Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-20
AN IMPRESSIVE INCIDENT.

Death Scene I'm q Temple OF Justice
The Proceedings OF q Court Arrested
by q Sudden Observation-Disclosures Of
the Sad End OF General Joel A.
Dewey.
From the Knoxville Chronicle, June 49,
When death in the twinkling of an eye,
strikes down without moments warning
a young man in apparent full health, in the
very prime of manhood, it is a fearful dem
onstration Of Divine power, which those
who witness will never forget. Such a
scene was yesterday presented in the Cir
cult Court room in this city, where Judge
Hall, jury and counsel were busy trying
an important law case-Roehl vs.. Boond-
once before passed for the death of one of
the Bar. The case wss being argued by
Col. Baxter at the time of the sad event.
Among the lawyers who were quietly sit
ting within the bar, interested in listening
to the argument, was Gen. Joel A. Dewey
of cambridge, who had been examined as
a witness in the case. He bad come into
the court but q short time before in appa-
rently as good health as ever. He was sit
ting near some friends an interested listen
or, when, without moments warning, he
fell forward from his chair on the floor.
Quick as possible Jas. King, Esq, who was
sitting by him, caught him, and with the
help CT other brother lawyers, raised him
up. he was then gasping and struggling
for breath. He was carried outside the bar
and laid upon the floor and medical aid
promptly summoned. It was too late, for
in 8 very few minutes life was extinct.
There be lay amid the terror-stricken spec
tators, the proceedings of the court sus-
pended, splendid form, strong and sound
apparently, in the last agony of suffocation.
DR.. Bailey examined the body and pro-
nounced life extinct. AS sooa as the truth
was realized Court was adjourned. The
body was removed to the Franklin House
aud taken charge of by friends, who had it
prepared for burial. The startling ne VS.
spread rapidly and was everywhere received
with deep sorrow.
BEFORE DEATH.
Gen Dewey came to Knoxville Sunday
night, under summons to testify in the case
referred to, in company with Hon. j. p.
Swan, o. cambridge. They stopped at
Mrs. William A. Branner's, on Church
street. Gen. Dewey gave his testimony in
the case Monday, and expected to start back
to cambridge on the early morning train of
Tuesday. He awoke at l and again at 8
o'c ock that morning, TO go on the train,
but through the persuasion Of Judge Swan,
be agreed to wait for the noon train. He
was in unusually fine spirits yesterday
morning. Col. Jas. Z. Cooke, who lives
next door to Mrs. Branner's, spent some
time with him about the breakfast hour.
He stepped over into Mr.. Cookies yard,
talked about flowers and books, and played
with his children He went into tho oourf
house aud greeted his friendj in bis usual
cordial way. In short time after he lay
in the temple of justice, dead.
FORMER PREMoNITIoNs OF DEATH.
We understand that some two years ago
while at Tazewell, be remarked one morn
ing to Mr.. Stern, of this city, that he came
near dying the night before of suffocstion.
When asked what was the matter, he
pointed to mis- heart and said, '.heart dis
ease" Il seems probable, therefore, that
the cause of bis sudden death was trouble
at the heart. 1t was sudden shutting out
Of the light-an instantaneous check of the
life blood. Death came too sudden for sp-
oplexy, is he opinion expressed by medi-
cal gentleman.
Gen. Dewey was about SO years of age.
In November, 1871, he was married 10
Miss Victoria Branner, Of cambridge. His
wife and young son months old survive
him. The mother aud sisters of The be-
reaved wife left her home but few weeks
ago 20 make protracted visit in Iowa,
where Mr.. Branner at one time lived. In
her sudden and overwhelming grief, the
young wife will have the sympathy OF faI
reaching circle Of friends, known and I'M
known,