Greene County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter VI 1884
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Book Title: History Of Greene And Sullivan Counties, Indiana

CHAPTER VI.
BY COL. E. H. C. CAVINS.

FIRST TERM OF THE CIRCUIT COURT- "FIAT JUSTICIA RUAT COELUM"-  EARLY PRACTICES-
FIRST JURY TRIAL- FIRST NATURALIZATION PAPERS- THE MURDER OF ISAAC EDWARDS-
SLANDER- FIRST COURT AT BLOOMFIELD- DIVORCE CASES- THE PROBATE COURT- PENSIONS-
NEW COURT HOUSE- FIRST CASE "AD QUAD DAMNUM"- JOHN DOE VS. RICHARD ROE- EMINENT
MEN- AN "AFFAIR OF HONOR"- THE ROUSSEAUS-  WOMAN'S RIGHTS- THE BLACK CREEK MILL
DAM- THE MURDER OF PHOEBE GRAVES- MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS- THE MURDER OF WILLIAM
WALKER- EXECUTION OF HIRAM BLEND- REMINISCENCES.

THE first term of Circuit Court held in Greene County was held at the residence
of Thomas Bradford, one mile south of Bloomfield, in September, 1821. J. Doty
was President Judge; John S. Buskirk, Associate Judge; Thomas Warnick, Clerk;
and Thomas Bradford, Sheriff. The Clerk was not required to give surety on his
bond. Henry Merrick and Amory Kinney were admitted to practice as attorneys.
Henry Merrick was appointed Prosecuting Attorney. Amory Kinney was afterward
well known throughout the State as an eminent Judge. The first grand jury was
composed of thirteen jurors- John O'Neall, John Slinkard, Benson Jones. John
Goldsberry, Reuben Hill, James Smith, Levi Fellows, Jonathan Lindley, Benjamin
Hashaw, Cornelius Bogard, Cornelius P. Vanslyke, Eli Faucett and Joseph Ramsomers.

   Col. Levi Fellows was appointed foreman of the jury. The first court docket
has written on the back and first leaf, in prominent and bold letters, this
motto: "Fiat Justicia Ruat Coelum"- (Let justice prevail if the Heavens fall).

   The docket for this term of court contained two cases only. The first was
Thomas Mounts against Zebulon Hogue, and the action was styled, "Trespass on the
case for slander." It appears that even in that early day, when only a few
settlers had gathered together, and when they needed each other's sympathy and
assistance, that the strong passion of malignity invaded the settlements, and
arrayed one neighbor against another, and that they finally resorted to the
courts for redress. But in this instance it also appears that finally "the
better angel of their nature" prevailed, and the cause was dismissed. The
probability is, that these litigants made friends, as on the same day Mr. Hogue
went on Mr. Mounts' bond as surety for his appearance at the next term of court.
The other case on the docket at the first term of court was Benjamin Hashaw
against Thomas Mounts, and was styled, "Trespass on the case for debt." This
case was also dismissed. At this term of court, Mr. Mounts seems to have
monopolized the business of being defendant in court. The grand jury returned
four indictments, and they were continued until the next term. The Associate
Judges were paid by the county. The first action of the Commissioners in 1822
was to issue an order to pay the salary of Judge John S. Buskirk for the year
1821. His salary was not as large as Judges' salaries were at a later period in
history, his salary for the year being $2. Judge Buskirk was a prominent and
leading man in the early settlement of the county, and a relative of the
numerous family of Buskirks who have ornamented the bench and bar of the State.

THE SECOND TERM OF COURT.

   The February term, 1822, of the court was held at the same place as the
preceding term. It was held by Associate Judges Thomas Bradford and John S.
Buskirk. Thomas Warnick was Clerk, and was continuously Clerk until 1835. John
Seaman was Sheriff, and continuously so until 1829. Addison Smith was appointed
Prosecuting Attorney, Craven P. Hester, Thomas H. Blake, Joseph Warner and
Addison Smith were admitted to practice as attorneys, "they having produced
their proper license." The grand jurors were Robert Anderson, Alexander Plummer,
Richard Benson, Hiram Hayward, William Clark, Edmund Gillum, John Breece,
Jonathan Sanders, Peter Ingersoll, Samuel C. Hall, Eli Faucett, Isaac Hubbell
and William Bynum.

   At this term four indictments were returned. On two of the indictments
returned in 1821, the Prosecuting Attorney entered a nolle prosequi, one was
continued, and on the other there was a trial by jury. This was the first trial
by jury ever had in the Circuit Court in the county. It was on a charge of
assault and battery, and against Daniel Carlin. The assault and battery was said
to be on Peter C. Vanslyke. The jury was composed of Joseph Smith, Orange
Monroe, James Stalcup, William Scott, Isaac Hicks, Thomas Stalcup, John S.
Warner, David Deem, Abel Burlingame, Aaron Stepam, Stephen Dixon and Jonathan
Osborn. Craven P. Hester appeared for the defendant. The jury found the
defendant guilty, and assessed his fine at $1. A motion for new trial was made,
and overruled, and excepted to. A motion in arrest of judgment was made, and
held under advisement until next term, at which time the motion was sustained
and the defendant discharged.

