Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-06-11
WAS GEO. w. CHURCHwELL INsANEe
An Interesting Suit and Testimony About
an Old Citizen.


In yesterdays CHRONICLE we made !
mention of a suit before Judge +. r. 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 49,, 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-
timony, much of which was in form of
dispositions.
DR.. w. 2. Baker testified that in jan
uary, 1913 he called to see @. w. Church.
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 constitu-
| tionally pre-disposed to insanity; didn't
seem to be of sound mind ; his wife had
great influence over him.
Hon. O. =. Temple was his counsel for
many years and always found him erratic
and singular.
Timothy Sullins knew him very well
prior to 1S43 he was a brilliant lawyer
after his sickness that year was dement,
ed had an ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
| DIR. w. NJ. Rodgers treated Mr.. Church
well after 1S43 found him with strange
freaks he would break off suddenly in "a
! brilliant conversation and abuse the man
he was talking with a; bought land of him
in 1859 and took title bond but on repre-
| sensations of Mr.. Charlton gave it back, as
he considered him insane and: incapable of
| transacting important business.
| 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.
DR. Jas. Rodgers, was his attending
physician; he died of liver complaint, and
his mind was affected; saw marked
change in his character from 1910 to 1850 ;
was abusive, suspicious and overbearing.
J.F. j. Lewis, knew him 10 years after
1913, he became abusive and Isullen; one
of his salutations to friends on the street
was chow are you?' you Cd forsaken
scoundrel ?" was not capable of attending
| to business.
DIR. NJ l.. Rodgers was his physician III
1864 considered him of unsound mind.
j. NJ. Ragsdale lived with Mr.. Church
|
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 wOuldirepeat
the speech to the family.
VIM. Nc Clellan served him as overseer
in 1913. Mr.. Churchwell went to New Or
leans that year with his son William NJ.
His son and wife had great control over
him. John f. Helms knew deceased very
well. He was a boisterous man, generally
greeted his friends as you Cd forsaken
scoundrel,n and even worse epithets. DE
was knocked down once by Connally f.
Trigg.
c. w. Childress lived with Churchwell
in 1858. He would hold family prayers
and would curse his servants before he was
off his knees.
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
became slovenly. stopped over night with
him once. He was abusive and pro
fame, and yet had family prayers. During
1858, 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.
DIR. j. NJ. Boyd gave some of his pecu-
liarities and expressed the. opinion that he
the same opinion,
Matthew Nelson said he sold him goods,
but as he would a boy under age. His
wife generally bought for him. G. NJ.
Hazen testified about the same.
c. w. Hail.. Esq. had Judge Alexander
to go with him in 1913, to Churchwells
office to get books. and papers of U. S. At
torneys office. &hurchwell felt that he
was removed bedNdse of his untitness for
the office.
Andrew Sharpe said Churchwel 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.
The plaintiff opened the case in rebuttal
yesterday and showed that Churchwell
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 drawn up in 1850.
The evidence will be resumed this morn
ing by plaintiff. The case is one of great
interest and importance.