Knoxville Weekly Chronicle

Circuit Court—Berry, the Wife Murderer.—Smith, the
Horse Thief—.
Christmas—Sunday School Suppers—
&c., &c.

To the Editors of the Chronicle:

Circuit Court adjourned this morning at 10 o'clock. The case of most interest tried during this term was that
of Berry, the Hawkins county wife-
murderer, who was found guilty of
murder in the first degree, and sentence of death was pronounced upon
him yesterday evening, by Judge Randolph. He has, however, appealed to
the Supreme
Court—upon what
grounds your correspondent is not informed. The jury empaneled to try
him
was composed of the most
respectable and intelligent citizens of
our county, and their verdict has been
most heartily endorsed by all who
heard the testimony so far as I have
heard an expression. The defense was
most ably managed by S. J. Kirk-
patrick, Esq., of Jonesboro', while the
prosecution was vigorously conducted
by Capt. Fulkerson, our indefatigable
Attorney General.

A white man named Smith plead
guilty to the charge of horse stealing,
and was sentenced to the penitentiary
for ten years. There was a mistrial in
one horse stealing case, and the prisoner
"lies over" to the next term, our
county, meanwhile, being at heavy
expense for his "board."

Christmas has passed off with the
usual waste of gun powder, fire crackers,
etc., and happily without any accident in our community. Most elegant suppers were served at the Methodist and Baptist churches on last
evening to the Sabbath schools (and the
public at large) of the respective
churches.
The business houses all
closed throughout the day, and consequently the "chronic loafers" had a dull
time.
To the credit of our town, but
little "tangle foot" was slaughtered,
and not a single drunk man was to be
seen on our streets, so far as my observation extended. It is to be hoped
that before another Christmas comes
our people will have a law that will
enable them to dispense with "groceries" and saloons.

Corn remains at 50 cents per bushel,
with but little prospect of an advance.
Wheat 90 cents to $1.00, with but little
demand. Trade during the week pretty fair.

Yours,

JNO. L. CORN.

Dec. 26th, 1874.