   At this February term, 1822, one man pleaded guilty to an indictment that was
returned, and was "censured by the court," and fined $1.50. Philip Shintaffer,
one of the earliest settlers, was a man of considerable notoriety. He was famous
for ox driving, and it is said at one time, he owned sixteen yokes of oxen, and
could drive as well without as with a road. He was noted for having a quick
temper, which often brought him to grief. At this term, he appeared in court,
and caused to be spread upon the record a retraction of a slander against one of
his neighbors. He figured extensively as defendant in State prosecutions, and
Judge Kinney, his attorney, realized that in one respect he was a law-abiding
man, in this, that he always paid his attorneys' fees at the end of a law suit,
and that suit was his attorneys' suit.

   At this term Robert Anderson, an emigrant from Scotland was naturalized,
being the first person who received naturalization papers in Greene County.

THE THIRD TERM OF COURT.

   The August term, 1822, was held by William Wick as President Judge and Thomas
Bradford, Associate Judge. Court convened at the residence of Judge Bradford,
and adjourned to meet at the court house in Burlington, the then county seat of
the county. Smith Elkins, Isaac Naylor, Hugh Ross and James Whitcomb were
admitted to practice as attorneys. James Whitcomb was afterward Governor of the
State. Several cases were tried at this term. Four judgments were rendered, and
three fines assessed. The grand jury returned ten indictments; one for man
stealing, one for selling intoxicating liquors without license, and the others
for various misdemeanors.

   The March term, 1823, was held by the same Presiding Judge, and Martin Wines,
Associate Judge. Mr. Martin Wines was one of the earliest settlers on the west
side of the county. He lived to be an old man, and filled many places of trust.
He was noted for his hospitality far and near, and for his upright life. He
gained considerable notoriety as the author of a series of chronicles published
in the papers. Smith Elkins was Prosecuting Attorney. John F. Ross was admitted
to practice. There was very little business at this term. There were six
indictments returned by the grand jury, one of which was for challenging a man
to fight a duel. At this term, Richard Huffman, long known as a quiet,
peaceable, orderly and good citizen, was fined 37 1/2 cents for fighting.

   The October term of  that year was held bv the same Judges. David Goodwin,
Edgar C. Wilson, John Law and Calvin P. Fletcher were admitted to practice. John
Law afterward became eminent in his profession, and was Judge of the circuit and
served several terms in Congress.

FIRST INDICTMENT FOR MURDER.

   At this term the first indictment for murder in the county was found. Andrew
Ferguson and Julius Dugger were charged with the murder of Isaac Edwards. The
murder was charged to have been done with an ax.

   Elkins Smith, the Prosecuting Attorney, assisted by Addison Smith and Isaac
Nay lor, prosecuted the case. These assisting attorneys were employed by the
county to prosecute. The defendants were defended by Craven P. Hester and John
Law. The defendants demanded separate trials, and Ferguson was tried at that
term and acquitted. The case was continued as to Dugger. Before the first trial,
the defendants were sent to Bloomington, Ind., for safe keeping, and after
Ferguson was acquitted, Dugger was sent to Spencer for safe keeping.

   The trial created great excitement among the people throughout the county.
The original jury was challenged entirely, after which forty-eight others were
brought in, and with these they could not impanel a jury. Twenty-five others
were brought into court, making in all eighty-five. From this number they
selected a jury composed of Moses Ritter, John Burch, George Burch, Simon
Snyder, John Uland, Joel Benham, Daniel Ingersoll, George Padgett, Joseph Mise,
Alexander Craig, John Breece and John Moore.

   The case was ably prosecuted and as ably defended. The jury found the
defendant guilty of manslaughter, and he was sentenced to the State prison for
four years.

   The May term, 1824, was held by Jacob Call, President Judge, and by Judges
Bradford and Wines Associate Judges. Thomas F. G. Adams was admitted to practice.

FAMOUS SLANDER SUIT.

   At this term, there was a famous slander suit between parties long and
favorably known in the county. The case was tried by a jury, after having been
continued and passed until the witnesses and parties were brought into court on
seven different days. The jury after a long and laborious trial returned a
verdict for 6 cents.

   At the October term, John R. Porter was President Judge, and the same
associates as at the preceding term. Mr. Shintaffer, who had heretofore signed
what in common parlance was called a "lie-bill," appears not to have profited by
his past experience, and another slander case was presented against him. During
the year, more than half the cases were for affray, riot or slander.

FIRST COURT IN BLOOM FIELD.

   The May term, 1825, convened at Bloomfield, and was the first court ever held
at that place. At this term, Jacob Call was President Judge. John Law was
Prosecuting Attorney and filled that place until 1830. Judge Porter was
President Judge at the October term of that year, and his term did not expire
until 1830. This year, William B. Morris appeared as Associate Judge in the
place of Judge Bradford, whose term of office expired. The first divorce ever
granted in the county was this year, and was in favor of Ezekiel Harrington.
Gen. Jacob B. Lowe was admitted to practice.

   In the year 1826, Col. Levi Fellows and Robert Smith appeared for the first
time as Associate Judges. We have been unable to learn anything of Judge Morris
or Judge Smith, but Judge Fellows was one of the earliest settlers, and one of
the best educated and useful citizens. He settled at the old mill seat near
Mineral City, and resided there until 1865, when he moved to Terre Haute, and
has since died. During this year, there appears to have been a mania for
divorces, and a large number of cases, considering the population of the county,
were commenced, but nearly all of them were continued from time to time, until
the parties, wearied by the "law's delay," were reconciled. At the October term
of this year, Hugh L. Livingston was admitted to practice. He afterward moved to
Bloomfield, and made that place his home during the remainder of his life. A
more extended notice of him will be found in another part of this history. This
term was held by the Associate Judges without the presence of the President Judge.

