Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-02-28
TaE CLERICAL SCANDAL.
The Evidence Nos All fn Yet-Huge
Sensation Among COlored People:

The Evidence Nos All fn Yet-Huge
Sensation Among COlored People:
Decidedly the hugest sensation that
has occurred in Knoxville for some
time, especially among the colored
people, has been brought about by the
scandal case involving Elder J, L. HI.
Sweres, pastor OF the A. NJ. E. Zion
church in this city, and Laura Osment,
wife Of Andrew Osment, colored, a
member Of said church. The mat
ter was stirred up by the
publication In Wednesdays CHRoN>
ICLE of card by Osment, charging
his wife and Elder Sweres with crimi.
nal Intercourse, and action was com.
menced against Osment by the elder
for criminal libel. The case came up for
hearing before Justice Allison at 10
o'clock yesterday morning, but the
crowd being 30 great, the trial was re-
moved to the criminal court room in
the court house, and that was jammed,
with both colored aud whites, and the
crowd remained during the entire
day, manifesting intense interest in
the proceedings.
Messrs. VIM. M. and Johu.A. Baxter,
Capt. Geo. Washington and Mr.. M.
A. Cassidy represent the prosecution,
and Messrs. J. c. ]. Williams, ]. n.
Ray and ]. N. Swaggerty the defense
The first witness as TO material facts
was Elder Sweres, prosecutor, who
testified to accompanying Mrs. Os
ment home from the Good Samaritan
Lodge Monday night, going up into
the sitting room, remaining a few
minutes, and going home. He did not
enter the back bedroom, however, he
says. The prosecution rested here, in
chief.
Lindsey Estridge and Tom Humes
were the chief witnesses for the defense
Each of them testified that at o..
ment's instance they had accompa.
MED him that night, first to arrange
the windows, etc, SO they could see in
the room, then to station themselves,
and satisfy themselves of rumors and
suspicious in circulation. They b 9th
testified to seeing the criminal act be-
tween the Elder and Mrs. Osment,
in the back bed room, substantially as
set foith in Osment's publication,
Lindsey Estridge, Charles Edwards
and Alexander Washington testified
to having seen the Elder on former
occasion enter Osment's house-.he
being absent nearly midnight, re-
main bout two hours, and then leave.
Henry Carper testified to seeing the
Elder enter Osment's house between
10 aud II o'clock at night at different
times, Osmeut being absent.some of
the times.
Ellen While testified to seeing
through the window one night Mrs
O5ment sitting on the Elders lap in
her ROOM and at another time to see-
ing the Elder part with her at the
door aud kiss her. She was i'm
peached by several witnesses.
The prosecution again introduced
William Bradley, Lawson Irwin,
A. ]. Upton, Andrew Manson
and others OF the trustees of Elder
Sweres' church. who had made, in
connection with Mr.. Schade, an ex-
animation Of the premises, and testified
that they could not distinguish any
one through the window in the room
Estridge and Humes claimed to look
In, but said the stats of the blinds
were not turned exactly straight.
Cal. Parker and Jackson Rose testi-
fed as to some statements made by de-
fendant after the discovery. 1t being
a. this time about 6 o'clock, and the
evidence not being sll in, an adjourn
ment was had till 8 O'Clock this
morning.
Yesterday a warrant was issued by
Osment, charging Elder Sweres and
Mrs. Osment with cohabiting together
as man and wife. They were arrested
and cited to trial before Justice Alli-
son at 10 O'Clock Monday morning.