From WILLIAMSON COUNTY TENNESSEE MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
VOLUME 3. LOOSE RECORDS 25 SEP 1842
MARY G. SCALES makes oath she has fear that MARK H. SCALES or DANIEL R. SCALES will kill her or do her great bodily harm.
GEORGE CLARK and JOHN FERGUSON to give evidence in above case also JAMES WALKER.
JOHN SCALES made oath that he has just fear that DANIEL R. SCALES and others are trying to steal and run off some of his slaves. Oct., 1842.
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VOLUME 2:34, 35. LOOSE RECORDS 26 SEP 1842.
Deposition by NOAH SCALES - There was to be a prayer meeting at the Baptist Church at 4 o'clock and MARY G. SCALES sent a servant to my house for the loan of a horse to go to prayer meeting. She had caught a horse 3 or 4 times and JOAB SCALES turned the horse loose every time. I went with the boy to JOAB'S house to see him and his wife and accompany her to preaching. I rode up in the yard and asked his wife how times were and she said they were very bad. I asked her if she wanted to come to my house and she said she did. I told her she should leave or I would die on the spot by her side. By this time JOAB had come up and was very mad. I told him to cool off. He rode right up to me and fired a pistol within three feet distance at my head. I scuffled with him sometime and got him off his horse. I then whipped him with a cowhide as long as I could and made him set down until his wife and children got ready to start. I brought them to my house. JOAB acted as if he was going to get up and I picked up a piece of stave and told him I would knock his brains out if he went into the house. I pulled out my pistol and told him his life was in my hands, but had spared the rascal's life.
Deposition of young CLARK - JOAB SCALES got my father's pistol I told him where the balls were but did not see him load the pistol. I heard the shot of the pistol or gun.
Deposition of GEORGE CLARK - JOAB SCALES came to my house and got my pistol. It was loaded.
Deposition of MARY G. SCALES — NOAH SCALES came up in the yard. He told JOAB SCALES he wanted him to behave himself and if he did not he would make him. JOAB kept going toward NOAH and within a few steps I saw JOAB draw out his pistol and fire it at NOAH. Then NOAH made at him to get him off his nag and commenced whipping him with a cowhide after he got him off his nag. NOAH then drew his pistol and told JOAB to look at it, that he could have killed him had he wanted to. He put the pistol back in his pocket and picked up a piece of heading and told him he had a good mind to beat him to death. I told NOAH not to whip him anymore.
JOAB SCALES’ Deposition - I rode up in my yard. I had been threatened for a man to come and cowhide me without a cause. When I got near the house NOAH SCALES turned and made at me with a cowhide. I had a pistol, not knowing whither it was loaded or not. I didn't shoot with the intention of killing him. He caught my nag by the bridle and jerked me off and commenced whipping me with his cowhide, stomped me and drew his pistol and presented at me and would not let me go in the house. He took up a board and told me if I did not sit down at the smoke house door, he held the board in a position and asked my wife if he should beat me over the head with it. She said no. He made me sit there until he got out of the yard.
26 SEP 1842.