   There was no change in the officers of the court during the next two years.
In the year 1827, E. H. McJunkins, Henry Chase and Mathias C. Vanpelt were
admitted to practice, and in the year 1828 Mr. Griffith was admitted. At the
June term, 1829, Samuel R. Cavins, who lived in Jackson Township, appeared as
Associate Judge, to fill the vacancy caused by the retiring of Judge Smith. At
this term, Affey Herrington divorced her husband, Ezekiel Herrington, this being
the first divorce granted in the county in favor of the wife. This same man was
the first man in the county to divorce his wife, and now in turn he is the first
man to be divorced on application of his wife.

THE PROBATE COURT.

   This year, the first Probate Judge was elected in the county, and the first
Judge of that court was Willis D. Lester. He was among the very first settlers
in the county, his father having settled here before Willis D. was grown. He was
elected in 1829, and held the office until 1843. He was elected again in 1849,
and held the position until the court was abolished in 1853. In the year 1830,
John Law was elected by the Legislature Judge of the circuit, and E. M.
Huntington Prosecuting Attorney, each for the term of seven years, but Greene
County was soon legislated out of Judge Law's circuit. Cornelius Bogard was
Sheriff, having been elected the year before. He was one of the earliest
settlers, and took an active part in the county business for many years. He was
a man universally esteemed. At the April term, 1831, Tilghman A. Howard was
admitted to practice. He was one of the best men in the State, and certainly for
many years the most popular man in his party in the State. In 1840, at the
earnest solicitations of his party friends, he resigned his seat in Congress and
became the Democratic candidate for Governor. It was thought that his personal
popularity throughout the State would enable him to defeat Gov. Bigger. But the
tide of enthusiasm for Gen. Harrison against Martin Van Buren was irresistible,
and Harrison's popularity elected the whole Whig ticket. In 1842, Gen. Howard
was the choice of his party for United States Senator, while O. H. Smith was the
choice of the Whigs. Neither was elected, but Edward A. Hanagan carried off the
prize. Gen. Howard was afterward appointed to an office in Texas, and while
there died. At the October term, G. W. Johnson acted as President Judge. Norman
W. Pierce appeared as Associate Judge in the place of Judge Fellows. Judge
Pierce came to the county in 1819 with Col. Fellows, they being brothers-in-law.
He removed from the county in 1834. In 1832, Amory Kinney appeared as President
Judge, and held the office for five years. John Robinson succeeded Judge Pierce
as Associate Judge, and John Crook was elected Sheriff. After this term, the
name of Philip Shintaffer ceased to ornament the records of the court. He
finally became disgusted with the "ups and downs" of Greene County life, and
especially with the courts, and silently glided down the waters of White River,
and still downward until he reached the "Father of Waters"- the Mississippi- and
on its banks he erected his cabin. The last time his name appeared on the docket
it was followed by a nolle prosequi.

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONS.

    Early in this year, Congress passed a law granting pensions to all who
served in the army, navy or militia during the Revolutionary war. The applicants
were required to make their proof before the court, and one of the witnesses was
required to be a minister of the Gospel, if such could be done, and if the
applicant could not procure the testimony of a clergyman, he must show that fact
and the reason why. During this year, proof for John Storm, Peter Ingersoll,
Adam Rainbolt and Joshua Burnett was made.

   No attorney was admitted to practice in 1832. In 1833, R. C. Dewey, Delana R.
Eckels and Paris C. Dunning were admitted. D. R. Eckels, many years afterward,
was Judge of the same court. P. C. Dunning was afterward Governor of the State.
All of these men were of first-class ability and achieved distinction in their
profession. In the year 1834, the attention of the Board of Commissioners was
called to a defect in the "temple of justice," in some degree affecting the
comfort of those having business there, and thereupon they ordered that the
underpinning of the court house be repaired so as to keep the hogs from
disturbing the court. This year, William I. Cole succeeded Judge Robinson, and
Judge Bradford again appeared as Associate Judge, taking the place of Judge
Cavins, who had resigned. David McDonald appeared as Prosecuting Attorney at one
term, and John Cowgill at the other. Mr. McDonald was afterward Judge of the
same court, and still later Judge of the District Court of the United States. He
is the author of McDonald's Treatise. Mr. Cowgill afterward was Judge of a
Common Pleas Court. George R. H. Moore was Sheriff this year, and held the
office four years.

THE NEW COURT HOUSE.

