Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-12
THE ZACHERYS.
4 Desperate Encounter in Justice
CreightOn's COurt-ROOm.
Our Doughty Chief Of Police in Close
Quarters With Three Young
RoHghS.
ShOOting-IrOns EIOurished Frantieally,
But Nobody Perforated.
POstpOnement Of the Burglary Trial
Until Next Monday.

| Two O'Clock yesterday afternoon was The
1 hour set for the trial of the Zachery family
who had been arrested the night before on
the charges Of burglary and larceny, re-
eeiving stolen gOols, ard having burglar:
| tools in their pOss sssiOn. The case was L
have been tried before Justices Cassetty
/ Creighton and Br en-, in the Office Of the
two former. Before the time for the in
vestigation had arrived, large crowd gath
| cred in the house and on the pavement in
front of the office. a few minutes after
two o'clock Justice Creighton ordered TIE
officer to clear the space inside Of the rail
| inc Of everybody except attorneys and wit
nesses, and announced that they would
proceed with the investigation.
Six Lawyers were employed in the case
Judge N. NJ. Bri IN, Sr., John d. Brien,
and w. A. Dick Brien. appearing for the
| defense. while the State was represented by
George II. Vaughan and Banks & Good
lette.
The prosecution stated that they were
ready to proceed with the trial Of Me
Zachery, charged with burglary and lar
ceny. The counsel for the defense said
they had been unable to procure the at.
tendance Of an important witness, in his
case, and were rot ready for it TO be heard
but were willing to go ahead wirh the trial
Of his wife, Fanny ZacheTy, charged
with receiving stolen goods. TO
this, the prosecution objected on
the ground that there were
some points in aW which made it impor-
tant that her husband should be tried first.
After some little spar ing by the attorneys,
il was agreed to continue the examination
till u N. next Tuesday. Mrs. Fanny
Zachery was released on her own recOgni-
zance, but Mrs. Bradford and her three
sons, Mel, Wash and joe Zachery were
each required ID give bond in The sum Of
81 600 for cir appearance at trial. Judge
NJ. NJ. BrieD, ST., went on Mrs BradtorGs
bOCd, and she vas taken as security for the
appearance Of her 81 ms.
While the bonds were being made out q
little episode occurred which was alto
gether unexpected. The goods found in the
houses Of Mrs. Bradford and Mel Zachery,
when their premises were searched We'd
nesday night, aad been brought into court.
The justices and several bystanders, in
Guiding the Chief Of Police, who was
witness in the case, were examining sun
div articles contained in a cigar box which
had been placed on kind Of desk before
the J. P's. II this box they found the
nineteen skeleton key-heads, which were
discovered in Wash ZacheTy's room at his
mothers dwelling on Summer street.
Those pTesens INDUCED in various specnla-
tions as to tie purposes for which they
were used. Capt. w. II. Yater, Chief OF
Police, said ironically "they were the play
things of Wash's children" Wash spoke
I'D and said Capt. Yater was "as big a
thief as could be found anywhere"
The Captain asked Wash if be meant 10
call him a thief, when Zachery repealed
what he had said. Capt. y ater very prompt
" and properly bit hun blow over the left
eve with his fist, which caused the blood
to 81 cam down his face.
A. this iuncture, the two brothers Of
Zachery rushed into the melee, and Capt.
Y ater drew his pistol, but was prevented
from using il by the crowd which had
gathered around the combatants aud at
tempted to quell the disturbance. The
throng was so dense that Capt. Yater was
unsble 10 use his right arm at all.
Mel ZachtTy jerked the revolver from
his hand. and in a few seconds
more would, perhaps, have put an end
to Capt. Yater's life had not City Marshal
Pittman seized the weapon. He wrench6d
the revolver from Ael'S hand, and almost at
the same instant Sargent F. &. Tignor
caught Zachery by the throat and forced
him into a chair. About the same time,
officer John Massey seized Wash ZaeheTy
and jerked him violently away, bringing
him in contact with the stove which was
knocked ever on the floor, and the fire
scattered about prOmiscuOusly. At this
point the row ended and quiet was at last
restored.
Mrs. Bradford and her daughteT-in-law,
Mrs. Mel Lachery, were in the midst Of the
combatanis during the greater part OF the
fracas, but neither was hurt. While the
fight was going on the Office was not so
much crowded as it was when the trial com
menced.
AftertIe excitement had subsided, Capt.
Yater pleaded guilty TO the change Of as
sault and battery, and apOlogized to the
court for his conduct, saying that he had
the highest respect for the court, but felt
called upon to act in defense Of his honor.
All who witnessed the affair heartily en-
dorsed his conduct in resenting the insult.
The e CHIT caddies of tobacco found in
Mel Zacl ery's grocery were identified by
Berry, DemOville X Co., and they took out
a warrant against him. He was required
to give additional bond and then released.
He tried to repleyy the goods found in his
possession, but the court refused TO sur
render them on the ground that they had
been seized with q search warrant.