Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-11
,niun aud 9ispatfh.
TUESDAY. JUNE IL. 1867.
Largest Circulation in City and State.
THE CREENEVILLE MORA RADI-
CAL CANARD EXPOSED.

To the Editors Of the Union and DisPateh.
GREENEvILLE, Tenn, June s, 1867
/ saw in the Pres and Times a special
dispatch signed alpha" and headed "Con-
servatiyes try TO get up Mob in Greene
vile" 1t comes from JOnesboro', and was
doubtless sent by Judge Houk or John
Brownlow, who went up from this place
the day after Messrs. Etheridge and May
nard spoke here. Itcontains at least eight
errors or lies, can't say which and as
citizen of the quiet and orderly town Of
Greeneyille, / am unwilling il shall be de-
famed in such a manner. Now, a true
statement of the affair is as fellows: Both
parties of course claimed the victory for
their respective champions upon the issues
Joined during the day. The Conservative
party did not leave when Etheridge got
through. After supper Judge Houk, ac-
cOrding TO announcement, was addressing
the Radicals in the courthouse. Our Brass
Band went over to the East Tennessee House,
about a quarter Of mile from the court
house, and serenaded Mr.. Etheridge; while
they were playing about eighty or one hum
dred persons gathered in the street, and Mr.
Etheridge Gen. Arnold, Judge Patterson
and parsOn Holtsinger responded to calls
from the serenading party in few appro.
pirate remarks. The party dispersed On
their way home some had to pass the court
house. Houk was still speaking; but just
before they arrived opposite the building
Col. Ery's boy, Just returned from hunting,
emptied his gun some hundred yards below.
The band boys as they came past beat a few
taps on the drum and blOWed a blast on
the trumpet. Some one cried "hurrah for
Brownlow." They replied by cheer for
Etheridge and went on home In few
moments a couple Of boys, for fun, fired
their pistols in the air, and soon after the
guard at the Jail, which stands a few yards
behind the courthouse, fired a couple Of
shots at some one whom they supposed TO be
lurking around to release the prisoners.
Then all was quiet for nearly an hour, save a
little disturbance occasioned by the Sheriff
very properly ejecting couple of drunken
men who were in pleasant and humorous
way interrupting Judge Houk One of
them was Salts spoken of in the Press and
Times as being the leading spirit in the sere-
nading mob; when he never was with the
serenading party, but was, all the time they
were out, inside the Courthouse and was not
outside until after that party had dispersed
and nearly all Of them were at home and
abed. At the close Of the hour following the
last firing, the meeting inthe courthouse was
also dispensing, and some one in front of the
bdilding-there were not over a half dozen
persons outside at the time the meeting broke
up, and most of them were RAIDS listening
to the speaking inside-fired off a pistol
once, as the people were erowding out of
the door. Immediately some one said
'Hurrah for Brownlow, by Cd now,
boys, is your time to frep and instantly
about thirty shots were fired in rapid sue.
oession by the Radicals coming ont of the
courthouse, and quiet once more settled
upon the usually quiet town. SO much for
the conservative moi" and the "atrocious
attempt 10 prevent free speech"
One true statement there is in the dis
patch Nobody hurt -. Hsss 1s.1. yTssi-
imagine a mob firing one hundred and
thirty shots at each other, and nobody
hurt ?" by regarding the whole occur
renee in the same light as do the SEN
sible men of both parties, viz: that the
firing was intended for a salute to the
respective candidates, and the pistols
either were not loaded or else were fired
into the air. My house is Immediately
across the street from the courthouse-not
thirty yards ofl.-and the whole family saw
all that occurred distinctly. 1 will say
further, for those who live far away from
Greeneyille, and do not know the character
Of the town which "Alpha" seems so anx-
ious to malign and slander, that for eighteen
months there has not been, and is not now,
a quieter town in the State.
Somewhat saucily "Alpha's,' but most
respectfully yours,
Nv II TNarRgoTT