   In 1835, the Board of Commissioners decided to build a new court house, and
they appointed John Inman, William Freeland, Levi Fellows, Ruel Learned and Hugh
L. Livingston as a committee to draft plans, etc., and gave them authority to
borrow $1,500, but not to pay a higher rate of interest than 10 per cent. The
report of the committee showed that the court house would cost $5,157. The
committee was authorized to superintend the building. The contract was let to
Calvin B. Hartwell, for $5,800- $1,000, to be paid April 1, 1836: $1,500,
November 1, 1836; $1,000, April 1, 1837; and balance at completion of building.
The contractor, after receiving the first payment, left the State, and his
sureties, Andrew Downing and Samuel Simons, were required to finish the
building. Mr. Downing undertook the completion of the building. The county
failed to make the payments according to contract, and after Mr. Downing had
exhausted his means and his credit, the work was about to stop. The committee on
their own responsibility borrowed of the Bedford Bank $2,000, at 12 per cent,
and the work was completed. The building was not finished until 1839, and cost
the county $6,271.59. In the year 1835, the term of service of Thomas Warnick as
Clerk of the court expired. Up to this time, he held the office of Clerk
continuously from the first election of Clerk in the county. Next to Judge
Bradford, he seems to have been the leading man in the organization of the county.

In the earliest days of the county, when no money could be collected on taxes,
he advanced the money for the purchase of the necessary books for records.
Samuel R. Cavins, succeeded Mr. Warnick as Clerk of the court, and he held the
office continuously until after the October election in the year 1856.

AD QUOD DAMNUM.

   The first ad quod damnum case in the county was this year. It was on the
application of Ruel Learned, for the purpose of establishing a mill on Richland
Creek, about one mile southeast of Bloomfield, and for assessing damages
incident thereto. The jury was composed of John T. Freeland, Paris Chipman, John
Milam, A. B. Chipman, Jesse Barnes, Barney Perry, Benjamin Brooks, Hilton
Waggoner, James H. Hicks, Thomas Patterson, Carpus Shaw and John Van Voorst. The
jury reported no damages to any one, and that all the lands on the stream, for
two miles above the dam, were public lands. Two years and a half passed without
the admission of an attorney at the bar. In 1836, Willis A. Gorman was admitted.
He was afterward Colonel in the Mexican war, and a General in the late war; a
member of Congress, and Governor of Minnesota. David McDonald was admitted to
practice. In 1837, Elisha M. Huntington appeared as President Judge. He remained
on the bench only two years, and was appointed Judge of the District Court of
the United States. George F. Watterman and William Smith were admitted to
practice. The first case of John Doe vs. Richard Roe was instituted this year.
These mythical parties adorned the court docket almost every term from 1837
until 1853, when they disappeared from the State under the practice adopted
under the constitution adopted in 1852.

OTHER TERMS OF COURTS.

   In 1838, Judge Levi Fellows again appeared as Associate Judge, to take the
place of Judge Cole, whose term of office expired; Judge Cole lived to be quite
an old man, but was not afterward an officer of the court. He was a soldier of
the war of 1812, from Kentucky. In his native State he had been a leading,
influential man in his county, and had served one term as Sheriff. He was a
Baptist preacher. During this period, there is considerable confusion in the
records as to who was Prosecuting Attorney. David McDonald seems to appear more
frequently than any other, but Craven P. Hester, D. R. Eckels and others
occasionally appear. Thomas J. Throop, George R. Gibson and Basil Champer were
admitted to practice.

   In 1839, David McDonald appeared as Judge, and continued in office as Judge
until the close of the year 1852. John S. Watts appeared as Prosecuting
Attorney, and continued four years. John R. Dixson, was Sheriff, and continued
in office four years. He was remarkable for his gallantry toward the ladies, his
kindness to children, and his general cleverness toward the people, with whom he
was very popular. He belonged to the "cornstalk militia," and had been promoted
to the rank of Major, and was uniformly called Maj. Dixson. He was considerable
of a stump speaker, but only a part of one of his speeches has been reported. It
was delivered at Fairplay, near which place he had resided from the very
earliest settlement of the county. It was as follows: "Fellow citizens: It has
been circulated at the settlements of the county that I have not been in the
county long enough to entitle me to the votes of the people. I am glad to meet
so many of my fellow-citizens to-day, for there is not a man, woman or child in
this settlement, but what knows I made the first cow track ever made by a white
man on these prairies." This speech was electrical. Such a charge against such a
man was so preposterous that all parties in that settlement felt constrained to
rebuke the calumniator, and they voted for and elected the gallant Major.

EMINENT LEGAL PRACTITIONERS.

   This year, John S. Watts, Thomas H. Carson, Richard W. Thompson, George G.
Dunn, Samuel H. Smydth, Samuel B. Gookins and Henry Secrest were admitted to
practice- an array of able and distinguished men, most of whom filled places of
trust and distinction after this. Thomas H. Carson had just located at
Bloomfield. He practiced law about ten years, and went to Kentucky from whence
he came. While here, he held the office of Auditor one term. During the war, he
served as an officer in the Union army. Samuel Howe Smydth was a very brilliant
young man. He was sent to France as an officer of the Government, and died
there. Each of these men have relatives in Greene County, where the brother of
one married the sister of the other. John S. Watts was afterward appointed Judge
in New Mexico by President Fillmore, and remained there during his life. B. W.
Thompson was afterward a Member of Congress, and was Secretary of the Navy in
President Hayes' Cabinet. George G. Dunn was afterward in Congress several
terms, and was regarded as the greatest orator in Indiana. Henry Secrest
achieved very high rank in his profession. Samuel B. Gookins was a lawyer and
Judge of the highest grade. For a short time he was Judge on the Supreme Bench
of Indiana. In 1840, no change occurred in the officers of the court. Elias S.
Terry was the only attorney admitted to practice that year. He was located at
Washington, Ind., at that time. He afterward was Judge of a circuit in the
northern part of the State. He was a graduate of West Point, but resigned and
devoted himself to the practice of law. He was a man of fine ability. In what
was called an "affair of honor" between George G. Dunn and James Hughes, he
acted as second for Mr. Dunn, while Maj. Livingston was second for Judge Hughes.
The "affair of honor" was settled by the seconds in such a manner as to make it
satisfactory and honorable to all parties, without the effusion of blood.

