|
Newspaper Articles Knoxville, April 23, 1806 Horrid Murder!! Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Hawkins, to his friend in this town, dated April 19, 1806. Dear Sir, “There was on Tuesday night, 8th inst., one of the most horrid murders committed in the upper end of this country, ever heard of. Michael Doherty, was murdered by his daughter, about 13 or 14 years of age, with three strokes of an axe, the old man was asleep, with one of his little children in his arms; the first stroke was in his temple – he turned, and the girl gave him two more in his forehead, which put an end to his existence. The girl, her brother 10 or 11 years old, and sister 8 or 9 years old, rolled the old man on a hand barrow, to carry him off, the oldest girl took one end, her brother and little sister the other, but the little girl was unable to carry her part, and the sister (the murderess) whipped her severely to make her carry it, but she could not. She then opened the cellar (or potatoe hole) and rolled him in, where he lay until Saturday, when he was fund; the three children and two mmaller ones slept there every night. When the girl was apprehended she said she had killed her father, and had done so because her father had killed her mother. Since her being committed, she says she did not kill her father, but that it was her brother, and says she was scared, and confessed she had killed him to save her own life, for she was afraid the men who took her would hand her; the brother and sister says she killed him, and flung him in the cellar where he was found; the girl intended on Saturday night to have cut him in pieces, so as to enable her to carry him off. The old man drank hard, and when drunk was very cross in his family; that she used to tell him of killing her mother, and he frequently whipped his daughter; that on the Sunday before the murder was committed, she got an axe to kill her father, and put it under the bed where he lay, by which it appears she was determined to commit the murder on Sunday night, but did not until Tuesday night; then did intend to have cut him in pieces, to have removed him, (in a girl of her age) is astonishing!”
Killing in Tennessee
Whitecaps Arrested
Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 2 - Thirteen members of the Whitecap Band who took part in the battle in which three men were killed last week, in Sevier County, have been arrested.
They are: William Ware, Henry McQuin, William Trammel, Arthur and John Sonton, John Martin, Lou Carver, O. L. Montgomery. Horace Davis, D. R. Bates, Issac William and Jesse Brown.
The Browns confessed and gave the names of the others, who have now sworn to kill their betrayers but are kept in separate cells.
Marrying and Dying
Dreadful Tornado
This spectacle, the most awful that can be conceived, was viewed with indescribably satisfaction, when the citizens of Knoxville found it had crossed the Holstein about three quarters of a mile below the town, and attached itself to a ridge of mountains on the opposite side. Very little rain fell in the town during the storm.
We have been informed by a gentleman who was near the river, that the water was carried to an almost incalculable height. Many of the most beautiful plantations on the river are said to be stripped entirely of their improvements - amongst others we have heard particularly of Mr. James Miller’s five miles from this place, on the Nashville road. We have heard of only two lives that have been lost, but fear that is not all.
Knoxville, October 14
From the Knoxville Register, May 24.
Some curiosity have been expressed as to the laws of the Cherokee Nation, the following sketch of them may not be unacceptable to our readers.
They prohibit the introduction by white men of spirituous liquors into the nation. They have laws establishing and regulating turnpikes, prohibiting stealing and rape, requiring white men if they take a Cherokee wife, to be legally married to her and then the property of the wife is not thrown into the hands of the husband but remains at her own disposal; nor do they permit one man to have more than one wife.
The nation is laid off into eight judicial districts and a judge and marshal appointed in each district in order to the due administration of justice. They have their rangers to each district whose duty it is to post and advertise strays. Their taxes are regularly laid and collected by the marshals. Nor do they overlook the benefits of tuition in their missionary seminaries; they compel parents to pay the expenses of such children as leave the schools without any just cause. They permit the superintendant of these missionary stations, with the consent of the parents to bind out children to such trades as may be suitable for them and at the expiration of their apprenticeship, the nation is bound to procure them tools.
Each district is entitled to be represented in the National Council by four members. The pay of each member for his services one dollar per day and to the Speaker one dollar and fifty cents. The principal chief, the Path Killer is allowed $150 per annum and Charles K. Hicks in consequence of his extra services as interpreter and writer $300. The Committee men are allowed two dollars and their president three dollars and fifty cents per day during the sitting of the National Council.
For embezzling, intercepting and opening sealed letters, the punishment is a fine of one hundred dollars and one hundred stripes on the bare back.
The business of the council during its session shall be suspended on the Sabbath and all merchants, pedlars, and Mechanics at New Town shall close their doors during that day.
They have a law declaring what shall be a lawful fence; they have also a statute of limitations; but it does not operate on notes or liquidated accounts. The Treasurer of the Cherokee Nation is authorized to loan upon good security, such surplus funds as may remain after discharging the annual appropriations.
A marshal, a Sheriff, deputy sheriff and two constables are appointed in each district. These officers have superseded the companies of light horse, which before the passage of this regulation, executed the decrees of their courts and brought offenders to justice. The marshals are elected by the National committee; the sheriffs and constables by the people in each district. The duty of these officers are prescribed and security taken for their faithful performance. In pursuit of criminals they are allowed to summon as many men as may be necessary to assist them.
A will, if found among the valuable papers of the deceased, although not witnessed is considered established if proved to be written and signed by the testator. A will to be regular according to their law should be signed by the testator, attested by two witnesses and its validity proved to the satisfaction of the court of the district. There are also some regulations about nuncupative wills.
The property of any person dying intestate is divided equally amongst the children and wife, the wife taking a child’s part. If there are no children, the wife is entitled to the fourth part and the residue goes to his nearest kin after the estate is freed from encumbrances. The property of the wife who has an exclusive right to it, is distributed in the same way between her children and husband.
This is a faint outline of some of the laws by which the Cherokee nation are governed. The Resolutions to procure two sets of types to establish at Newtown a printing office has already been noticed in a former paper; one set of types to be composed of English letters and the other of Cherokee characters, the invention of George Guist a Cherokee. This invention is much admired by those acquainted with it for its ingenuity, simplicity and usefulness; although there are perhaps more than seventy distinct characters, they are learned by the natives in a short time with great ease and in their own language they now correspond with each other in these characters.
Cherokees
It is now ascertained says the Knoxville Tennessee Enquirer, that the Cherokees absolutely refuse to sell any of their land. Ou much talked of Hiwasee Canal must therefore remain in could be prospect only. The commissioners, it is said, have finally adjourned, with out being able to obtain a hearing. The Cherokees would not even assemble for the purpose.
Mrs. Susanna Wise - 106 Years Old
Mrs. Susanna Wise, living near Knoxville, Tennessee, is 106 years old. She is in full possession of her facilities, and can swallow a cup of cold tea or smoke a pipe of "dog-leg" without spectacles.
|