Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-06-03
THE suGG FORT CASE.
a Verdict Rendered. Against
the Defendants for over
a.,, Of SAW $4,000. vl .sT-.
Ahe Nature sf the Testimony I'm
........ the Cause.

The Sugg Fort case, which has occu.
pied q large share of public attention for
Two weeks past was concluded yesterday,
IN the Federal Court by verdict for
over $4,000 in favor of the United
States. ..... .....
The case, iu brief, is this: In the
winter Of lSG2-3, Gen. Mitchell, then
Commandant of this post, at the request
OF Mr. Fort, sent out military wagon
trains, and removed from his mill on Red
River, in Robertson County, 2,79l bar
rels of flour for the use of our army. Gen.
Mitchell as matter Of course, did not
see the flour, but hc received, from time
TO time. reports of its removed from off.
GERS commanding the escorts. Gen.
Mltchel's recollection Of the transaction is
positive. Forts two millers, Pride and
johnson, men Of undoubted character for
truth, swear positively to the delivery of
the Hour to the Government trains from
the mill. Wiley Edwards, another man
employed at the mill, kept the account
of the barrels taken at the time il was as
done, and he is a respectable citizen of
Robertson County. Three negroes a.
work at the mill, not contradicted or i'm
peached, swear point blank to? the same
facts. Col Ed. Fort, formerly mem.
Der of the Legislatures man of the
highest cbaracter-saw military train
loading -four at the mill. A long train
was directed to Forts mill by Mr.. Df>
lard. A train was seen going from the
MILL loaded with -four, by Rev. Mr..
Adams, Hudson went with three trains to-
the mill. Sheriff Boone, Of Robertson
County, saw train coming from the dir.
ection of the mill. Arendorf saw a long
train going to the mill, and heard the
noise of the wagons in the mill yard. -
Lawson Fort, father of sugg Fort, man
in years and of high standing,
testified that be learned from his sou in
the winter Of 1923, that the 'Federals
were taking his -four. Numerous other,
persons saw foraging trains going toward,
or returning from the direction Of Forts,
MIL. O. f'sB. rr.7'Q n7s'gaI st' 80
ltwas proved by Mays and Boone that,
they sold and shipped to Fort in the sum-,
mer oflSG2 over 5000 new -four bar.
rels. 1t wasproyed by Rev. Mr. Plaster
| purchasing agent Of, Fort, that he
bought for him in 1862 q large quantity
If wheat. 1t was proved that the mill.
Kept q double set of hands employed,
While grinding the crop Of 1862, and run
hight and day.yFd osw ss,5t 20 OH.
What become Of the lour1 Fort and
lis mlliers swore that the Federals got it.
4 they did not get it the evidence, SO far
IS we could gather, does not account for
t. The character Of Fort was over.
'helmlngly sustained by ALL the Wit
esses. .. .., ..s. .l.
The Government, ably represented by
United States District Attorney hughes.
'rought forward large number Of wit
esses residing in Robertson County, in
he region and neighborhood of Forts,
1iIl, who had never seen any trlins
o'"g to or returning from the mill or
rho had never heard (f they had heard
ad forgotten) of the taking of Forts
our. The evidence Of the Government
n this branch of the case was wholly neg.
tive. At the distance of thirteen years
umerous citizens we're found who had
eucr seen nor heard of the taking and,
would seem to casual observer. that
ley should have seen, or heard and re>
rendered. a". -''l' .'.'
In the struggle to fight his claim
trough the department, Fort had filed
tidavits, petitions and appeals, which con-
lined errors and misstatements. Not
to the main fact, the loss Of bis -four,
ut as to persuasive circumstances. These
colorings and mistakes were
Sed With telling effect against him. .'il
1t is, in one word, a most remarkable
use. On the side Of the Government a
lass of negative evidence (; on the side Of
ort, apparently unimpeached, positive
'stim0ny, supported by powerful array
evidence. 90 '''''d
We do not say where the right is. We.
now that millions ofprOperty was pressed
? the Fe1erals during the war; that
-ovisions fO- payment were made, and
'at in nineteen cases out of twenty the
aims are, after ten or twelve years Of pa.
ent waiting, still pigeon-hOled in the de.
lrtmont for more proof
The motion for uss trial 10 the Fort