THE ROUSSEAUS.

   In 1841, Lewis B. Edward and Joel B. Sexton appeared as Associate Judges,
which was the only change in the officers of the court. Judge Edwards was one of
the earliest settlers where Bloomfield now stands, and filled many offices of
honor and trust. He was a printer and editor, and worked in the office of the
Vincennes Sun, when that paper was first started, and at the time of his death
was the oldest printer and editor living in the State. Judge Sexton was an early
settler in that part of Burlingame Township, afterward formed into Center, and
was long and favorably known throughout the county. He held the office until the
close of the year 1851, when it was abolished. He died in 1868. During the year,
Richard H. Rousseau and Lovel H. Rousseau located at Bloomfield, and were
admitted to practice law. They were both first-class lawyers. R. H. Rousseau
served one term in the Legislature. L. H. Rousseau served two terms in the House
and one in the Senate. He was Captain of the only company of soldiers raised in
the county for the Mexican war, and was in the Second Indiana Regiment. He
afterward achieved great distinction in the war of the rebellion, and was
promoted to the rank of Major General. He served one term in Congress, and at
the time of his death was Brigadier General in the regular army.

   At the time at which R. H. Rousseau, familiarly and generally called Dick
Rousseau, was admitted to practice, he and George G. Dunn, Basil Champer, Thomas
H. Carson and the Hon. David McDonald, President Judge of the court, were each
indicted by the grand jury for nuisance. The cases were continued one year, when
all except the Judge were tried and found not guilty. John S. Watts was
appointed special Judge to try the case against Judge McDonald, and the
Prosecuting Attorney entered a nolle in that case.

WOMAN'S RIGHTS. 

   In that day there seems to have been some grave doubts about the status of
women as persons in their relation to certain business positions. But the
Hoosiers took a more liberal and sensible view of the question than Gov. Butler
of Massachusetts has since taken. Sarah Smith applied to have the ferry across
White River, near Worthington, re-established in her name. Some Ben Butler of an
attorney sprung the question as to whether such a privilege could be extended to
a woman. The case was held over until the next term for decision. At the next
term, Mrs. Smith's case was pressed with great vigor by Maj. Livingston, and was
resisted vigorously by L. H. Rousseau, on behalf of a man who wanted a ferry
near by. To the honor of the officials of Greene County Mrs. Smith gained her
cause.

   Those who have read the history of the courts up to this time may remember
that Ezekiel Herrington was the first man who divorced his wife in the county,
and that in turn he was the first man against whom a divorce was granted. This
year he is again brought into court on a complaint for a divorce. For two years
he and his wife met only in strife, the case being continued from time to time
for that period. They had a long struggle, but at last his wife came out
victorious.

THE BLACK CREEK MILL DAM.

   During this year (1841), an ad quod damnum case was commenced by Polly Skomp
and Thomas Carrico, to establish a mill dam across Black Creek at a point near
where the town of Marco now is. Livingston and Rousseaus appeared for
applicants, and Dunn, Hester and Carson appeared for various parties who opposed
it. A large number of cases grew out of this mill dam, and the dockets of the
State were not entirely clear of them for thirteen years. Several parties were
indicted for nuisance for establishing the dam, and one man was convicted and
fined, but most of the State cases were nolled. The indictment for nuisance
charged that the defendants had erected a dam seven feet high, and that the
water in the dam covered 10,000 acres of land. A large body of men from between
Marco and Linton tore out the dam on two different occasions, if not more.
Several were indicted for riot, and several suits for damages were commenced.
One suit against eighteen men hung in the courts for several years, and finally
dropped out, probably without any record as to how it got out. One case was
taken from the county on change of venue and was sent to Parke County. These
additional attorneys, Usher and Terry, appeared on the mill dam side, and
Gookins and Maxwell on the other side. In the meantime, Josiah Johnson married
Mrs. Skomp and appeared as a plaintiff. There was a judgment rendered in this
case in favor of plaintiffs for $200, and costs. There was an immense amount of
costs in the various cases. In the last case alone the costs amounted to $774.33.

   Up to 1841, no election returns are preserved, and no records of them kept,
which renders it difficult to give the terms of office. In 1842, no change was
made in the courts, and no attorney was admitted to practice. In 1843, William
G. Quick was the only attorney admitted to practice, and he served as
Prosecuting Attorney for two years. James Vanslyke appeared as Sheriff, having
been elected the year before. He was a son of Peter C. Vanslyke, and came to the
county in 1819. He was very popular with the people, and was re-elected at the
expiration of his term, and held the office four years. This year, John R. Stone
appeared as Probate Judge. He was an early settler in what is now known as
Jackson Township, and held many positions of trust in his township before he was
elected Judge. During his judicial career, he had the reputation among the
members of the bar of deciding his cases right. If a case was not clear he would
take it under advisement, and think it over in a calm hour, and then he would
almost uniformly decide the case correctly. He was one of our best citizens, and
had one virtue in an eminent degree that many persons are sadly deficient in; he
was true to his friends. Early in 1842, McHenry Dozier went into the Clerk's
office as Deputy. His records are models of beauty and perfection, and are
admired by all who see them, none others being equal to them. He enlisted as a
soldier in 1846, in Capt. L. H. Rousseaus company in the Second Regiment of
Indiana Voluntary Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Buena Vista in Mexico.

