The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-12
An Imnnrfanf Case.

THE OWL RIGHTS BILL-ALMosT COLLISION.
Legal proceedings were BEGUN yesterday wlIch
are likely to make the pubic mind famlnar with the
practical work ings OF the Civil Rights law, recently
passed over the Presidential veto Ii has been an
noupoed that on last ga urday evening negro had
an angry alteration, the Nashville and EDGE
field ierry.boat, with two youths, Messrs. q. l..
Nolen and William Daniels, and that The former OIL
the white young men inflicted a pistol wound upon
the negIo. The name OF the negro James Gittins,
and he died of his wound, either late SUNDAY or
yesterday. In the meantime, young Nolen aud hIs
associate William Daniels had given uond before
W f. Meacham, Esq, for their appearance al 1
O'Clock, i. M. yesterday.
became publicly known that MIR. Chaplain Lawrence,
Judge of the FreeGmen's Court, had gone before E.
ard made such afhdavIts caused a warrant
to be issueo, upon winch d r Gascock Esq,
United States Marshal tor the Middle Distucl OF
tennessee, was to arrest No en- and Daniels, aud
take them before the United States Circuit or ID g.
tnot Court, II the examining magistrate should fail
TO ADMIT negro testimony as to the tact'. AN
usla crowd began to gather in Mr Ncacham's
office at No Ce1ar street. 1t became apparent
there would bo comfort for Court, prison ers
or counsel, in a small office and Squire Meacham
pruGenuy announced that he had obtained from tIp
Recorder permission to use the City Hall. The
curious thrOng began at once to hurry tnither. But
before the transfer, Rev. Judge Lawrence was OBJ.
served on the ground. The United States Marsha
also was at the magistrates office attended by
Deputy MIR. Meacham evidently impressed
with the novelty and responsibility of the case and
mad sreque.ted ". H. Wilkinson, ESQ the City Re-
Davidson, TO sit with him. But the latter gentle.
man declined, and the assistance of W. II. Ha.
gans AND p. b. Coleman Esqs.. was secured. At
about O'clock L. NJ the Court was made up and
the youthful defendants appeared in the City Hall,
with an array OF legal ability to defend them,
namely Hon " h. Turner S. Perkins ESQ, of
Williamson cOunt, and f. b McCannahan and
W. Care ESqs., OF the finn OF McCannahan & Clare,
OF this city.
WI en- the magistrates had taken their seats Mr.
Meacham announced tina. the was no warrant
aPainst the prisoners, Nolen and Daniels; tina they
were brought before hun by polio men Saturday
evening, and as there no evidence prepared and
no prosecutor he had simply taken bond tor their ap
pea ance on Monday. Judge Turner, OF defendan s.
counsel SAID that II the Coroner had returned YER
Dict, that, the defense ready to admit was SUIT
hcient warrant Tor committing count Mr. IIeorye
Norvell, the Coroner of Davidson count, then in
formed the Court he had with him the verdict of an
mqu' s., and handed the papers to their worshi9s.
After some prelminarles, MIR. McClannahan au-
nounced to the Court that the defer Sc would prefer
that warrants be make out regularly; and this re-
guest was granted by the Court. arralgning Mr.
Nolen for murder and Mr.. Daniels "a abetting IN
the crime. Mr. Meacham then, on behalf of the
Court directed that the witnesses Tor the state be
produced Two white men came forward and were
in the act OF raising ter right hands to be sworn
when Chaplain Lawrence announced that there was
a colored man just outside the Oor, who observed
the circumstances connected with the killing, and
VINO was an important witness. There seemed to
be no lawyer present to represent the State The
uelense endeaVored to have the two white men
examined first and let the question as to negro es
timonv be raised afterwards but the Court would
not proceed until the matter had been settled. The
ClV1l Rights bill sent tor but without success:
and finally Mr.. Chaplain Lawrence furnished their
worsmps with an Official COPY which was by re-
quest read to them By MIR. McClannahan
lhen Judge Turner MIR. Clare AIr. Perkins, and
Mr. McClannahan all made arguments to show that
this was not d case contemplated in the Civil Rights
act. They were heard with patience and after de-
hberating for more Than half hour their worships
announced through Mr. Meacham that IN view or
the novelty and great importance of the case the
question as TO receiving the negros testimony would
be taken under advlsem- mt until p. " Wednesday
next and that in the meantime the defendants could
renew their recogniZance. This was done and the
court adlourned.-NnShDae Dispatch, 9th.