Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-17


who were adverse to the majority of
the House. | had no associations with
him myself but as a business man.
During the war that was the character of
our associations exclusively from 1868
to his removal from Rutherford county.
He never talked with me about political
matters | was understood and known to
be a prominent and active Union man in
Rutherford county. / think Judge Frazier
was always courteous and pleasant with the
Union men of our county. L don't know
as 10 the extent of his communication with
Union men On public matters. Judge Brien's
speech / did not look upon as friendly TO
the State government.
Cross examined by Mr.. Ewing: We
want TO know whence you derived that i'm
preston you speak of regarding Judge
Frazier-that his associations were with
those who were adverse 10 the majority of
the House VIII yor state how you derived
that impression?
Witness | never met him in associa-
tion with those with whom | was accus-
toned TO associate. / do not know of his
associations with any body outside of his
regular business relations. | do not know
of his associations with any body in par
ticular. The fact of his not associating
with parties with whom l ordinarily asso-
| ated, might have arisen from his aversion
to have anything to do with politics.
TESTIMONY OF H. NJ. BRaIBLE.
II. NJ. Bramble being sworn, was exam
ined by Mr. Maynard, and testified as fol-
lows
l live in Nashville. In July, 1866,
was employed as Capt. Heyd's deputy in
his official capacity as Sergeant-at-arms. l
went with gentleman named Halburt, to
Jackson county, and brought in Mr.. Martin,
and delivered him to Capt Heydt. After
that was employed to guard Martin and
Williams. They were kept at first in the
Speakers room adjoining the Hall of Rep
resentatives; after that in the next one
this way, what number it is don't remem-
Der. Mr. Martin made no objection to
come to Nashville. He said when he got
to Gallatin if he had known how things
were, he would not have come l under
stood he had been here before this. He
had business, he said, at the County
Court, at Gainsboro' 1t was on the 18th
or 18th arrested him. He did not say
why after attending County Court he had
not returned. had told him that he had
better come along with me, as he would
| probably find that cavalry company was
in the neighborhood and would soon cap
ture him, if he did not come with me. He
learned after we reached Gallatin that
there were no soldiers to be employed in
| that business, and that made him say that
if he had known how things we're he
would not have come. Howard Halburt
was with me. | retained Williams and
| Martin in custody from the 18th to the
| 18th. Mr.. Williams was taken away be
| tween six and seven in the evening of the
| 10Th. When the House was in session we
were ordered TO keep them in those
rooms There was a crowd of at least fif.
teen men that came to take him. There
was only one man among them that !
| knew, and that was Deputy Sheriff Shaw.
The building was closed at the time they
came for Mr.. Williams. Admittance was
demanded by them. There was a colored
man who said he was ordered to have the
building closed TO all but members. Mr.
Shaw came and said he wanted to come
in. He said he would 60 to see
about it. lie beckoned me and
told me he wanted to take that
man of. Members could not get out.
Finally the porter decided it was better to
open the doors and let the party in. The
Sheriff said he was ready TO fight the thing
through They took Mr.. Williams. pro.
tested against their doing it that was all
/ could do. That was between six and
seven in the evening | do pot know what
they did with Mr.. Williams, except that
they took him out of the building. / did
not see any arms about the men. | did not
state that the Sheriff said he would 90 and
see Judge Frazier, but that he said he
would go and see about it. | understood
he got his orders from Judge Frazier. Mr.
Williams was in the first room this side Of
the Speakers room. / was keeping him
there by order of the Seargeant-at-arms
The same came back in the, morning be-
tween three and four was in the Hall o
the House of Representatives. There were
only two other men here, who were down
below when they broke into the building
Ten men came and demanded Mr.. Martin
| protested also against their taking him
but they took him off They were about
thirty in all. The rest were guarding Heydt
| / suppose they were armed, for some one
made the remark 10 shoot the damned
| Yankee son of bitch. A discharged sol
dier was the person to whom this remark
was applied. Capt. Everett and a Lieu.
tenant of the night police were among
the men who came. They had got in be
fore went down stairs. | saw where they
got in. They had Capt. Heydt in tn,
hall; they had him out at the front doc
when ! cameup. Ibid not observe how they
treated Capt Heydt. / was in the court {
few moments at the close of it, when Capt
Heydt was present. There appeared to b.
some excitement and good many people
l did not notice any manifestations of ap
plause. These gentlemen were detained b.
order of the House, and ! was ordered +
keep them in those rooms. The rooms wer
prepared to make them comfortable, ant
every thing they called for was brought il
to them.
The counsel for the defense did not cross
examine Mr.. Bramble.
TESTIMONY OF MICHAEL J. HOUSTON.
Michael J. Houston was sworn and ez
amined by Mr.. Maynard.
In reside in Nashville. / was here i
July, 1866 | was hired by Capt Heyc
to look after some members, Brittle an
Jones, who were supposed to be in the cit,
| examined the city all round, but coul
only hear of them at places where .hey ha
been, but had gone again. At last Ihear
that Brittle had left the city l was al
quainted with the city. l came here
, January, 1865. was employed here 0
, the 10Th July, 1866, as a guard by Cap
, Heydt. was present here il the capitt
t during the time they came into il on ii
2 10Th. | was not here when they came Q
2 the 10Th. had gone TO supper. | r
turned about seven, and was told that
/ posse Of police had taken out Mr.. William
= The noise and confusion in the hall
r this time, occasioned by the assembling
t a large number of persons who came
/ delegates or spectators to the Radical Col
3 gressional convention, became SO great
G TO render it impossible for the members
4 the court TO hear the witness. And il WI
{ found necessary, at twenty minutes
. eleven o'clock to adjourn TO nine o'cloC
3 Friday morning.