Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-11-19
THE FEDERAL couRr.
Continuation or =. r. Buffers Trial.

The case against p. T. Butler, was again
taken up yesterday morning, and quite a
number of witnesses were examined. A.
T. Hicks, County Court Clerk, of Monroe
county testified to number of defendants
signatures in Lewis Miller, Calvin Dalton,
Cole, Powers, Bennett and Hickey cases.
He stated: L have examined my records
and find no certificate of marriage between
Elizabeth Holcombe and j. n. Dyer. The
affidavit of p. T. Butler was produced on
which he swore that he saw Boyd sign a
declaration, rs guardian of the Rose child
rem, for pension, and that Boyd was the
man he represented himself to be,
Witness stated that Buffers character
was good That his health has been bad
for long time and has epileptic fits,
which has enfeebled his mind.
Elizabeth Standridge testified There
are persons of my Iiame in North Carolina
and Georgia. don't know defendant
affidavit of r. Standridge before Esquire
Butler on 25th December, 1869, was pro-
duced). There are four sisters-in-law of
us, all bearing the same name, I never
was before Esquire Butler.
Lewis Miller testified: live in Monroe
| county. MY fathers name is Lewis i.
Miller. l don't know any other of that
name (oath of loyalty in Lewis Miller
case, witnessed by Payne and Wilson be-
| fore defendant, was produced). | knew
Lewis Miller near Mt. Vernon about 1856.
My mothers name WINS Caroline and not
| Maria. A family of Millers are living
about eight or ten miles from my house.
| II. II. Cole testified: was member of
| Bryson's company. There was no Lewis
| Miller in the company that l know of.
| Papers in the Cole case introduced. Afli-
| davit before defendant by Thos. Cole, faith
| er of witness, witnessed by Henry and r.
b. Smith, was introduced | have heard
/ of Coles in Monroe county. ] don't know
all the men who say they belonged to Bry-
! sons company. Have seen a5 many as 90
| or rs men together.
| Henry h-Indian-testified: l
knew man named Rough Cole, as they
| called him. Never witnessed papers in
| the Cole case.
| r. B. Smith-Indian-tes l am
| a son of Henry Smith. Didn't sign papers
| in the Cole case az witness. Never went
| in Pattons store in Sweeswater to get
goods for Mamie Z. Mumblehead, and saw
/ no order from Boyd.
Samuel Elliott testified: lived twelve
miles from Madisonville. Il. G. Boyd and
1 Kelso knew me. l was not with Bryson.
Never signed papers before Butler and did
not know him. Papers were introduced
| wherein Boyd represented himself as
| guardian of minor children of witness. J
| Witness recognized the names as those of
his children, but had never heard Of Boyd
as their guardian. affidavit of Butler to
the effect that Boyd was what he repre-
scented himself to be-guardian of the ELI
oft children-was introduced.)
/ J. w. Robinson testified: 1 never saw
lThos. Cole. was clerk in Boyd's store
from September 1st, 1859. Il. q. Boyd was
the only one directly in the claim BUSH
ness. He was assisted by Kelso, Payne
uE " h. t,,tn
prefer OF the Indians. Heard him and
Boyd talking about Mamie Il. humble
head. have seen a woman whom Smith
represented as Mamie E. Mumblehead
Once by order of Boyd paid Henry Smith
SO for three women, $25 for each. saw
Smith take SO out of each $25 and put it
in his pocket and give the balance to the
women. Never saw Butler sign his name
except when proper. Never knew him to
receive more than % cents for signing his
| name.
| II. w. Payne testified; l don't know
John or Elizabeth Dyer. Admitted his
signature in Dyer case. | don't know any
such woman as Jane Powers. Boyd, Rob-
inson and myself got up the Jane Powers
case. knew it was fraud. The persons
engaged in these frauds were L. G. Boyd,
J. w. Robinson, A. A. Boyd, j. II. KelsO,
J. K. Morrow and myself. Pettitt had a
little to do with it. Butler had nothing to
|
him to go to his office and sign papers.
Never heard Butler speak of fraudulent
claims. They told me they had to have
my name and couldn't do without it. New
er knew II. Il. Powers, or Thomas or Eliza
Hickey. Knew they We're frauds.
Burgis Witt, Esq, denied his signature
as witness in the Dyer case. Couldn't give
Payne credit under oath.
George Rose testified I never was in
Bryson,s company. IneVer was dead that
! know Of
Joseph Black testified: The signature
in the Rose case purporting to be mine is
| not mine.
DIR. ]. w. Patton testified: live in
Cherokee county, North Carolina. don't
know Elizabeth or ]. II. Dyer, or Richard
| or Jane Powers. / knew Brtton and l..
A. Hickey, of Bryson's Company. Think
they were hung.
Gilbert Falls testified: I live in Geor'
gia, knew Elizabeth Hickey, Lafayette
Hickey's widow. 1 was with Bryson' :
company awhile wrote the letters to Boyd
shown by counsel. Saw Payne before the
County Court Clerk in jacksonville, wit
. Messing claims. Boyd had fixed up the pa
pers Mt Sweetwater and sent to Madison
vile, and Payne was swearing to them
t think. At the conclusion of the eXamina-
ton of this witness, Court adjourned tC
meet Monday morning at O'Clock.
: To the People of the cay of Knoxville.