Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-14
The Courts.

CRIMINAL COURT, Hon. JOHN HUGH
SMITH PREsIDING.-April Estate a..
T. B. Castleman, assault with intent to
commit murder, continued.
State g. Smith Mckinney, murder, con.
tinued.
State as. Byron Slemons and Mel
Zackerv, continued on affidavit Of defend
ants.
State as. Byron Slemons and Mel.
Zackery, larceny severance granted by
court, and case went TO trial, but was not
concluded.
State as Peter Seay, larceny, sentenced
to twenty-one years. judgment final
State rs Eli Weatheriard, larceny, SEN
fenced for two years
State as. Calvin Brown, malicious shoot
ing, continued.
We mentioned yesterday the trial and
acquittal, Friday, of James Carter, charged
with mayhem upon the body of man
named Kelly.
This was a bloody contest First be-
tween the dogs of their owners, then be-
tween the men, with 4 woman thrown in,
and lastly the contest, though not bloody,
but lively, sarcastic and humorous, between
the advocates. Messrs. Calwell and Ran
kins appeared for the State, and Judge
Guild for the prisoner. This case involved
the dog law of the Emerald Isle, which,
Judge G.. contended, was brought TO this
country by the respective combattants,
which was happily illustrated and success
fully applied by Judge Guild. The priso-
ner with an axe, during the dog fight,
pitched in and nearly amputated the arm
of Kelly, but came out of the battle with
his side bleeding The counsel for the
State insisted that the wound was produced
by the dog, as Kelly swore that he had no
weapon and did not strike the prisoner.
When the government closed its proof
no one doubted the conviction of the pris-
oner. Judge Guild still, however, held up
bold front to the enemy, rallied his scat
tered columns, brought into the battle his
retreating veterans, and soon put into play
his aying battery; maintained that it il the
common law of Ireland, which attaches
itself to every Irishman, TO fight for his
dog; instanced the case of Lancelots in
stinctiye Irish feeling in taking upon HIM
self the offense committed by his dog in
the parlor, mentioned by Shaspeare in one
of his plays; and finally put the case upon
the contested fact, whether the dog or the
prosecutor stabbed the prisoner? Before
Judge Guild closed the defense the tide was
completely turned, and the countenances Of
the jury and expressions of the crowd in
dieated that the prospect was fair for an
acquittal.
Judge Smith gave lucid and satisfecto-
~ charge TO counsel on both sides, involy-
Il. and Inrr Los of
the county.
The Jury, after remaining out an hour,
returned a verdict of acquittal, and Carter
went home rejoicing with his better halt,
and the crowd well entertained and pleased.
RECORDERS CoURT.--Murf Phillips,
disorderly, $50 and costs.
Pat Cannon, tipping without license,
S. and costs.
G. II. Gibbs disorderly, $50 and costs.
L Nelson, disorderly discharged.
Milly Turner, disorderly, discharged
Whey Carter, disorderly, discharged.
Sam Overdue, disorderly, $50 and costs
In copying the record of the Recorder
/ Court, a day or two ago, we made an error
! in stating that the case Of W. A. Mathews,
| arrested for disorderly conduct, was dis
missed at costs, leaving the impression that
he was required to pay the costs. The case
| was dismissed at the cost Of the prosecutor,
who did not appear We learned yesterday
that the Mathews, in this case was our good
friend the Squire fact We were entirely
| ignorant of. His arrest was a piece OF
wantonness, and altogether without cause.
He is one Of the most genial, kind hearted
men in Nashville, and no one would ever
suspect him Of disorderly conduct.
MAGISTRATES CoUBTs.-A. G. Hagey
was before Squire Cassetty, yesterday
charged with assault with intent to kill
Theinvestigation was postponed to Monday
The other Magistrates had no State cases