Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-06-25
heath SCENE IN A TEMPLE OF JUS
TICE.
The Proceedings Of a Court arrested by a
Sudden Death.
Particulars or the sad End Of General
Joel 4. Dewey

those who witness will never forget. Such
a scene was on Tuesday presented in the
Circuit Court room in this city,
where Judge Hall, a jury and coun-
sci were busy trying an important
law ease-Roehl VS.. Boond-once before
passed for the death of one of the Bar.
The case was being argued by Col. Baxter
ut the time of the sad event. Among the
lawyers who were quietly sitting
within the bar, interested in listening to
the argument, was Gen. Joel. a. Dewey,
of cambridge, who had been examined as
n witness in the case. He had come into
court but short time before in apparent
ly as good health as ever. He was sitting
near some friends an interested listener
when, without moments warning, he
fell forward from his chair on
the floor. Quick as possible Jas.
King, Esq, who was sitting by him,
caught him and with the help of other
brother lawyers, raised him up. He was
then gasping and struggling for breath.
He was carried outside the bar and laid
upon the floor and medical aid promptly
summoned. 1t was too late, for in very
few minutes life was extinct. There he
lay amid the terror stricken spectators, the
proceedings of the Court suspended, q
splendid form, strong and sound appar-
emily, in the last agony of sufiocation. DR..
Bailey examined the body and pronounced
lied Court was adjourned. The body was
removed to the Franklin House and taken
charge of by friends, who had it prepared
for burial. The startling news spread rap
idly and was everywhere received with
deep sorrow.
BEFORE DEATH.
Gen. Dewey came to Knoxville Sun
day night, under summons to tes-
tify in the case referred to, in company
with Hon. j. =. Swan, of cambridge.
They stopped at Mrs. William \. Bran
ner's, on Church street. Gen. Dewey gave
his testimony in the case Monday and eX-
pected to start back to cambridge OH the
early morning train of Tuesday. He awoke
at l and again at 3 o'clock that morning,
to go on the train, but through persuasion
of Judge Swan, he agreed to wait for the
noon train. He was in unusually fine
spirits yesterday morning. Col. Jas. r..
Cooke, who lives next door to Mrs. Bran
Der's, spent some time with him about the
breakfast hour. He stepped over into Mr..
Cookies yard, talked about flowers and
books, and played with his children. He
went into the court house and greeted his
friends in his usual cordial way. In a
short time after he lay in the temple of
Justice dead.
SOMETHING ABOUT HIS LIFE.
We regret exceedingly that we have not
the data at hand to give suitable account
We can only speak in general terms of his
earlier years. At the outbreak of the war his
was home near Ashtabula, Ohio. He was q
student at Oberlin College and a class
mate of Prof. f. ID. Allen, of the East Ten
nessee University. He went into the
service of the Government in 1861. Our
present information is that he was an of
ficer in the 42d Reg't. o. V. I. He first
served in the West with Gen. Pope, but
afterwards Joined Shermans army and
was with him during most of the war. He
served for time on the staff of Gen.
Rosecrans. About 1868 he was made
Colonel of the 1l1th u. S. G. l., and COM
manded brigade near Huntsville. At the
close of the war, we believe, he command
ed the post at Murfreesboro', Tenn. He was
at one time in military prison in Georgia
with DR.. J. Nat. Lyle, of cambridge. For
faithful service he was promoted full
Brigadier General of Volunteers.
He came to Tennessee to make
this State his home in the summer of 1865
He first went to Greeneville, and formed a
law partnership with Maj. A. II. Petit
bone. He afterwards moved to cambridge
and was appointed Attorney General of the
Second Judicial Circuit. Thrown out oil
this Office by the new Constitution of 1870
he was reelected by the people by large
and highly complimentary vote.
General Dewey was studious, safe and
prudent counselor. He was an affable,
highly cultivated ana thorough gentleman
He made friends wherever he went. He
was highly esteemed by his brother law
yers, was popular with the people, and ye
a faithful and vigorous Prosecuting Attor
ney. He had large circle of warm friends
and few enemies. He was young mar
of fine address, handsome and apparently
of vigorous health.
FORMER PRENIoNITIONS OF DEATH.
We understand that some two years age
while at Tazewell, he re marked one morn
ing to Mr.. Stern, of this city, that he came
near dying the night before of suftocation
When asked what was the matter, hC
pointed to ms heart and said 'heart dis
easel 1t seems probable therefore tina
the cause of his sudden death was trouble
at the heart. 1t was a sudden snuffing on
of the light-an instantaneous check of tn
life blood. Death came too sudden for an
poplexy, is the opinion expressed by
medical gentleman.
The remains were enclosed in a hand
some casket and taken home by Judg
Swan, ]. NJ. Meek, Esq, and Charles ID
McGuffey, of this city. The Bar accompa
MED the remains to the train, Col. Baxter
Judge Andrews, Geo. Washington, Il. S
Webb, Judge Swan, j. NJ. Meek A. S
Prosser and A. J. Kicks, Esqs., acting a
pall-bearers.
The good people of New Market, VIII
thought highly of General Dewey, wer
terribly shocked when his corpse was tax
en- from the train. Deep and general Sol