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

he had heard had said he acted has tiIy. toI,
him did, and regretted the dific culty very much
That is the only grounds yer gave him, and tht
only harsh words between hi m and myself.
Did you expect an open or clandest inc assault
expected attack any way that might suit his
convenience best. He a man, from my personal
, knowledge that would fight any thing or any way.
Do you know whether Col. Parsons and Thorn
hill ever met each other under any circumstances
after their difficulty at Nashville Ans. don't know
that they ever did.
The testimony was then read over 10 the witness,
when he allowed TO make the following correc-
ton In answer TO I'd question by accused, January
14th, 10Th and Goth, instead of February and was
, then permitted to retire.
The court then adjourned 10 3 A NJ, Thursday
August q, 1865.
EIGHTH DAY.
Eight, 4. NJ, Thursday, August 2, loo5, court met
pursuant to adjournment.
Present, same members as at last meeting, the
Judge Advocate the Accused, and Counsel
The proceedings of yesterday were read and ap-
proved
The court then proceeded with the trial Of the ac-
cused, Jo Parsons, Colonel, 9th Tennessee Cavalry
E A. Sawyers, citizen of New Market, Jefferson
county, Tenn. fourteenth witness for the defence,
being duly sworn, testified as follows
Questions by Acc1scd.-What is your name and
place Of residence? Ans. E. 4. SawyeTs, New Mar
ket Jefferson county, Tenn.
We're you acquainted with John \. ThoruhilI, Of
Jefferson county? Ans. have kRown him about
three years.
Did you go from New Market to Bulls Gap On
the train with Col Parsons, about September, 1864
Did you give him any warning at thst time in re-
gard to Thornhill? if so, what warning did YOU
give him, and what cause had you for giving it,
Ans. did; warned him to be careful; that Thorn
hill was making threats to kill him if they ever met
| each other.
We're you at Knoxville at the time difficulties oc-
CURED between Thornhill and 1t. Col. Rutherford
! and between John \. Newman and Captain J. w
Bell if sO state all you know about the two occur
rences? Ans. was. l was sitting in Harris store
/ with Mr.. Hoss. heard a voice to my right, and
| turning saw Capt. ThornhiIl and Col. Rutherford
/ / got up and went towards them, and Capt Thorn
hill was accusing him ,Rutherford} Of coming TO
Jefferson county to get evidence against his Thorn
hill 81 character Col Rutherford arose to his feet
and told ThOrnhill that there was his friend New
man, whom he went with, and that he never inquir-
/ ed into Thornhllls character, anything about
( him. Newman then spoke to Thornhill and said
that 1t. Col Rutherford did not do it: that he had
/ shown him (Newmanl his papers and told him
what he went after. ThOrnhill spoke and said he
did, and that if he (RutherGOrd) had any business
there to do it and leave the town damned quick
that he had sworn damned lie. Then the Lieu
tenant Colonel turned and spoke to me- to come with
him in the back door Of the store Harris store
He asked me then for pistol told him had no
arms, but just to stand there and l would 90 back
and fix the thing up without any further trouble
l met Newman as l went back, and spoke 10 him
ThOrnhill in such rage that did no. speak 10
him. Newman told me there should be no more
trouble; that he was friend to both Of them. |
went back to the Colonel Who then went on. TO see
if he could get some arms and met his brother His
brother took him to Waddels. | then met Thorn
hill and had a talk with him. He said that ~C Col.
