At the July term of the Circuit Court Judge Broadnax
had his temper and judicial courage thoroughly tested by Edward Cheatham,
one of the venirmen, who was a man of some importance at that time.
Mr. Cheatham engaged in conversation, and being rather
strong of lung, interrupted the business of the court. He was admonished
by the Judge and yet persisted. He was fined six dollars, and this seemed
to incense him; he was fined ten dollars once, twice, and yet he refused
to be quite; he was fined thirty dollars, once, twice and three times, and
still he defied his Honor, the Judge. Finally he was ordered to prison in
the custody of the jailer, there to remain until his several fines,
aggregating one hundred and sixteen dollars, were paid, or secured to the
Commonwealth. He ranted and raved, as he journeyed on to the house of
correction, and not until having slept one night a prisoner, and
calculating the cost, did he come to the proper understanding of how
foolishly he had acted, and the extent of his beligerency[sic]. He
succumbed to the magesty[sic] of the law, and prayer pardon, which was
granted next day. This determined course of Judge Broadnax ever afterwards
secured him the respect due his position, and no more self-important men
tempted his authority.
History of Henderson County, Kentucky
by Edmund L. Starling
pps. 130 -
published in 1887
public domain material
