Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-04-12

All these were agreed to except the Court
House tax, which stands over till the adj
journed meeting announced for the 2lst inst.
This was done in consequence of the follow
ing discussion.
Judge Tyler addressed the court and said
that it had now to be decided whether any
tax for the Court House should be at present
levied. He said that the county would be
out of debt in six years if its affairs continue
TO be transacted on the present system, and
that it would be better able then to bear
tax for the purpose in view than now. The
county is in possession of an amount of
stock in the l.. & n. r. r. which will sell for
over $4,000, which will be sufficient if sold
to pay over the first years expenses for
building. This stock was the proceeds of
the compromise of a lawsuit with that
company, and he was in favor of selling the
stock, and so paying the Court House eX-
penses to that extent without taxation.
DIR. Cobb contended earnestly for raising a
tax to build the Court House in preference
to the method proposed by Judge Tyler. He
maintained that the stock proposed to be
sold was already appropriated by law to the
payment of our railroad debt, and could not
be legally diverted from that purpose to do
otherwise would be robbing Peter to pay
Paul. He thought the interests of the
county had been damaged in the compro-
mise made by Judge Tyler and denied his
authority to do so without the action of this
court.
Judge Tyler contended with much energy
that he was financial agent of the court for
the people of the county, having been twice
elected to that office. He said that he could
neither be deprived of the discretionary
powers attached to that Office nor be re-
lieved of its responsibilities. He said that
his predecessor, Judge King, had earnestly
begged to be relieved of those responsible
ties, but that it could not be done; they de-
volved on him personally and on no one
else. He challenged DR.. Cobb to test the
question of his competency in the courts.
Dr. Cobb reiterated his conviction that
the County Court has all authority in this
matter, the Judge none whatever, except as
its agent. He then moved for committee
of three "to enquire into the circumstances
of the compromise and the authority of the
Judge to make it, to report on that and all
the facts connected with it at the next meet
ing"
Both the two last speeches were delivered
under considerable excitement. While the
resolution was being discussed a strange
moaning sound was heard from DR.. Cobb,
and he was found to be fainting. He was
removed into the County Clerk effice in an
unconscious state, and in very minutes
died. In the opinion of DR.. Wright, who
was present, the cause of his death was APP
oplexy arising from disease of the heart.
This, of course, stopped all proceedings.
A committee was moved for to report reso-
buttons in relation to the awful event at the
next meeting. A resolution was offered also
that the county Magistrates, as many of
them as were able, would attend the funeral
of DR.. Cobb.
The court then adjourned to Monday, the
2lSt inst.
The committee appointed to draw up the
resolutions as above specified consists of Es-
quires slaughter, Mallory and Howard, to
which the name of DIR. D. f. Wright was
added by special motion,