Smyth County, Virginia Order Book 21, 1901-1904

Order Book 21 begins at court on 18 June 1901 with the felony trial of Earl Scott and ends 340 pages later on formally ends on p. 346, on 30th. January 1904 with the resolutions adopted upon the ending of this Court, praising the 12 year service of Judge Granville Henderson Fudge. And since the Court as then known was abolished at that time and replaced, pages 347-594 are blank the statement of the microfilmer on p. 595. Then as a supplement, pp. 596-598 contain a listing of the Civil War Pensioners with date each pension was granted and date of renewal of death of the pensioner.

The contents of this OB 21 are similar to the OBs 10-20 (refer especially to intro for OB 14 for specifics, being especially rich in detailing of various causes) as reiterated in the Introductions to these OBs. Especially helpful are the listing of deeds (a veritable "deed index") and other writing admitted to record in each previous court term and, as painful as it may occasionally be, the indictments. A great part of the work is taken up by Causes/Cases brought to trial; some with juries and some without - for such reasons (Indictments) as forfeited forthcoming bond; murder (none in this OB); assault and battery, fornication, adultery, keeping house of ill fame. lewd and lascivious cohabitation, lewdness, seduction, rape, assault, riot, perjury, bigamy, selling liquor without license, felony (unspecified), misdemeanor (unspecified), carrying concealed weapons [CCW], carrying weapons on Sunday, unlawful detainer, larceny, disturbing religious worship, affray, trespass, unlawful detainer, playing at cards, gaming, and others. In addition, in this work, a "jail census" with details, is provided monthly by the jailor to the Judge G. H. Fudge. This work is particularly rich in such cases/causes as: Road applications; bridge constructions; ad quod damnums; Oaths of Office; payments by Commonwealth or County; lunacy charges, CSA pension applications; deeds admitted to record; Powers of Attorney; attachments; ministers permission to marry; right of ways granted; options granted, binding out of orphans and tax grievances (and, of course, much more).

Very serious crimes were not that numerous and a lot of crime, in general, was committed by persons originating from outside the County. Many of the felony causes for which prisoners were sentenced to the penitentiary at Richmond are not specifically identified; among prisoners sentenced to the Penitentiary were (# years confinement in parentheses): Earl Scott (2); William Tinsley (5); David Doan (1); Jim McNeals (3); Lillie McNeals (2); W. T. Campbell (4); Mac Bryson, murder (15); Horace Rhea (2); Geo. Jackson, felonious shooting (1); Emil Hofman, forgery (2); Conrad Haner, horse stealing (3) and Ellen Bates, forgery (2).

Jack Hockett and Donald Helton

2026, every-name index, 260 pp.

107-SMOB21