Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-10-30
The Troubles in Grundy
County
An Impartial Statement of Facts

AGtAmont to Tracy City, and at
ter a heated canvass, it was de-
clared on the first Monday in o.
to5er, at the Quarterly County
Court, upon the sworn statement
OF the Clerks and judges of the
election, supported by the election
returns, that mo TemOUGL" car
ried the election by two majarity,
and SO announced by the Sheriff
Of the County, at the courthouse
door, which left AItamont to re-
main as the county site. Some
hours after this official announce
ment had been made, al d consid-
cradle business transacted by the
/ Court, and several members of
the Court had left for home, Col.
A. S. CoIyar with his Tracy City
party, arrived at Altamont, went
to work, and by manipulation
and resignation Of some Of the
Justices, the Tracy City party
succeeded in prevailing upon the
remnant of the Court to rescind
their former announcement that
Altamont was the county site by
election, and declaring that Tracy
City was the county site. This
extraordinary transaction very
naturally created a profound feel
ing of disgust aud indignation on
the part Of the good citizens and
neighboriug counties, thus to see
the rights Of a sister county wan
tonly violated, and that after their
choice had been announced by the
proper Court.
The October term of the Chan
Gerry Court of Grundy, according
to previous adjournment aud all
processes that had been served,
WAS to have met at Aitamont on
Wednesday, the 18th day of the
present month. A large number
of lawyers of our own town and
other places met at Altamont on
the day to which the court adj
] ,urnel, and frding no regular
or COMMISSIONED Judge to | old the
court, they proceeded under sec
ton 1880, D, of the Code to elect
one OF their number as special
Chancellor 10 open aud hold court,
which resulted in the selection of
Gen. B. j. Hill, of this place; who
opened court, and under section
1880, B., of the Code, the Clerk
and Master, R. Sanders, swore
him as special Chancellor, ana he
proceeded in quiet, civil way I'M
der the authority and sanction of
law to try all the ex parte cases
and transact all business that could
be done legally, and continued all
other causes to a special term on
the third Monday in January, to
which time he adjourned the court,
and all left for home. In the
meantime the court at Altamont,
and the different lawyers present,
learned that the Governor had APP
pointed and commissioned. Mr..
Metcalf, a lawyer Of Winchester,
az special Chancellor to hold the
court at AItamont, and try such
cases as Judge Marks was incom,
petent in. Mr.. Metcalf stopped,
or-was stopped at Tracy City, and
neglected to 60 to the county site,
heuce the action of the bar above
referred to. 90 learning that Mr..
Metcalf had been sworn by JUS
tice Of the Peace, aud was then
pretending to hold a court at Ira.
cy City, without books, records
or Clerk, the court and bar united
and addressed Mr.. Metcalf a re-
special and gentlemanly letter in-
forming him that they had met,
opened and held court under the
sanction and forms of law; all of
which we are satisfied will be en-
dorsed and sanctioned by oar eX-
celIent Chancellor A. S Marks
Col. Colyar, learning these facts
became SO enraged, that he muster
ed q posse of some thirty men,
armed and equipped them, and
Sent them to Altamont, with wag-
ons- and ambulsnces, with a pre-
tended attachment for Sanders,
the Clerk aud Master, with his
books, and records; and all ii is
was being done in positive and di-
rect violation and disregard of a
bill of certiorari and superse-
IDEAS, with the fat of Judge Guild
attached, restraining them from
moving or trying to move the
county site or county records.
That the public may fully un-
derstand the high. handed and rev.
dictionary proceedings now being
indulged in by the party attempt
ing to aespoil Grundy Of her coun-
ty site, we append a letter from
one of the most intelligent ladies
of that county:
ALTANoNT, Tenn, Oct. l6, 1873.