Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-01

been under your commando if So how long? What
has been his character and conduct rs an officer an
8 man, and what that of his regiment2 Ans. Col
Parsons has been under my command since January,
1854. His character has been as high and his con-
duct as good as that of any other officer in the COM
mand. He has taken more trouble to prevent cause
OF complaints on the part of citizens than any other
/ regimental commander had. His regiment was as
good in point of service for the United States as any
/ regiment in the service.
Do you know Capt. James W. Bell, Lieut. Col
Rutherford, and Lieut.. Samuel E. Rankin, of the
9Th Tennessee Cavalry if go. state what has been
their characters as officers and soldiers since they
have been under your commando Ans. know the
officers mentioned. The two former served with
distinction until disabled by wounds Recently and
so far am acquainted, the latter has always been
efficient officer
Do you know the character OF john A. Thorn.
hill, OF Jefferson county Ans. Not from personal
observation. / have always understood that he had
/ the character there Of being desperado.
The testimony WAS then read over to the witness,
and be WAS permitted to retire.
The counsel for the accused here announced that
further testimony would be brought upon the part
Of the defence. The Judge Advocate announced
that no testimony in reply would be brought on the
part Of the prosecution The counsel for the accused
then asked until Thur>dRy morning, August 3lst,
1865 to prepare an argument. The time was grant
ed, and the accnrdingly adjourned until s,
A. NJ, Thursdny, August 3lst. The court then ad-
journed to two P. NJ. Of this afternoon, August 25.
TENTH DAY.
Eight l NJ, Thursdsy, August Slst, 1855, court
met pursuant to adj nurnment.
Present, sgme members rs at last meeting, the
Judge Advoente, the Accused, and Counsel.
The then continued the trial Of the accused,
Jo Parsons, Colonel, 9Th Tennessee Cavalry.
g. A. Wood counsel for the accused, then an
nounced that owing the delsy Of the train the
Knoxville road, his colleague, Mr.. j. N. Fleming
who had prepared argument for the Defence
not present. but was expected hourly. By direction
Of the court, the testimony and proceedings of the
entire case were then read By the Judge Advocate
preparatory to hearing the arguments. The counsel
not having arrived, and some members having to be
present musters of their companies the court
adjourned to s. 4. NJ, of Friday, Sept lst 1865.
ELEVENTH DAY.
Eight, a. NJ, Friday, Septemer lst 1865, court met
pursuant to adjournment.
Present same members as st last meeting, the
Judge Advocate the Accused, and Counsel.
The proceedings of last meeting we're approved
j. NJ Fleming counsel for the accused then read
q written defence, which will appear in the appen-
dix marked &C" This argument has already ap-
peared in the Whg.-ED.
G. 4. Wood, counsel for the accused, asked per-
mission to make few statements to the court in ad
dition to the written argument 1t granted, and
he spoke substantially rs follows:
argument Of @. 4. Wood Counsel for Defence.
The importance of this case to the public service
and the accused, is my for asking to be heard
verbally. It is important because there is no inter
mediate ground between a finding of murder in the
first degree, and one of justifable homicide It is
impossible that any less degree of guiltc be found
under the charges. The character of Thornhill the
intensity of his venom, his determination to carry
out his threats are shown by all the witnesses we'll
as by circumstances His coming into the regiment
md
down the streets at Knoxville in front Of Parsons
quarters seeking Parsons, and his frequent threats
kill him, show that the controlling passion Of his
life to crafty revenge, and to right supposed
wrong, and so do his conversation and actions in |
public and private life. What had Parsons done ? |
He met Thornhill in Kentucky, at Camp Nelson. |
H. was a brave man, and made favorable impress |
sion. He tells him to go down and enlist company,
and he shall have Captaincy, and furnish him with
money from his own resources. What could be more |
generous ThOrnhill never enlisted, and the mere
fact of his commanding q company at Knoxville |
during the siege did not make him amendabe TO |
military law. Therefore, he no deserter. He /
only came to Knoxville when the rebels prevented
him from marauting in Jefferson county; swegrs |
sh,It after the siege that he did mt know Ms he ever
should 20 back to the regiment and then comes to 1
create difficulty when he hexrs his place has been !
filed. claim that he had no status in the service |
and was not anendabe to military law. There WIS |
civil law since martial law had been declared, and
even there had been, there was remedy except /
10 put him under bond, and had ne met Parsons |
viii he never did, some one would hav, been kill
ed spite of the bonds. Did not the public good,
10 say nothing of the safety of these men, demand |
ThOrRhIll death? Because this is case outside of
the authorities. No parallel can be quoted Il must
be argued on the broad ground OF self-defence.-
There danger of assassination; the head of the
regiment threatened for doing his duty; sll ms !
friends who jnstlfed him were threatened. War |
WAS made Oh the regiment, yet the man WAS said to
he loyal yet the accused is Ia be hung for dis ong
Of hml | would call attention - the nature Uf hIs
threats when he said ths regiment not large
enough TO hold him and VI ior Armstrong Snd he
hoped Armstrong would ger out He meant death
TO Armstrong. ArmstTUng's resignation wns accept
ed, but ne bullied out. WhVn be says he snd
Parsons cannot live in the same country, ne meant
wherever John A. Thornhill happened to BE-, there
Parsons life was not safe. ThOrnhills band were
wagIng guerrilla warfare for the Union side but 1
were as bad Us Gatewood and his band. He was
liable to punishment, but liable death also, the
ground of self defence. What Col Parsons had the
to do for himself he had the right to do by
another.
The Judge Advocate then requested until Tues-
lay, September 5th, to prepare reply. The time
was granted, and court adjourned to 8, A NJ Tues
lay, Sept. 9th, 1865.
TWELFTH DAY.
Eight, A n, September 5th, 1865, court met pur-
uant TO adjournment.
Present, the same members as at last meeting, the
Judge Advocate, the Accused, and Counsel
The proceedings of last meeting were read and
approved.
The court then continued the trial OF the accused,
10. Parsons Colonel, 9th Tennessee Cavalry.
The Judge Advocate then read written argu-
nent for the prosecution.
The counsel for the accused then requested time
prepare reply. The court was cleared, and after
lue deliberation it was decided, That the court
Vas to be dissolved Immediately, it was ine1pedient
o grant longer time than until this P. NJ" The
lOors were then opened, the accused and counsel
present, and the decision of the court announced
The case was then adjourned until 3, P NJ, Of this
afternoon, Sept. 9th, 1865.