THE MURDER OF PHOEBE GRAVES.

   On the 20th day of June, 1843, Phoebe Graves was murdered in the county. As
to the fact of her being murdered there could be no doubt. She was murdered near
a public road, and her body dragged some thirty or forty yards further, into a
thicket of woods, and was laid out and covered with sticks and brush. Only one
person murdered her, and it was consummated, after a great struggle, as the
tracks of the struggle were plainly visible, and the tracks of the murderer
dragging her to the place of concealment, and the tracks fleeing from the scene
of the crime. She was murdered in daylight, between 11 o'clock A. M. and 1
o'clock P. M., and it was done by breaking her neck. The strong probability was
that it was done before 12 o'clock. Her body was found next morning before
daylight, and an inquest was held on that day, at which hundreds of people
attended. Suspicion rested upon three persons, and each of the suspected parties
was required to put his foot in the track. (The track was of a bare foot). One
person suspected was the brother-in-law of the deceased (Peter C. Graves); but
he came promptly to the track, and it did not fit him, and besides that, he
could prove a clear alibi.

   A mute by the name of Christopher Nations was also suspected. He was plowing
in a field near the scene of the murder on that day. When he was required to put
his foot in the track, he evidently did not understand the object of their
action, and struggled against putting his foot in the track. He was charged with
the crime before a Justice, and tried and bound over to the Circuit Court, but
no indictment was ever returned against him. Paris C. Dunning. R. H. Rousseau
and L. H. Rousseau prosecuted this case, and Hugh L. Livingston defended. There
were two boys working in a field adjoining the field in which Mr. Nations was
working, and knew that Mr. Nations was not out of the field until after 1 o'
clock on that day; but they were too young to be witnesses, under the law at
that time. One of these boys was William G. Sergeant, who now resides in
Bloomfield, and remembers the affair distinctly. He was eight years old at the
time, and saw Nations the whole time, from 8 o' clock A. M. until after 1
o'clock P. M. of that day. The third man upon whom suspicion rested was James
Graves, the husband of the deceased. Three men joined in an affidavit against
him before William C. Hicks, a Justice of the Peace. The case was as fully
investigated as the circumstances enabled the attorneys to investigate it at the
time, and the defendant was adjudged guilty, and was remanded into the custody
of the Sheriff. H. L. Livingston prosecuted this case, and Dunning and Rousseaus
defended. The defendant was taken out of the custody of the Sheriff by writ of
habeas corpus, and after an investigation of the case before the Associate
Judges of the Circuit Court, he was admitted to bail. No indictment was ever
returned against him. In the investigation of the charges, there being no doubt
about the deceased being murdered, the attorneys for each party tried to show
that some one else perpetrated the crime. The attorney of James Graves tried to
show that Mr. Nations committed the crime, and the attorneys for Mr. Nations
tried to show that James Graves committed the crime. The only evidence on the
record in the case is a written admission, signed by the attorneys on the trial
of the case against Nations. The admissions were that on the trial of the habeas
corpus case of James Graves, that it was in proof that he, James Graves, was at
home on the turn of 12 o'clock, on the day of murder, and was pulling weeds in
the garden, and had his little child with him. Also it was in proof at the same
time, by Franklin Hodges, that on the same day, about 2 o'clock P. M., he,
Hodges, heard some one hallooing, and that we went out from the field where he
was plowing and saw James Graves about 300 yards from the place where the body
was found nest morning. That Graves was standing in the road, and had his little
child in his arms, and stated that he had sent his little girl to Mr. Dueast's
to hunt for her mother, and that he also stated that Phoebe (deceased) had gone
that morning to Mrs. Nations', and that he supposed that she had gone to
Dueast's from Nations', and that Graves was hallooing for his wife and little
daughter, and that said Graves returned home. The theory of those who believed
James Graves guilty, was that he left home at about 11 o'clock A. M., and his
wife left Mrs. Nations' about the same time. That they met in the road at a
point near the place of the murder, and that the struggle commenced in the road,
and that they struggled about forty or fifty yards from the road, where her neck
was broken. That after concealing the body, the accused then returned home and
remained there until near 2 o'clock, and then took his infant child back to a
point near the scene of the murder. This theory was supported by the evidence
offered by the State, and by all the actions of the accused   A daughter of the
deceased stated that he had left home at 11  o'clock, with a curse upon his
tongue against his wife, and the testimony of Mrs. Nations was that the deceased
left her house at 11 o'clock, saying that she must go home to get dinner. Graves
proved by the woman he afterward married that he was at another place during the
whole time in which it was probable that the murder was committed.

