The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-03-05
A Goat in Court.

Quite an exciting aud ludicrou
scene occurred last Wednesday il
the chancery court room. This cour
is now held in the new and elegant
lly finished office of the clerk anc
master. in the Chancery block. His
aonor Judge Seay was on the bench
presiding With his ueual dignity
while Mr.. Vim. Daniel was arguing
the New Providence mill case. The
back door leading into the hall stooc
open, and Daniels old Billy goat,
being pursued by some naughty
boys, sought refuge in the hall, and
inding the door open, walked into
court without any ceremony what
ever. 1t was one OF the cleSrest
cases of surprise that we have ever
aeen in the courthouse. The judge
vas surprised, the attornies were
surprised, the deputy rbsritT was sur
Drised, and, not TO m-- he matter
100 6ne, even the goa himself was
surprised. Our worthy chairman Of
the Democratic executive committee
of the county, Mr.. H. G. Merritt, be-
lieving in peace and harmony, un-
dertook to gently kick bis goatship
out. but, unfortunately, closed the
door behind him, thus barring him in
more closely. Nov, goat is pea
ceable animal, unless you crowd on
him. If you hem him up ir close
quarters, he'll fight, and he'll give
you the best he has in his shop every
time. When goat gets mad, he's
mad all over he's mad at everything
and everybody. Deputy Sheriff Geo.
Harris, believing that goat had no
"day in court" began to apply his
number ten boot TO the intruder.
Naturally enough, this raised the
goats temper, and, taking a few
steps back, with deliberate aim, he
fred. Harris fell over a couple OF
chairs and rolled under the table.
The war was declared in earnest. 1t |
was Goat versus Court and officers.
There was a good deal Of skirmish-
ing for positions. Mr.. w. NJ. Daniel |
cut his argument short and climbed |
up on the table. Mr.. Merritt, man
who never was excited in his life,
said he'd put that goat out in jify. |
He lifted a chair above his head, aud |
was about to strike; unfortunately, |
he was too late. The goat fired |
another volley Merritt and the chair
came down with crash, aud joined |
Harris under the table. The goat |
vas no longer on the defensive. He /
became aggressive. lie had brought /
the war into the enemy's country,
aud he fought with desperation. Mr.. /
A. V. Goodpasture started for the |
door. The goat came up in his rear |
and he landed on the other side of |
The door in the corner, where he |
remained during the rest of the bat /
tie. Captain Polk johnson ana Judge |
Lurton climbed up on the top Of the
safe, e,wisely concluding that absence
Of body was better than presence of
mind" In vain did the court try 10 !
rally the panic stricken and goat
S .ricken warriors. Mes&Es. Yaucey, |
Munford and West joined Dir, Daniel |
On the table. The widest confusion /
prevailed, every available place of I
refuge was sought and the goat went
for every thing he saw in motion.
SIr. H. G. Stacker started for the |
table; the goat followed like a bail
out of a gun. Stacker was hurled
against the table which broke down,
leaving FIVE innocent lawyers to the
mercy Of pitiless goat. By this
time friend w. H. Forbes got TO the
door and started a call for help, he
was too late. The goat pulled trig |
ger aud fred his last shot. Forbes
rolled out in the street aud began to |
yell fire fire fire The goat walk
ed out with a sardonic grin which
seemed to say, VeRi, vidi, Vici. He
will be arrested to-day and fined for
contempt of court.-CIarksUiIIe To-
b0cc0 Leaf