Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-22
SHELBYVILLE
Items from BedfOrd-The Courts
RObberies-AT Temperance Rally.
To the Editors of the Union and American:

Items from BedfOrd-The Courts
RObberies-AT Temperance Rally.
To the Editors Of the Union and American:
SHKLBYvILLR, TENN, April 20, 1871.
Your correspondent enters the list at a
late hour to collect news items for this
week, and necessarily writes from men,
DRY.
The Circuit Court is now in session
and absorbing the interest of the county
In general and litigants in particular.
His Hon. Judge Williamson presides with
becoming grace and gravity, and decides
with ease vexed questions of law upon
which '1earned counsel" differ widely.
Maj. Mcknight, the vigilant Attorney
General is at his post and doing his duty.
The criminal docket occupied eight
days, and was disposed of Tuesday.
VIM. Hamilton was tried upon an indict-
ment for the murder of James Muse,
found guilty, and, according to the YER
dict, the penalty is, citizenship in the city
of Nashville, domiciled iu the Peniten-
tiary for term of eleven years. Arch
Msllard, colored, upon an indictment for
grand larceny, was found guilty and
promised home in that same asylum for
ldwless humanity. A United States
storekeeper was indicted under the recent
statute for carrying pistol, but was re-
leased; His Honor, Judge Williamson,
deciding that as United States Govern
ment official, he had a right to carry a
pistol Numerous other cases of minor
importance were disposed of. The civil
docket is sluggishly lessening. There are
several suits for damages to be tried this
term, in which the Nashville aud Chatta-
nooga Railroad is defendant.
We hope the result of the suits will not
break the railroad, and thus cut off COM
munication with Nashville.
The term is likely to be long and
tedious, much to the annoyance of the
farmers who are in attendance as jurors,
witnesses and parties, to the neglect of
some important business at home.
Chancellor A. T. Marks dropped in
Monday afternoon and convened special
term of the Chancery Court, holding
about an hour and half; during this
very brief term he dispatched business
with even more than his usual energy and
rspidity. We predict that in a very short
time he will redeem his court from the
prevailing idea that the rights of parties
must await the result of q Grip
Van Wrinkles sleep" before they can be
reached and adjudged in a Chancery
Court. He announced DEGREES Monday
evening in numerous important cases, to
the delight of some and the utter dismsy
of other parties. Some of the dssatis-
fed propose to Increase the docket of the
Supreme Court, and are building their
hopes upon the prospective decision of s
higher tribunal.
The bills filed by Samuel Watson,
Trustee of the Bank of Tennessee VS. Ad
Infinitum and others, were dismissed.
There were upwards of fifty of these,
and their dismissal will beautifully lessen
the Chancery docket.
Midnight marauders are still breaking
through and stealing, moral and civil law
to the contrary Notwithstanding. The
dry goods store of Dyer, Hsggsrd &
Couch was broken open few nights ago;
only articles of merchandise were stolep,
the money was in safe keeping and could
not be touched.
The schoolboys and girls of Bedford
Seminary had temperance rally last Sun
day afternoon. Speeches were made by
Hon. Thomas H. Caldwell, Rev. W. A.
Nelson and others, with interludes OF
gladstone music. At the close of the e1-
ercises about fifty-eight took the pledge
of ''total abstinence" and joined the band
of hope.
Prof. C. w. Jerome, the Principal, is
an earnest, aOorkilg man; he is moral
as well as mental educator, and the Semi.
nary is prospecting under his supervision.
lTRMIZKR.