Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1899-06-02

square, made of logs, nine feet high be-
tween the two floors, body of the house
four feet above the upper floor, shingles
of roof to be hung with pegs, a justice
bench, a lawyers and clerks bar, and
sheriff's box to sfei
The records of some of the courts held
in this house, which was at Jonesboro,
are still preserved and are unique
The court was extremely jealous Of
its dignity, and proceeded TO lay on
fines for any breach of good morals or
profanity in the neighborhood of the
courthouse. On one of the dockets is
found the following entry: "0rdered
that David Ilinkley be fined $50 for
insulting the court. That Hump
Gibson be fined ten pounds for
swearing in court. That Ephraim
Dunlap, attorney, be fined five dollars
for insulting the court, especially
Richard White" In the May term,
IT'S, there is an entry that might be
called the evening-up process. 1t is as
follows: "On motion, it appears, Josh
ua Williams, Jonathan Helms, and a
certain James Lindlcy, did feloniously
steal a certain bay gelding horse from
Samuel Sheriff.. Ordered that if said
Samuel Sheriff. can find any property
of the said Joshua Williams, Jonathan
Helms and said Lindley, that he take
same into his possession"
do not know that the court intend.
ed to suppress freedom of speech, but
the following is a record: flames Glib
son being brought before the court for
throwing out speeches against the
court, to-wit saying that the court was
perjured, and would not do justice, AID
other glaring insults, the court consid.
ers this fragrant breach of the peace,
and for the same and the glaring and
daring insults offered the court do or
der that said James Gibson be fined the
sum of C $4,000, and that he be kept
in custody until same is secured"
These fines were in continental money
and were not so heavy as might seem.
However, it is not supposed that Glib
son threw out any more speeches
against the court. In 1852 Hon. Spruce
| McCay, Esq, present and presiding,
presided over the court. At this term
of the court three unfortunates were
found guilty of horse stealing and sem
fenced to hang, which sentence was
carried out. Judge McCay is said 10
have always been on one side or the
other in most lawsuits tried before him
and if a jury did not bring in a verdict
TO his liking to give them good round
of abuse. So it vas common with the
iuries when they differed with Hon
Spruce to dispersc, go to their homes
and not return any more during that
term of court. In such cases the rec.
ords contained the following entry:
'rhe jury having failed to come back
into court, the same is mistrial."
In the August term of the court, 1890
is the following record: Ordered that
Elias Pyburn be confined in the public
! pillory one hour, that he have both his
ears nailed TO the pillory and severed
from his head, that he receive at the
public whipping post 80 Iashes, wei
laid on, and be branded on the
right cheek with the letter II and on the
left with the letter II, and that the
sheriff put this sentence into eXecu
ton between the hours of twelve ant
two this day" The letters II and 7
were for horse thief. Though theil
courts in some respects were not up tC
the standard of the present civilization
yet in others they are worthy of eX
ample. Good feelings, natural civilitN
and sterling qualities of head and hear
were the passports to social considera
tions. Though obscure dwellers in the
forest, Sewer, Robertson and their com
patriots were important actors in tht
great drama of Liberty and CiviliZa
ton. They were conscious Of their higl
mission. and sought neither human re
ward nor human glory but were con
tent to leave their work and theil
names to these who came after them
And now. with the historian Ramsey
will say; g hope the day will nevel
come when the daring hnrdhood ant
self-sacrificing toll of these early pa
tricts viii be forgotten or undervaluct
by their posterity."