Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-17
COOPER's CONTEMPT.
The Ex-Back Tax Collector Lands in
the County Jail,
But Does not Bear it Like Little Man
"A Judge who is Determined
to Maintain the Dignity
Of the Bench.

1t was mentioned in yesterdays issue
that John A. Cooper had got into trouble
by disobeying q peremptory mandamus
from the Circuit Court, commanding him
to surrender all books in his possession
showing uncollected back taxes. The de-
fendant appeared yesterday to receive the
Judgment of the court on the charge OF con
tempt. Judge Baxter made short work OF
il By filming him $50 and costs and ordering
his imprisonment in the county Jail Tor ten
days.
The prisoner was taken in charge by Of
fcers and marched of to Jail, but, while en-
route, so demeaned himself as to produce
an immense sensation. Immediately on
emerging from the room be sank down
with a scream, which proved TO be the be-
ginning Of a protracied and piteOus wall
ing. He had 10 be almost dragged by the
officers, and, with tears and cries OF
anguish, called on some Of the bystandeIs
to take his life or furnish him the means
of doing so himself His conduct was SEN
sational in the extreme, and was soon
known on the street, wherever gossip IS
wont to fit.
The Judge, in prOnOuncing sentence up
on Mr.. Cooper, remarked that, under color
of an appointment by the County Judge as
agent and attorney for the County Court to
| collect taxes that were in arrears and IN
paid, he had possessed himself Of the tax
| books Of the county for the years 1870 and
| 1871, and was engaged in collecting said
taxes. That the Legislature at its last ses-
sion had empowered the County Courts OF
such COUNTIES as had revenue ASSESSED and
| uncollected to elect a back tax collector,
| who should he entitled to receive all reve-
nue books upon which there remained any
revenue uncOllected, from the ClerG OF the
| County Court, and made it the duty Ct
the County Court Clerk to take such
! steps as might be necessary to enatle
! him to obtain the possession Of said books.
| That defendant had in the first place de-
MED the right of the County Court Clerk
to the possession of the books, and had re-
fused to deliver them to him upon request,
and the County Court Clerk herein failed
to take such steps as were necessary 10 OBJ
tain them, and the Back Tax Collector be-
ing thus hindered and prevented from dis
charging the duties OF his office, had ap-
piled to this court for a writ Of mandamus
against the defendant and County COuri
| Clerk to compel the delivery Of the book;
in pursuance Of the statute.
The defendant had had his way IN court
and his defense TO the writ had been duly
considered and adiudged insufficient, anC
a peremptory writ Of mandamuS had ISSUED
on the 18th Of May, ordering him imme
6iately to deliver the books TO the Clerk o
the County Court. This he had failed anC
neglected to do until about a week ago be
delivered one, and after notice Of the mo
ton for this attachment on yesterday b
delivered one other, and the third one h'
had refused TO deliver at all, but had de
liyered it to some third party, under pre-
tense that said third party claimed to b
entitled TO it.
The Judge said that during the long tim'
be had been on the Bench it was the FRS
instance that had ever been called to hi
attention in which any man had set at def
ance or refused to obey the orders, Judg
ments ard DEGREES Of this court, and thai
a more fragrant instance Of contempt haI
| perhaps never been offered to any cour
than that offered by defendant in the pres
ent instance.
He said that rs a man he claimed 70
himself personally no mans respect whC
did not Weld it voluntarily; that his phi
IosCphy was that IUen always secured th
full measure Of respect that their merit
! entitled them to, and that no man had an.
right to complain Of the worlds cOntemp
whose conduct in life failed to command
respect.
But that the contempt in the present in
stance was not offered to him as an ind
vidual, but TO the court. That the Circui
Court, as such, was an organic, cOnstitu
lional functionary of the government, an
represented in part the dignity and asjest
of the State, ana that while he had tn
honor to be its organ, he who should b
guilty Of treating it with contempt, eithe
by refusing TO obey its orders, judgment
and DEGREES. or BY misconduct in its pres
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