Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-06-05

| WAS GEO. w. CHURCHwELL INsANEe
| A, Intcresfinx SUIT and Testimony About
an Old Citizen.
| In Yesterdays CHRONICLE we made
| mention of suit before Judge E. T. Hall
and jury in the Circuit Court, involving
near half million of dollars, in which the
President and Directors of the Bank. of
East Tennessee are plaintiffs, and J. A.
Mabry, Administrator of g. w. Church
well, is defendant The suit is on notes,
one for $137, 900. The defense is, that at
!, the time they were made. Mr.. Churchwell
was of unsound mind. This testimony, re-
lating to an old citizen will prove of in
terest, and we give it as We extracted it
! from the notes of the counsel for the de-
Tense. We give merely the gist of the tes-
l timony, much of which was in form of
dispositions. &A 4'5ASa
DR.. w. P. Baker testified that in jan
uary, 1913, he called to see q. w. Church-
1 well and found him very much excited;
| he was under the impression that he was
George Washington thought he was of
unsound mind, and that he was constitus
| tionally pre-disposed to insanity; didn't
seem to be of sound mind his wife had
great influence over him.
Hon. O. p. Temple was his counsel Tor
many years and always found him cratic
and singular. rg7ssgTEv eT7v-g-Es...
Timothy Sullins knew him very well
prior to 1S43 he was brilliant lawyer;
after his sickness that year was dement,
ed; had an uncontrollablea appetite.
DR.. w. M. Rodgers treated Mr.. Church
we'll after 1913 found him with strange
freaks he would break off suddenly in a
brilliant conversation and abuse the man
he was talking with bought land of him
in 1859 and took title bond, but onsrepre-
sensations of Mr.. Charlton gave it back, as
he considered him insane and:incapable of
transacting important business. q cWG
Alfred Sharpe knew Mr.. Churchwell,
when he left for New Orleans in 1912,
strong and well, but returned very feeble.
Did not know me at times, and would ac-
cuse me OF stealing Charged Frank Scott
and Gen. Anderson wit h stealing. Never
thought him sane after 1913. - .-vr
DIR. Jas. Rodgers, was his attending
physician; he died of liver complaint, and
his mind was affected; saw a marked
change in his character from 1910 to 1850;
was abusive, suspicious and Overbearing.s
J. f. J. Lewis, knew him ID years !; after
1913, he became abusive and .sullen; one
of his salutations to friends on the street
was chow are you?' you Cd forsaken
scoundrel ?" was not capable of attending
to business. 4-rrr.,f, .ls = ~ ~ szs. az
DIR. M. L. Rodgers was his physician in
1864; considered him of unsound mind.
J. M. Ragsdale lived with Mr.. Church,
well as overseer. Saw marked change
in him after 1S43. He had an ungovern-
able appetite. His wife told him what to
eat. He had an impression that he was to
make a speech to the returning soldiers
from the Mexican War. He would..repeat
the speech to the family.
VIM. Nc Clellan served him as overseer
in 1S43. Mr.. Churchwell went to New Or
leans that year with his son William M.
His son and wife had great control over
him. John E. Helms knew deceased very
we'll. He was boisterous man, generally
greeted his friends as you Cd forsaken
scoundrel," and even worse epithetS. he
was knocked down once by Connally f.
Trigg. -.rtr,- ssfeT5 II .-s =
G. w. Childress lived with Churchwell
in 1858. He would hold family prayers
and would curse his servants before he was
off his knees. ba5fr Isa 4
Col. Johnson, of Monroe, knew him
very well. Before 1913 he stood at the
head of the Knoxville Bar, was naughty,
proud, and loved money. After that he
bee anne slOvenly. Stopped over night with
him once. He was abusive and pro-
fame, and yet had family prayers. During
1853, he said his son William had received
the promise of U. S. Judgeship for him |
from President Pierce but he said he was
nO-account now. Gsa afsR 81
DR.. j. M. Boyd gave some of his pecu- |
liarities and expressed the opinion that he
was insane, Dr. J. @. M, Ramsey was of |
the same opinion,
Matthew Nelson said he sold him goods, |
but as he would boy under age. His |
wife generally bought for him. g. nj.
Hazen testified about the same. Fe |
G. w. Hail.. Esq, had Judge Alexander
to go with him in 1843, to Churchwell's
office to get books and papers of u. s.: At
torney's office. Churchwell felt that he
was removed because of his unfitnesS for |
the office. Z lEz n
Andrew Sharpe said Churchwell told /
him one day he was trying to. find the
biggest rascal in Knoxville.
Many other witnesses testified to acts
that made them think him insane.
Capt. Bearden said Churchwell thought |
his son William next to the Saviour.
PER CONTRA; 81 - IA
The plaintiff opened the case in rebuttal
yesterday and showed that gChurchweH
was appointed overseer of roads by the
County Court that he drew up his own
answers to important bills in Chancery |
that he showed a full knowledge of his |
rights and interests drawnsup in 1850.
The evidence will be resumed this morn
ing by plaintiff. The case is one of great |
interest and Importance.
-s---- G.
New Parasols, Fans and Sun Umbrellas, |
at RayFs. ,HcE~
Open Air Concert. LjCtu
On Tuesday night the Turner Band met |
and decided, in accordance with the wishes |
expressed by many of our citizens, as pub
lished by us in Tuesdays issue, to give
another grand open, air concert on next
Friday night, when the same programme
used during the Farmers, Convention will |