10. Parsons here was the best-hearted man in fha
world; that to Col. Rutherford he owed a debt Of
gratitude for the way he had treated him when in
Kentucky, and that Col JO. Parsons had not treated
him right; that if he or Col. Rutherford or aDv /
friend of Colonel Parsons, ever came in his path he
would Kill them. thought he was drunk that (
caused him to talk So That conversation was about
half an hour after the difficulty. I saw afterwards /
Newman and Bell the same day. Newman was /
very drunk. stepped across the street to them /
don't think they had spoken more than once or .
twice TO each other. / took hold OF Newman and .
told him to come with He ierkcd away from
me and ran up TO Capt. Bell, and stuck his head
near his face and gave him the damned lie Cant
Bell never said q word. l got hold Of him araiD
and he gave him the lie again in the same v6v.-
The Captain stepped back and told him that ibev
both belonged TO the same regiment and he did not
want any difficulty" got hold Of him again and
he broke away the third time and gave the Captafp
the damned lie again, and the Captain drew his ps-
tol and snapped It about four times think. Then
Newman got hold Of him, and l and some other,
parted them. Capt. Bell still held on to the pistol
and after hitting Newman on the head threw It al /
him. got the pistol and handed it to some one
They then took Newman away.
II you met Thornhill and Newman on the next
morning and had any conversation with them in re-
laton to these difficulties state what transpircd p
Ans. met them at the depot; stepped up and shook
hands, and said, Boys, hope YOU are all right
this morning, and will drop this thing and let it
pass by" Newman said, He hoped so too
Thornhill said What he had said had to be So Jut
if they never come in his way it would be all rizht
Were ThOrRbill or Newman drunk or sober when
you met them next morning Ans ! thought they
were sober.
From your knowledge Of ThornhilIs character,
was he likely TO carry his hostile threats into
execution Ans. think lie was
CROss-ExAMINATIOS
Questions by Judge AdC0cat6-Did you hear Capt
Bell say anything at the time Of the difficulty be-
tween him and Newman Ans. No, sir.
The testimony was then read over to the witness,
and he was permitted to retire.
Thomas Houk, private company D, gth To,nes-
see Cavalry, fifteenth witness for the defence being
duly sworn, testified as follows;
Questions By AccuSCd-What is your name rank
regiment and where do you reside Ans. Thomas
HOuk, private, company D, 9th Tennessee Cavalry,
Knoxville, Tenn.
Did you know John u ThornhiIl, Of jefferson
county, by sight or otherwise? Ans. Yes sir, knew
him by sight only.
We're you at Knoxville about the 18th Of June
last, when a difficulty occurred between ThornhiH
and Col Rutherford Ans. Yes, sir.
If you heard Thornhill or Newman after that diff
dculty make any threats towards Col Parsons CT
other officers of his regiment state all that was said?
Ans A few minutes after Thornhill and Newman
and Col. Rutherford and Capt Bell had the fracas
Capt Bell and Col. Rutherford walked Off leaving /
me and John Ryan standing near Tbornhill and |
Newman. Then Ryan walked across the street to |
Strong s McEwen's drug store. l turned round and
walked down to the next corner; past ThOrnhi and
Newman, who were in a store / stood there few I
minutes and walked past again. ThOrnhil stepped 1
put on the street and said to some one don't know
who, He wished he could find that damned Ruth
erford, he intended TO kill him before he left town;
hat Bell, Rutherford, Parsons and Capt. Armstrong
be intended to kill If he did not do il now before
be got out of service he would lay in wait for them
and bushwhack and kill them. About that time 81
James Flanagan of our regiment, walked up. He
did not know Thornhil After Thornhil said this
be said Armstrong had prevented him killing l
Parsons at Nashville, Tenn, and was damned C
and there was not an officer Of the 9th
Tennessee but was a scoundrel Flanagan and I
hen walked up the street few doors, and Flanagan
asked me who that was and l told him He then =
stopped to talk with some one. l walked on and
met Capt. Bell and Col Rutherford and told then,
what had been said.
The testimony being read over to the witness, he
was permitted to retire.
Z. E. Newman, I'd Lieut., company C. 9Th Ten
lessee Cavalry, sixteenth witness for defence being
duly sworn, testified as follows
State your name, rank, and regiment? Ans Z.
E. Newman, I'd Lieut., company c, 9th Tennessee
Cavalry, Jefferson county.
When we're you mustered as ID Lieut. Of company
c. eth Tennessee Cavalry? Ans. oath of March
s65.
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