Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-06
The Extraordinary Manner In Which He
Pat a Veto 81 Swindllng on a
Tenuesses Race Course.


In Judge 10 Guilds new book OIL
"0ld Times in Tennessee" appears the
following sketch:
General jackson wal . most remark
able man, the greatest the world has
produced since the days of Washing
ton and Napoleon. / believe him
equal to either. He takes his rank
with such men as Cesar, Charles V,
the Duke MARLBOROUGH, Cromwell, the
Duke Of Wellington, Bonsparte and
our own Washington, Robert z. Lee
and StoneWall jackson. Such men
are the product Of centuries. They
are bright and brilliant stars that take
their place in history at long periods
of time, and as time rolls on and the
distant ages come their brightness in
creases and their glory is not dimin-
ished.
Many are the interesting scenes Of.
JtcksOn's life which his biographer,
Parton, has omitted and not brought
to light. When a hey I saw him a
and put to flight twenty thousand men.
The occasion was this Greyhound,
a Kentucky horse, had beaten Double
Head, Tennessee horse, and they we're
afterWard matched for 5000 a side, to
be run on the Clover Bottom Course.
My uncle, Josephus 81. Conn, carried
me on horseback behind him to see
the race. He set me on the cedar
fence and told me to remain till he re-
turned. In those days not only
counties, but States, in full feather.
attended the race course as a great
national amusement, and the same
IS still kept up in France and
England under the fostering care
Of each government. There musthave
boen twenty thousand persons present.
j never witnessed such fierce betting
between the States. Horses and ne
groes were put up. A large pound.
was filled with negroes and horses bet
on the result Of Ihis race. The time
had now arrived for the competitors
70 appear or the track. / heard some
loud talking, and looking down the
track, saw, for the first time. General
jackson, riding sloWlyon a gray horse
with long pistols held in each hand.
l think they were as long as my arm.
and had a mouth that a gr0und-squir-
rel could enter. In his wake followed
my uncle Conn, Stokely, Donelson.
Patton Anderson, and several others.
as fierce - bulldogs. As General
Jackson led the van and approached
the judges stand, he was rapidly talk
ing and gesticulating. As be came
BY me be said that be had irrefrag-
able proof that this was 10 be a iockey
race, that Greyhound was seen in the
wheat field the night before. which
disqualified him for the race. and that
his rider was TO receive $500 to throw
II of, and by the eternal Cod he
would shoot the first man who brought
his horse upon the track that the
peoples money should not be stolen
from them in this manner. He talked
necessarily while the Spite rolled
from his mouth, and the FIRE from his
eyes. have seen bears and wolves
put at bay, but be was certainly tho
mostferociousl looking animal that had
W seen. His appearance and manner
struck terror into the hearts OF 10000
people. IL they felt as / did everyone
expected to be killed. He announced
to the parties if they wanted some
lead in their hides 70 first bring their
horses on the track, for by the eter.
nal he would kill the first man that
attempted to do 80. There was no
response to this challenge, and, after
waiting ONE time and they falling TO
appear, General jackson said it was a
great mistake in the opion of some,
that he had acted hastily, without con.
sideration. He would give the scoun-
drals a fair trial, and to that end he
would constitute a court to i~nvesti-
gate this matter, who would hear the
proof and do justice to all parties
Thereupon, be appointed a sheriff To
keep order, and five judges to hear the
case. Proclamation was made that
the court was open and was ready to
proceed to business, and for the par
ties to appear and defend themselves.
No one appearing, General jackson
introduced the witnesses, proving the
bribery of Greyhound's rider. who
Was to receive $500 to throw off the
race, having received $3.50 in advance,
and that Greyhound had been
turned into the wheat field the night
before. He again called on the
parties TO appear and contradict this
proof and vindicate their innocence.
They failing to appear, General Jack.
son told the court that the proof was
closed, and for them to render their
judgment in the premises, which, in a
few moments, was done in accordance
with the facts proved. / was on the
fence forming one line of the large
pound containing the property bet on
the race. Each man was anxious to
get back his property. General Jack
son waved his hand and announced
the decision, and said, Now, gentle
men, 60 calmly and in order and each
trss take bis own property When