   Why the grand jury, under the circumstances, failed to return an indictment
against Graves is somewhat astonishing. For years after this, persons would talk
about their being something wrong in the disposition of the case against Graves,
and this same Frank Hodges, who was a witness in the investigation, publicly
denounced James Graves as a murderer, and reiterated the charge on several
occasions. Three years after the murder, Mr. Graves appealed to the court for
redress for what he claimed to be injured innocence, and he sued Mr. Hodges for
slander for accusing him of murder. Mr. Hodges, by his attorney, answered the
complaint by admitting saying the words charged against him, and alleging that
the words were true, and that James Graves did murder his wife, etc. When the
issue was thus presented, Mr. Graves dismissed his action, and thus ended all
matters in court connected with or growing out of this cruel murder. James
Graves and his family soon after this moved West and never returned to the county.

OTHER PRACTITIONERS.

   In 1844, H. H. Throop, S. H. Buskirk, W. E. Taylor, A. J. Thixton and John M.
Clark were admitted to practice. H. H. Throop located at Point Commerce, at that
time the most enterprising town in the county. He was a careful, painstaking and
conscientious lawyer, was educated for the law and was regarded as a very fine
special pleader. In 1855, while preparing to move to the county seat, he died.
He was one of the best men who lived in the county, honored by the people when
alive and mourned for when dead. He was the first resident attorney who died in
the county. S. H. Buskirk afterward became eminent in his profession, and was
oae of the ablest Supreme Judges of the State. Mr. Thixton located for a short
time at Bloomfield. In 1845, Craven P. Hester, who had been admitted to practice
at the second term of court in the county, appeared as Prosecuting Attorney, and
continued in that office until the latter part of 1849. At this term, John
Osborn, Alanson J. Stevens, Francis M. Williams and William M. Franklin were
admitted to practice. W. M. Franklin was afterward Prosecuting Attorney, Judge
of Common Pleas and Circuit Courts, and at this writing is a Commissioner of the
Supreme Court. In 1846, the only change in the officers of the court was the
election of Edward E. Beaslay as Sheriff. He was an early settler in Beech Creek
Township, and a farmer by occupation. He was very popular with the people and
always ran ahead of his party strength. He was elected Sheriff for two terms in
succession. He was a candidate for Representative in the State Legislature at
two elections, but was defeated by small majorities. The last time he was a
candidate was in 1856. His friends generally wished him to indorse Mr. Fillmore
for President, as a large majority of his political friends were in favor of
Fillmore. But he was conscientiously in favor of Mr. Fremont, and openly avowed
himself in favor of the "path-finder." He said he would rather be right and
suffer defeat, than to be wrong and be elected. He was too honest to act from
policy, where his convictions of right were otherwise. The attorneys admitted to
practice during the year were Augustus L. Rhodes, Alexander McClelland and
Robert Crockett. Mr. Rhodes located at Bloomfield and resided there until 1854.
He was a man of classical education, having graduated at Hamilton College, New
York, in the next class after Gov. A. P. Willard graduated. He was a close
student and fine lawyer. While in Greene County, he was elected and served one
term as Prosecuting Attorney of the Circuit Court. In 1854, he moved to
California, where he took front rank in his profession, and where he served
sixteen years on the Supreme bench, which was the longest term ever held by any
one, and for two years was Chief Justice. Robert Crockett was also a resident of
Greene County. He was a candidate for Judge of the Common Pleas Court, but was
not elected. Mr. McClelland was from Monroe County. No changes occurred in the
officers of the court during the years 1847 and 1848. In 1847, George H. Munson
and Lewis Bollman were admitted to practice. Mr. Munson was a law partner of
George G. Dunn, and was a lawyer of superior legal attainments. He died
comparatively early in life. Lewis Bollman did not continue in the practice many
years. He has spent many years at Washington City in Government service, but is
probably now at Bloomington.

   Nearly forty years ago an old Whig song ran in this style- 

   "John Watts and Lewis Bollman, made a mighty crash,
    They pounced upon poor Whitcomb, and tore him all to smash."

   It turned out when the votes were counted that there was more poetry than
truth in the song, and it is hardly probable that an admirer of Shakespeare or
Byron would regard it as very poetic. About this time, John V. Knox was
appointed Deputy Clerk, and served five or six years with great efficiency. He
died in 1856. In 1848, James S. Hester, Richard Clements and Samuel W. Short
were admitted to practice. Mr. Hester was a son of Craven P. Hester, and
afterward became Judge in an adjoining circuit. Mr. Clements was afterward Judge
of the Common Pleas Court of an another circuit. Samuel W. Short afterward
filled several offices of honor in the county where he resided. In 1849,
Augustus L. Rhodes was elected Prosecuting Attorney, and continued in that
office until 1851. Jesse Rainbolt was elected Associate Judge to take the place
of Judge Edwards. He was an early settler in Center Township. He was one of the
leading and best citizens of his part of the county, and continued in that
office until it was abolished. He lived to be quite an old man, but has been
dead several years. Judge Willis D. Lester, who has been heretofore noticed, was
elected Probate Judge. William J. McIntosh was elected Sheriff. He was one of
the early setlers [sic] in Highland Township. He was elected for three
successive terms, one being under what was called the Old Constitution. He was
emphatically a man of the people, and was a candidate each time without a party
indorsement. He was a very entertaining public speaker. While Sheriff, he
discharged his duties with fidelity and ability, and amid the most trying scenes
in the county. No attorneys were admitted to practice during the year. About the
year 1850, Allen T. Rose and W. R. Harrison were admitted to practice. Mr. Rose
was an able lawyer and advocate. He was the wit of the circuit, and whenever it
was known that he was to speak, he always drew a full house. He entered the army
early during the late war, and was badly wounded. He is now practicing his
profession in Martin County.

