Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-24
GRUNDY COUNTY.
Some Irregularities About the Re-
mOv0l OF the County Seat.
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some irregularities About the Re-
mOvaI OF the County Seat.
In the McMinnvil.e Neao Era of the sd
inst, we find the following regarding the
recent troubles in Grundy county:
In September there was an election held
in Grundy for tie purpose Of testing
whether the county site should be removed
from Altamont to Tracy City, aud after a
heated canvass, it was declared on the first
Monday in October, at the O. artery
County Court, upon the sworn statement
sof tie clerks and judges Of the election, sup
Corted by the election returns, that '.ItO re-
1noUGI' carried the election by two msjority,
and g. announced by the sheriff
of the county az the courthouse
door, which left Altamont to remain
as the country site. Some hours after this
official announcement had been made, and
considerable business transacted by the
Court, and several members of the Court
bad left for home, Col. a. S. Colyar with
his Tracy City party, arrived at Altamount,
went to work, and by manipulation and
resignation of some of the Justic 8, the Ira
cy City party succeeded in prevailing upon
the remnant of the Court TO rescind their
former announcement that AltamOnt was
thu county site by election, and declaring
that Tracy CITY was the comfy site. This
extraordinary transaction very naturally
created profound feeling OF disgust and
Indignation on the part of the good citizens
aud neigh5oriDg counties, thus to see the
rights of sister county wantonly violated,
and that after their choice had been an
nounced by the proper Court.
The October term OF the Chaneery
Court of Grundy, according to preVi 'us
adjournment and all processes that had
been served, was to have met at Altamont
on Wednesday, the 18th day Of the present
month. A large number Of lawyers of our
own town and other places met at Alta
mont on the day to which the court ad-
journfd, and finding no regular or commits
stoned Judge to hold thu court, they pro-
ceeded under section $3.50, D., Of the Code
to elect one of their number as special
Chancellor to open and hold court, which
resulted in the selection of Gen. B. J. Hill,
of this place, who opened curt, and under
section 1880, B., of the Code,
the Clerk and Master, r. Sanders,
swore him as special Chancellor,
and be proceeded in quiet, civil
way under the authority and sanction OF
the law to try all the ex parte cases and
transact all business that could be done le-
cally, and continued all other causes to
special term on the third Monday in Janu-
airy, to which time be 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 appointed and commissioned Mr..
Metcalt, a lawyer of Winchester, as special
Chancellor to hold the court at Altamont,
and uy such cases as Judge Marks was in
COMPETENT in. Mr.. Me calf stopped, or was
stopped az Tracy City, and neglected to go
to the country site; hence the action Of the
bar above referred to. On learning that
Mr.. Metcalf hal been sworn by 3 Justice
of the Peace, AID was then pretending to
hold court at Tracy City, without books,
records or clerk, the court and bar united
and addressed Mr.. Metcalf respectful and
gentlemanly letter informing him that they
had met, opened and held court under the
sanction and forms of law; all Of which we
are satisfied will be endorsed and sanction
ed by our excellent Chancellor, A. s. Marks.
Col. Colyar, learning these facts, became 30
enraged that he mustered posse OF some
thirty men, armed and equipped them, and
sent them to Altamont, with wagons and
ambulances, with as pretended attachment,
for Sanders, the Clerk and Master, with bis
books and records; and all this was being
done in positive and direct violation and
disregard of 8 certiorsri and supersedeas,
with The fat of Judge Guild attached, re.
straining them from moving or trying TO
move the county site or county records.
That the public may fully understand the
high-hsnded and revolutionary proceedings
now being INDUCED in by the party attempt
ing TO despoil Grundy of her county site,
we append letter from one OF the most
intelligent ladies of that county:
ALTAMoNT, TENN Oct. 10, 1873.-Gen.
Hill: | want you to write forthwith to
Judge Marks for me. About 10 O'Clock Mr..
Colyar sent in twenty of his troops. They
brought hack and two wagons after Mr..
Sanders and his books; but they did
NOT get him nor his books nor bis
papers. They rushed down and surround
ed or house, thinking they would
GET MIR. Sanders. They are guarding my
house tonight, and twelve more have just
landed from Tracy, making thirty-two In
ALI. I do not know what will be the result.
Mr.. Bouldin and Mr.. Jones went to Tracy
this morning. Mr.. Jones says he viii stay
a few DAVIS, Tonight rem nds me Of the
war. They are firing their guns all over
town. They picked the lock OF the IOhan-
cery1 office, and got IN. There was
bunch of them went yer to Mrs. Woodlees
and Mr.. Barnes searching around.
thought would write you few lines to
let you know how things are getting along.
They said they would take hr. Sanders
dead or alive. Write to Judge Marks IS
quick as possible. o. n. n