennessee Cavalry. Ans. I had apprehensons
on that account, also from the fact that I was q
friend TO Col. Parsons.
Where do you reside? Do you believe II would
have been safe for Col. Parsons even under orders
to have travelled in Jefferson county without an es
Cort because of Thornhills hostility towards him.
after the difficulty at Nashvills2 Ans. I live near
New Market Jefferson county, Tenn. do not think
it would have been safe.
If You have heard Col. Parsons express any ap-
prehension in regard 10 Thornh state to the court
all you know about it? What did you hear him say
in reference to the people Of Jefferson county? Ans
l have frequently heard him speak rs though he
feared he might be a5sassinated by Thornhill, 1
have heard him speak we'll Of them.
Do YOU believe from your knowledge OF the char
acter Of Thornbill, that any bond he might have
given 70 keep the peace would have been any pro-
lection to Col. Parsons Ans. l DO not.
From your knowledge of the character OF Thorn
hill and the threats made by him, not his death
necessary, in your opinion to preserve the lives ola
number Of persons in your regiment? In my opin-
ion it was.
Was it not d fact that you or any other officer Of
the 9th Tennessee Cavalry, who justified or APPROX
ed the course Of Col Prsons were in danger Of your
lives from Thornhin. Ans. 1 think any one who
would endorse Col. Parsols course would be in dan
ger from ThOrnhill
Testimony WAS read over 10 The witness, and he
was permitted TO retire.
9Th witness for the prosecution job Powell, Vet
Urinary Surgeon 9th Tennessee Cavalry, being duly
sworn, testified as follows.
Questions by Jl.dgc Adro:a5e.-State 10 the court
YOUR name rank and command and if you are aC-
ouainted with the accused now before the couft?-
Ans. Job Powell Veterinary Surgeon, 9th Tennes-
see Cavalry; I know Col Parsons, the accusednOw
before the court.
We're you present at the killing OF one John y.
Thornhil in Jefferson county State Of Tennessee,
in June last Ans was present when Thornhill
was fred on l do not know whether Re was killed
or not; ne ran after being fred on first; the men
pursued him and continued firing; I gave them or
ders TO cease firing, but they did not do until the
second order; 1 saw Thornhin fall when they re-
turned; I ordered halt the second time; I saw one
or two men fire after he fell; one of the pistols,
think, went OF accidentally: l do not think either
one fred at Thornhill.
By whose orders was the Grn- done Ans. The
men fred upon my orders; l received my orders
from Capt. Bel.
Testimony was read over 20 the witness and he
was permitted 70 T2tiTe
7th witness for the prosecution, David Lstuge, Ser-
geant, company \ 9th Tennessee Cavalry, being
duly sworn, testified as follows,
State to the court your name, RANK and command?
Ans. NV name is David Lature, Sergeant company
\, 9th Tennessee Cavalry; l know Col. Parsons,
the accused, now before thecourt
Was you present at the killing Of one John \.
TbOrnhill in jefferson county, State of Tennessee,
in June last. Ans. wRs there at the time he was
fred upon.
whose orders did the men who did the firing act
think some under Capt. Bells orders.
To the best of your knowledge and belief was not
Thornhill killed on that occasion? Ans. I suppose
be was killed; he was seriously wounded; l saw
him lying on the ground; he was gTcaning, and in
every way acting as though he was in a dying con
ditiO4
Have you not reason to believe o. do you not
know that this deed would not have been committed
by those men had they not received orders 20 do so
from their superior officers? Ans They would
not have done so had they not been ordered.
Did not the men receive orders to shoot ThoEnhlll
on sight? Ans. They were 70 wait for orders and
fire on command. I heard 10 orders 20 FIRE on sight
CROSS EXAMINED.
Questions ~ Defendant-Did any one Of your par
ty dismount and examine Thornhill? Ans. I do
not think they did.
Testimony was read over the % witness and he
was permitted TO retire.
Sth witness for the prosecution, Isaac Frazier,
Sergeant company Z, 9Th Tennessee Cavalry, being
duly sworn, testified as follows:
Questions 5y Judge AGCoc1ts-SLatc Your name,
rank and command? Ans. Isaac Frazier, Sergeant,
company {, eth Tennessee Cavalry.
Was you present at the killing Of one John \.
Thornhill citizen of jefferson county, State Of
Tennessee, on or about the Path dav OF June last?
Ans. l was present when he was fred upon; I
cannot say 1 was present when he was killed.
Would the men have committed this deed had
they not been ordered by their superior officers ?
Was the deed committed through sny ill-feeliEg
that existed between the enlisted m6n and Thorn
hill? Ans. No, sir, do not thing it was.
To the best Of your knowledge and belief, was
not Thornhill killed on that occasion?
Question objected 10 by counsel the court being
cleared, objection sustained. The doors were
opened, the accused and his couRsel eadnitcd and
decision of the court announced,
Questions 5y the Court State al the circUmstau-
ces connected with the alleged murder of Thornhill7
Ans. We went up to the house Of ThoTuhill; Job
Powell called him out he came cut TO the fence and
asked them to get down; Job Powell ordered the
boys 10 shoot ThoTnhill on signal which be gave
with his hand; on doing so he commenced dodging
and ran; the men commenced firing he ran about
one hundred and fifty yards, to point Of woods. I
got down myself to lay down the fence for the boys
to get through. The boys found him in the woods,
and heard firing [ cannot say who shot him, u
who did not. l saw him afterwards ii distance Of
about twenty yards, ne was lying his back Or side
1 did not think he was dead; he appeared 70 be
wounded.
Here court adjourned to Z o'clock, ?. n. The same
day.
Two r NJ, August 18th, 1865, cour. net pursuant
10 adjournment Present, same members as at last
meeting, the Judge Advocate the accused and coun-
sci. There being witness for prosecution present
but two important ones sent for, the court was Oc
cuped in taking testimony Of witness for defence
who could not remain until the opening Of the de-
fence, and which will appear appended marked g.
At I, ?. -, the case WAS adjourned TO Monday, Aug
2lst, al i. ", and court adjourned % Saturday,
Aug, 10Th, al s, A. ".
FIFTH DAY
light, !. N, Wednesday, Augu-. 2Ist, coug. met
pursuant to adjournment.
PRESENT
Col. J. L. Crtiss, nth Ind V. Y. l.
It. Col Philip GTund, 44th Ind Y. Y.
MAJ. Jno =. Gordon, 10th L. 5. c. l.
Can't. 4. Z kOgnt-. 18th IND. Y, Y. I