   Mr. W. R. Harrison has occupied front rank in his profession for over a
quarter of a century, and is now in the full vigor of his intellect practicing
his profession at Martinsville.

THE MURDER OF WILLIAM WALKER.

   In September, 1850, Hiram Bland was indicted for murder. He was charged with
the murder of William Walker. Contrary to the usual practice, and in opposition
to the opinion of one of his attorneys (Maj. Livingston), he entered upon his
trial at that term of court. The State was represented by A. L. Rhodes, and the
defense was conducted by George G. Dunn and H. L. Livingston. It was a clear and
aggravated case of murder. He murdered his victim in daylight, for revenge. The
main effort in the defense was to save the defendant's life. He was found
guilty, and sentenced to be hung by the neck, on the 15th day of November next
following. This is the only case in the county where the accused has had the
death penalty pronounced upon him. On the 28th of October, 1850, at night, the
defendant broke jail and escaped. He was concealed near his house, and did not
make an effort to escape from the county. Great efforts were made to find him,
but for a long time they appeared unavailing. His hiding place was finally
revealed by one of his pretended friends for the price of a new saddle, and on
the 2d day of January, 1851, he was retaken. His hiding place was in a corn pen,
in the center of which was a place prepared for the purpose. The corn pen was
against the house in which his family lived, and he had a secret passage under
the floor from one place to the other. At the April term, 1851, a motion was
made for a new trial, and affidavits were read contradicting several particulars
in the testimony that was given by the State on the trial. Mr. George G. Dunn
made a powerful effort to procure a new trial, but it was unavailing. The court
pronounced judgment that he should be hanged on the 25th day of April following.
On that day an immense concourse of people assembled to witness the execution
(in that day executions were public), but it was postponed by the Governor until
the Supreme Court could review the decision of the Circuit Court. The Supreme
Court affirmed the decision of the Circuit Court, and Mr. Bland expiated his
crime on the gallows on the 13th day of June, 1851. On that day, another large
body of men, women and children assembled to witness the execution. The gallows
was erected a short distance southwest of the place where the southwest corner
of the depot now stands, and from it, in public view, the unfortunate man was
suspended by the neck until he was dead. The land on which he was executed
belonged to Peter C. Vanslyke, who now resides in Bloomfield, and it was made a
part of the contract of permitting the execution there that the gallows should,
after execution, remain on the ground until it disappeared by decay, and it was
left standing until it rotted down. William J. McIntosh was Sheriff at the time,
and conducted the proceeding with intrepidity, and great credit to himself. One
thing that contributed largely toward bringing about the death penalty in this
case was the turbulent character of the accused. He and several brothers were
powerful men physically, and when drinking were very quarrelsome and dangerous.
When not under the influence of intoxicating liquor, as a rule, they were
peaceable. Then this trial came off when the public mind was excited to the very
highest pitch, and it is impossible for jurymen to be different from other men.
All persons become excited over a sudden and seemingly unprovoked murder. If the
advice of Maj. Livingston had been taken, and the case had been continued one
term, the probabilities are that, after the first burst of excitement abated,
the jury would have sent him to State prison for life. During this year, Hiram
S. Hanchett, James McConnell, Wells N. Hamilton, William P. Hammond and Aden G.
Cavins were admitted to practice. Mr. Hanchett was a student in the office of
the Rousseaus, and soon after his admission to the bar moved West. W. P. Hammond
was afterward Governor of the State.

REMINISCENCES.

   At the September term, 1851, William M. Franklin appeared as Prosecuting
Attorney, and continued in that office until 1853. During the year, Daniel
McClure and E. D. Pearson were admitted to practice. Mr. McClure was afterward
Secretary of State, and during Mr. Buchanan's administration was appointed
Paymaster in the army, and is at this writing Assistant Paymaster General of the
army. E. D. Pearson was afterward Judge of an adjoining circuit.

   This year, the office of Associate Judge was abolished, since which there has
been no Associate Judges.

   At the April term, 1852, R. S. Clements, Jr., W. D. Griswold, Nathaniel
Usher, F. T. Brown and John P. Usher were admitted to practice. During this
term, J. P. Usher and George G. Dunn met each other in the legal arena for the
first time. Each of them had achieved great distinction in their State before
that time. It was the judgment of the bar that each had "met a foeman worthy of
his steel." Mr. Usher was afterward Secretary of the Interior in President
Lincoln's cabinet The Trustees of the Wabash & Erie Canal were indicted by the
grand jury at this term for nuisance. The alleged nuisance was the erection and
maintenance of a dam across White River at Newberry, and thereby backing the
water over the lowlands adjoining the river. There was a trial by the court, and
the case was held under advisement until the next term. At the next term, the
court found the defendants guilty, and assessed a fine of $10 against each one
of them. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court and reversed. The Revised
Statutes of 1852 fixed the terms of court in April and October, but no business
was transacted that year after the September term.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES,
STATE OF INDIANA,
FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC.

ILLUSTRATED.

CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1884.

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