Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-04
DESPERATE SPORT.
Result Of a Fox Chase in Williamson
COHBty-FcUr Lawsuits aud a DeS-
perate Feud.


4 Magistrate Sits Upon the Right to
Reyuard-The Loser Resorts 70 the
Federal Court Under the Enforce.
menf Aef-THO Heavy Suits fer
Faise Imprisonment.
a remarkable case under the famous En-
forcement act was tried before United
States Commissioner Trimble in this city
Yesterday. II viii compare fayOrably with
the most e~gregiOus On record.
About a week ago, RObt. Wilson, a citi-
zen Of Williamson county, procured a war
rant from the Federal Court, in this city,
for the arrest of certain parties in William
son county, having made affidavit TO tho
effect that they had inundated certain col
ored witnesses in a magistrates court. The
warrant was placed in the hands of Deputy
United States Marshal IL. n.
Brown, who repaired to that coun-
tv and arrested G.. r. G.. Wilson aud
Henry Allen, two young men, the former
a nephew of RObt Wilson. They were
brought here accompanied by friends intend
ing to 90 on their bonds, but suffered them
selves to 90 to Jail and remain a few min
utes before Offering bondsmen. When
they had been there long enough to say
LuEN nA4 UE[n III IAAAf bbnA was AANEn anu
they were promptly released. A prelimi-
nary trial was set for yesterday and the
Deputy Marshal set about summOning wit
nesses.
For the prosecution and defense together,
thirty-three witnesses showed their heads
yesterday, when the hour for the investiga-
ton arrived. District Attorney Hughes
appeared for the United States and Nm. G..
Brien, Esq, for the prisoners. Only a few
of the witnesses were examined, including
RObt. Wilson, before the District Attorney
agreed that It was useless to proceed, and
the case was dismissed. The Commits
sioner remarked that the evidence pointed
to nothing Of which the United States
could take cOgnizance, but indicated some
thing for the notice Of the authorities Of
Williamson county.
The testimony was to the following eff
feet: A fox was caught alive by
q large patty in a chase, and fell
into the possession of Robert VIII
son who took it home with him
and put it in a cage. 1t was afterwards
claimed BY another member of the hunting
party, but Wilson refused to give it up. A
suit was brought for its recovery before
Justice McMahan on a writ of repleyin,
served by Sheriff Bingham. This was the
origin Of a bitter feud. The trial for the
possession Of NJ. Reynard came off
about the middle Of January. A
considerable number Of witnesses
and spectators, including Geo. Viii
son and Henry Allen, gathered at the
court ground and some of them had guns
and dogs. Sheriff Bingham went to sum
rnrc DrLk WEfl-on Whn 1rnw,snn gBnA
there were guns on the ground, armed a
number Of negroes, who were on lis place,
with shot-guns and army guns and set out
with them for the court ground. He did
this against the wishes Of the Sheriff, but
declared he thought this course necessary
in order to protect his life-that the party
at the court ground would fire on him
and his witnesses. The Sheriff pre-
coded him, reaching the court ground
first, where he heard threats that
those negroes shouldn't come up there
armed, and fears were expressed that a
6ghS would occur if they did. The parties
said they would give up their arms to avoid
a difficulty, if the advancing party would
do likewise. The Sheriff then went to
meet the latter and made known the propO-
sitiOD, which was agreed to. The arms
were locked up and the trial proceeded
without disturbance. Wilson introduced
but one witness, and cut the trial as short
as possible, because, as he testified, he was
uneasy, fearing an attack. He lost
the fox.
Il was upon this state of facts and his
a-pprehensiOns Of danger that he had Geo.
Wilson and Henry Allen arrested for in
timidating witnesses.
After the two young men were discharged
yesterday, they entered suit in the Circuit
Court Of Davidson county, for false i'm
pTisonment, against Robert Wilson. laying
their damages at $3.50 each. The pres
ent defendant is 4 man of considerable
property. He is regarded as a dangerous
man and apprehensiOns have existed of a
serious collision. The parties are all well
known and the difficulty has excited a great
deal of talk.