Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-04-23
Pryor Suit Argued in Three
Days Trial
JURY FINDS VERDICT
FRIDAY NOON
Land Suit of Largest Values
Ever Held in County

The most prominent, the most com
plex and the most keenly fought lega
battle ever fought in Marion county
was concluded Friday at II 80 wher
the jury, which had been out since
3:45 the evening before, in delibera
ton over the evidence In the three
damage suits instituted by Mrs. S &.
Bennett, A. w. Pryor heirs, and Fan
ME Kate Pryor, for recovery of dam
ages for lands submerged by the erec'
ton of the Hale's Bar dam by the
Chattanooga g. Tennessee River Power
Co, brought in verdict totaillng
SIZE. 900 for the plaintiff. The case
of damage due was never denied by
the defence, but the question was tc
determine how much for lands taken
and damages to adjoining property
was due the plaintiffs.
The trial began Tuesday morning
and nearly three days were consumed
in producing evidence and argument.
The prosecution was represented by
Brown, Spurlock & Brown. OF Chatta-
noosa, and the defence by Spears d
Spears, the finest array of legal talent
possible, all thoroughly conversant
with the details of the case, formerly
residents of the county, fully ac-
ouainted with all its citizens. That
it was battle royal was evident when
each side used three hours in argu-
ment, ranging from supposition and
pioof to blackboard demonstration, and
the oratory has never been exceiled.
The courtroom was filled to its capaci-
ty even to the corridors, with people
who enjoyed the play of brain, the
wit, the repartee, the finesse, and deep
discussion of the points involved,
T. L. Stewart, of Birmingham.
Ala, led off for the prosecution, and
he was followed by the brilliant l..
N. Spears, of Chattanooga. Mr. Spur
lock then followed in cool deliberative
STYLE, after which W. D. Spears, in
overpowering manner of style and ar
gument, finished his side, the defence.
Then the keen, incisive Foster V.
Brown closed, shattering ideals and
brilliantly effective. People wonld
have paid money to hear those argu-
lnents, outside of the clients. 49,.
The case was opened Tuesday by
Foster v. Brown for the prosecution
by the placing of Capt. S. Fl. Ben
nett, husband of s. G.. Bennett, one
Of the plaintiffs, upon TIE stand. His
testimony was substantially as follows:
Aged SO, husband of s. q. Bennett,
heir of Wash Pryor, the 7SO acres OF
bottom land had been willed in 1902
to Fannie Kate Pryor, the minor heirs
Of A. w. Pryor and Mrs. S. G. Ben
nett, property embraced FIVE or six
miles of river front, that 7S0 acres
we're covered last November by water
backed up from Hale's Bar dam, no
houses OF barns submerged except two
or three buildings at upper end, which
had been erected by the bridge build
ers. that tbeie we're 2032 acres in
whole property. Mrs. Bennett had 700
acres of which 2s3 we're submerged, A.
W. Pryor heirs 51S acres of which
261. "a acres were submerged, and Fan
ME Kate Pryor, s05 acres, of which
235. 40 were flooded, that flooded area
reached to within 200 yards of the
Bennett home, and that be had no
land to work. Cross examined by l..
N. Spears for the defence be said
there was very little wash of ebert
from Cedar Ridge, that none of the
land was 80 low it could not be culti-
waited, that a slue existed on farm but
could be cultivated, that he had val
ued his improvements in 1901 at r., 800
in negotiating loan.
W. 8. Wilson, next witness, testi-
fed that he had resided in the county
eight years, was requested by plain
lifts to make estimate on value of
ands, that soil was vely rich black
limestone, all in bottom, worth at a
low value $3.50 per acre, part of cane
break worth $500 per acre, likely
place for large dairy farm, two-thirds
20 three fourths decrease in value of
-idge land by reason of flooding bot
oms, ridge land was worth from $40
% $50 pnr acre, now decreased to Sl5
,er acre, bottom land would produce
50 bushels of corn per acre, could pro