Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-13

In the centre of the Davidson county
Jail yard stands q neat single story struc-
ture of two rooms, built there early after
the Federal occupation 10 war times, and
by the military authorities Of that inter
esting period used as 2 prison house for
officers in jail awaiting court-msrtial trial,
or temporarily confined for trivial infrac-
tons of military discipline. This little
house was gt that time known as the Of
ficeIs jail, and as matter OF distinguish
ing convenience has ever since retained
that dignifed title. What scenes of human
suffering and agonizing torture have
transpiTed in that miniature jail with
in a jail, can never be known
to the outside world, nor would any good
purpose be served by giving these terrible
occurrences the fullest possible publicity.
Nor of them is it important for us now to
speak. 1. is to more recent occurrences
we would refer. few weeks ago, while
both rooms were unoecupied and their
doors tightly locked, shocking crash in
one of them was distinctly heard in every
part of the building. The doors Of the
little jail were qgickly unlocked, and the
noise readily accounted for, but the cs0se
of the occurrence making the noise
must forever remain sealed mys-
te:y. A large heating stove which mad
stood IN the center of one Of The rooms
had fallen into pieces, and lay scattered
sboGt the floor in sbspeless, undistin-
guishable mass. What did it ? Certainly
no human agency, nor storm, nor earth
quake, nor other earthly power within the
knowledge of man. Waiting for some rea-
soneble explanation of the circumstances,
we have hitherto omitted to mention it.
But the mourners are crowded, and now
we speak out in open meeting. At o'clock
Yesterday afternoon, while party Of gen
tlemsD, such as lawyers, reporters, etc,
were seated in the Jail ,rffice, quietly
awaiting the tedious process of events, in
Guiding the laws delays, etc, there
came another terrible crasd, resouud-
ing with startling distinctness throughout
every niche and corner Of that dismal old
prison-house. What made this fIigh;ful
noise? The answer is easily made, but
the cause thereof, as il the other case, is
and must remain shrouded in mystery.
The stove in the other room Of the "Offi
GERS jail had fallen to pieces, and that
too, while the place was unOccupied and
the doors securely locked. Immediate in
vestigstion disclosed the fact that the first
mentioned occurrence had but repeated
itself, and that another big heating stove
had been by some mysterious and unknown
agency totally destroyed. The moment after
the crash, the priion doors we're unlocked
and careful examination made bat result
ed in no more reasonable solution than
was obtained in the first occurrence uen-
ito ed. The two circumstances we have
but imperfectly described, together with
other occurrences not necessary to be
mentioned in this connection, have very
materially given rise to the question, is
the Jail haunted? Who has the haTdihood
to investigate with the view of giving a
reasonable solution to the ghostly inquiry.
Although not believer in ghosts, we are
prone to confess that we have not the re-
quired temerity, aud therefore willingly
quit the theme, in the memorable words
of Robert Emmett remarking thst we have
done