Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-12-25
VIM. G. BrOWnIOW VS.. VIM. ii. Sneed'
and Others.

..,. hoe ,.s,roed a complicated form, and in
-. has excited considerable atten-
g., ana the recent decisions made In 1t BY his
r,doe Trigg. have, to a certain extent
public interest.
Tho original suit was brought by attachment by
oov Rrownlow TO recover damages for his arrest,
i,nnrisonment and mal-treatment by the rebels OF
Knorville during the war. The jury in that case
rave q verdict for $4,000 damages against r. b.
Reynolds. John r. Crozier VIM. b. Sneed, and
nndor this Judgment the property adjoining the
Lamar House. and other valuable property, was
sold
After tho return Of peace the various defendants
came back 70 Knoxville and Instituted various pro-
ceedings to recover their property. Among other
proceedings a number Of ejectment suits were
commenced in the United States Court on the part
of Crozier and Reynolds against the purchasers oil
the property above mentioned, which suits are still
pending.
Mr. Sneed took the record Of the case to the Su-
preme Court by writ of error and also took an ap-
neal from decision made by Judge He'll in the case.
While this appeal and writ of error were pending
in the Supreme Court, Mr.. Sneed 6ed petition in
the Supreme Court praying that the causes might
be transferred from the Supreme Court OF Tennessee
70 the Circuit Court of the United States, under
recent act of Congress providing for such transfer
in certain cases. The Supreme Court granted the
pottion and sent the appeal and writ of error to the
United States Court. At the present term of the
last named Court The COUNSEL for Gov. Brownlow
moved TO strike these causes from the docket the
ground that they were improperly sent there, and
that the Circuit Court of the United States could
take no Jurisdiction of causes pending in the Su-
premo Court Of State. This motion granted
by Judge Trigg and the causes ordered to be sent
back to the Supreme Court Of Tennessee.
About the time of the taking Of the writ of error
above mentioned, Sneed also fled bill in Chancery
in the Circuit Court Of the United States, charging
that the judgment above mentioned void, and
praying that it might be SET aside and held for
naught.
demurrer was filed to this bill behalf of
Gov Brownlow, which came on for argument a
short time since and was argued by Messrs. Nelson
Champion and Andrews for Gov. BrownlOw, and
by Hiessrs Sneed, Desderick and Crozier for Mr.. |
Sneed.
1t was claimed on behalf Of Mr.. sneed that the
Judgment in question WAS void for certain irregu-
isrities IN the proceedings. 1t was commended for
Gov broWalow that the Judgment valid and
binding, and that in say the Circuit Court of
the United States had power or Jurisdiction TO
set aside judgment rendered in a State Court
Judge Trgg held that Judge of the United
States Court he had the authority and jurisdiction
20 make decree as to the validity CT the judgment.
He further decided that upon the facts shown by the
bill the judgment was void, for the that the
affidavit upon which the attachment was issued was
insufficient and not such an affidavit as would au-
thorize the issuing Of the attachment He there
fore overrued the demurrer and ordered that the
defendant answer the bin.
Without expressing any opinion as to the correct
ness of the decision of his Honor, Judge Trigg, it
is sufficient to say that Gov Brownlow is determin-
ed that Justice shall be done him for the outrageous
wrongs inflicted upon him by the leading rebels of
Knoxville and that with that view he has recently
commenced new action Of trespass against VIM
r. Sneed, John a. Crozer, r. B. Reynolds and J.
c, Ramsey, laying his damages at forty thousand
dillars, in which action the defendants will have
tho opportunity to contest if they can the question
OF their liability for some Of the various acts Of
wrong and outrage committed by them and their
r.bel aders and abettors on behalf of the defunct
CsnGederacy.