Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-26
FROM BEDFORD.
Items from Bedford - The Courts,
Criminal Trials - Dry Weather,
CIRCUIT COURT,

Criminal Trials - Dry Weather,
etc.
To the Editors of the Union and American:
CIRCUIT COURT.
SHELBYvILLE, TENN, Aug. 81, 1871
The Circuit Court is still in session, Judge
Williamson presiding. The first week
was devoted to the civil docket. As one
Of general interest, we give the case of
d. ID. Phillips vs. the Nashville and Chat
anooga railroad, verdict for the plaintiff
of SPAS. 90, damages for the killing of a
horse by the railroad.
The State docket took up all last week,
and will doubtless be on hand all this
week. The
TRIAL OF wM. HAMILTON,
for the murder of James Muse, lasted
several days. The case was taken up
Wednesday. The argument was con-
cluded about noon Saturday; after brief
but explicit charge from the court the
Jury took the case and brought back
a verdict about 81 o'clock the same day.
The court room was closely crowded, and
while the roll of the jury was being
called, many anxious faces listened
eagerly for the verdict. ellis honor"
slowly asked of the jury the customary
questions "Have you agreed in your
verdict, gentlemen ?" ''We have. :"
Chow do you find 2" "Not guilty! !"
And Immediately a roar of applause and
cheers burst forth from the crowd, many
of whom had pressed their way within
the bar. 1t will be remembered by many
that this case was tried last April, and the
jury then found the prisoner guilty, and
fixed the term of his Imprisonment in the
Penitentisry at eleven years. Upon mo-
ton new trial was granted; since that
time the general interest in the result has
been steadily increasing. Public opinion,
as far as we have heard it expressed, was
very decidedly in favor of his acquittal;
and we think no one, not even the prose
cutor, is dissatisfied with the verdict.
The case was very ably managed and
argued OF both sides. Col. Burton, of
Murfreesboro, ard Ivie & Neal, of this
bar, assisted the Attorney General for the
State. Under the appointment of the
court, Col. Ed. Cooper, VIM. Fl. Wise
ner, ST., James T. Scadder and James A
Moore managed the defense.
The defendant was the son of doc
tress who travelled through this country
year ago last winter and spring, engaged
in the practice of her profession. On
the 26th of May, 1870, the boy went to
q grocery in Wartrace to buy gin for his
mother, when his mother was insulted,
aad quarrel ensued, which terminated
in the killing of James Muse. The pris-
oner's mother, widow, died shortly az
ter his imprisonment, and the unfortunate
youth was left among strangers, without
money, without friends, kith or kin,
charged with the high crime of ''wilful,
malicious murder" the impending doom
of telon hanging over his head. But
fortunately for the poor, destitute crmi-
nal, the Constitution of our country guar
antees that eUery mau, when accused of
any crime, may be heard by his counsel;
and when he is too poor to employ, the
court shall appoint. And the accused in
this case owes his acquittal to that soil
tary provision, the earnest zeal of the
faithful counsel thus given, the guiding
wisdom of an enlightened court and the
sound sense of 6 liberal minded jury.
Young Hamilton is still here, and has
expressed his intention to remain in Shell
| byville. and will go 10 work as soon as
he RECEIVERS from the debility resulting
from close confinement in the jail for
| fifteen months.
The case of the
STATE VS.. WILLIAM II. wIsRNRR, JR.,
! was taken up this morning. The most of