Houston County Researchers: For the past 3 years, I have been compiling a book entitled: EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF HOUSTON COUNTY, GEORGIA 1821-1871: Copyright 2000 by William A. Mills. I thought I had this book finished last year, but I keep finding more interesting items to include in it. By the time that I actually print this book, it may be too large to contain in one volume. But, there is no need to keep all of this good info hidden away. I stumbled across an original story written by a man who was born in 1826, and resided in Perry, GA for several decades. This story was supposed to be published right after the Civil War, but I cannot find any evidence that it ever was. I've checked everywhere that I can, and no one has ever heard of it before. ================>>> Portions from Chapter 6: A short time before his death, Mr. James Fitzgerald informed me that the second Superior Court (not the first one) was held in a coal house at Fort Valley, and the record states that the first was held at the house of James A. Everett, which I presume was at or near Fort Valley. Mr. Fitzgerald was a Grand Juror, sworn and empaneled for the second Court, and his statement corroborated by this fact, which is a part of the record, places it beyond all question that the second Court was held in a coal house at Fort Valley. The record of the first Court, only states the fact that the Court met as above, stated the names of jurors drawn for the succeeding term, and its adjournment to the next term. The proceedings of the Superior Courts were interesting, and to us of the present day, would in part, have been amusing. Judge Strong, while attending one of its sessions, and before he rose to the bench, was so badly maltreated at night by a party against whom he had been employed, that the whole power of the Court was brought into requisition to protect him in the discharge of his duties to his client. While Judge King was upon the bench, a crowd of the ringleaders of that class, who were open and defiant in their outrages, were handled so severely by the Grand Jury, Solicitor General Starke and the Judge, that they were compelled to leave the town. The community were so indignant at their conduct, and especially the particular offense for which they were indicted, arraigned, tried, convicted and punished, that the trial drew quite a crowd and created considerable excitement. The Solicitor's speech was replete with deserved, withering rebuke of the offenders and their crime, masterly vindication of decency and order (for which they seemed to have no respect), a fervent eloquent appeal to the jury for correction, and to the judge, for the extreme penalty of the law in such cases made and provided. The crowd dispersed, feeling better, and the offenders left with curses on the Solicitor, who was called by one of them, "the Felicity Gineral", and by another, "the State's Returney". A school boy once walked into the court house intoxicated, while Court was in session, and was promenading the lobby, sporting a fine suit of clothes, a new silk stovepipe hat on one side of his head, a silver-beaded ratan cane, and seemingly oblivious to everything else but the curling smoke from his cigar. Judge King ordered him brought before him. After a short colloquy, during which Jim seemed to think himself honored by being permitted to address his honor, the judge asked him his name. "Julius Caesar, may it please your honor", was the reply. "Mr. Sheriff", said the Judge, "take Julius Caesar, put him in jail, and keep him there until he learns how to behave himself when he comes into a court house". Poor Jim, he was killed while fighting gallantly in a battle with the Indians during the Creek War; "peace to his ashes". ~~ TO BE CONTINUED ~~ _______________________________________ William A. Mills Perry, GA [email protected] ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.