The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-05-20

cIudlC, lutlhC VI loSo lilly INtt III DS-
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, lawyers and clerks bar, and a
sheriff's box to sic in"
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: Ordered
that David Hinkley 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,
ITS, there is an entry that might be
called the evening-up process. 1t is as
follows: son motion, it appears, Josh
ua Williams, Jonathan Helms, and a
certain James Lindlcy, did feloniously
steal 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"
I 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
periured, 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 glazing and
daring insults offered the court, do or
der that said james Gibson be fined the
sum of e15,000, 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 1882 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 sen.
fenced to hang, which sentence was
carried out. Judge McCay is said to
have always been on one side or the
other in most lawsuits tried before him,
and if 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 disperse, go to their homes
and not return any more during that
term of court. In such cases the rec
ords contained the following entry:
1.-THE 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 lashes, well
, laid on, and be branded on the
: right check with the letter II and on the
left with the letter I, and that the
: sheriff put this sentence into eXecu-
ton between the hours of twelve and
, two this day" The letters II and I
were for horse thief. Though their
courts in some respects were not up to
) the standard of the present civilization,
, yet in others they are worthy of eX'
ample. Good feelings, natural civility
and sterling qualities of head and heart
were the passports to social considers
tons. Though obscure jewellers in the
: forest, Sewer, Robertson and their COM
patriots were important actors in the
great drama of Liberty and Civiliza-
ton. They were conscious of their high
mission. and sought neither human re.
ward nor human glory, but were con-
{ tent to leave their work and their
rames to thtse who came after them
/ And now. with the historian Ramsey
| l will say: 81 hope the day will never
: come when the daring hardihood and
: self-sacriticing toll of these early pa.
| triots will be forgotten or updervalued
t BY their posterity."