Bath Seminary Court Case Following is an interesting courtcase that I ran across in Frankfort. The trustees of the Bath Seminary are suing many of the young men of the community for breaking into the the building and having a party, that included (gasp) dancing and "fiddle musick"! Were any of your ancestors among the young culprits? Elizabeth Smith esmith@montgomery.k12.ky.us Joseph H. Richard &al vs } Petition in Ordinary Wm. H. T. Moss &al Filed 28 August 1857 ***************************************************************** Bath Circuit Court Joseph H. Richart, Levi Goodpaster, John W. Barnes, Hudson Rutherford, Richard H. Conner & B. D. Lacy the acting Board of Trustees of the Bath Seminary Pltffs against William H. T. Moss, Simeon Crain, James Kernard, James Brother, Samuel Wright, Henry Ewing, William S. Adams, Harrison R. Conner, William Richards, David Badger, Daniel Welster?, Thomas M. Allen, Peyton Miller, Benjamine T. Trumbo, John Trumbo (son of Andrew Trumbo) James Jones, Roland Burbridge, William R. Conner, Richard Thompson [on one of the summons referred to as son of George Thompson], Putnam Ewing, Sanford Atchison, John Trumbo (son of A. A. Trumbo), Charles Daniel, John Alexander, James F. Mauray, Thomas Peters, George Ewing, Simpson Riggin, Thomas Riggin, William Hodge, James Daugherty, Richard Bigstaff, Newton Mooris, Charles Gillaspie, & John Hedrick Defendants The Plaintiffs Joseph H. Richart--chairman, Levi Goodpaster, John W. Barnes, Hudson Rutherford, Richard H. Conner & B. D. Lacy composing the Board of Trustees of the Bath Seminary state that they as Trustees of seminary were in the possession and use of their own property of a brick Building in the Town of Owingsville int he Bath County Known as the "Bath Seminary" & that they had at the time of the trespasses herinafter ??? committed & still have the legal Title to the said Brick House Known as the Bath seminary They state that the Defendants on the night of the 27th Day of August 1857 broke open and entered into the said Brick Building, had a Dance in the said House, had a supper therein & also had musick on fiddles all against the will and consent of the said Plaintiffs to the damage of said Plaintiffs in the sum of one hundred & fifty dollars wherefore the pray Judgement against Defendants for the sum of One hundred & fifty dollars & costs & all other proper relief R. H. Conner & Trumbo & Lacy for Pltffs Bath County Sct B D Lacy says he believes the Statements int he foregoing petition are true. B D Lacy Sworn to before me by B D Lacy 30 Sep 1857 J A Turner ??? ***************************************************************** Bath Circuit Court Joseph H. Richart, Levi Goodpaster, John M. Barnes, Hudson Rutherford, Richard H. Connor, and B. D. Lacy. The Acting board of Trustees of the Bath Seminary, Plaintiffs against William H. T. Moss and Others Defendants Answer of Wm H. T. Moss, James Kinard, James Brother, William S. Adams, H. R. Connor, William Richards, Benjamin F. Trumbo, James Jones, Roland Burbridge, W. P. Connor, Putnam Ewing, Sanford Atchison, John Alexander, James F. Maury, Simpson Riggin, Thomas Riggin, James Daugherty, Charles Gillispie, John Hedrick The above named defendants deny that the plaintiffs at the time of the alleged trespass in their petition Mentioned were as Trustees of the Bath Seminary, in the possession and use as of their own property, or in any other manner of a brick building in the Town of Owingsville Bath County known as the Bath Seminary. defendants deny that plaintiffs had at the time of said alleged tresspass the legal title to said brick house known as the Bath Seminary and they deny that they were then the owners of said building or in possession there of. they deny that plaintiffs at the time of the Commencement of this action had the legal title to said house. defendants deny that they on the night of the 27th day of August 1857 broke open said house. they admit that they did Enter into said brick bulding on the sd night of the 27th day of August & had a dance therein but deny that they made a joint ??? as charged by plaintiffs. they admit they did have had a supper therein some ??? ??? happened around on said night. defendants admit that they did have music or fiddles there on said night. defendants deny that plaintiffs received damages by reason of said alleged tresspasses--in the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars or to any other amount. Wherefore defendants pray judgment for their Costs Expended in this action, & for ther proper relief--W S Adams J S Hurt &c Atty Bath County Kentucky The defendant Wm S Adams Says he believes the facts set forth in the foregoing Answer-- W. S. Adams Sworn to before me by Wm. S. Adams this 28th day of Sept 1857 J A Turner ??? ***************************************************************** Bath Circuit Court Joseph H. Richart Levi Goodpaster Hudson Rutherford Richard H Conner & B. D. Lacy The Acting board of Trustees of the Bath Seminary Plaintiffs against } Answer of J S Hurt, Guardian Ad Litem William H. T. Moss & others Defendants J S Hurt--Guardian Ad Litem for Samuel Wright, David Badger, Thomas Allen, Peyton Miller, John Trumbo, Charles Daniel, Thomas Peters, George Ewing, William Hodge, Newton Moore, Richard Bigstaff, H. K.(or H.) Ewing John S. Hurt Guardian Ad Litem denies that plaintiffs at the Time of the Alleged tresspasses complained of by them herein or at any time since Comprised the acting Board of Trustees of the Bath Seminary. he denies that at the time of the alleged trasspasses Complained of by plaintiffs, that said plffs as Trustees of said Seminary had the possession and use as of their own property a brick building in Bath County known as the ath Seminary. he denies that plffs at the time of said alleged trespasses aor that they still have the legal title to said brick house known as the Bath Seminary. he denies that his said wards onthe night of the 27th day of August 1857 broke open said brick. he denies that [he owes?] his said plaintiffs one Cent. Wherefore he prays judgment for his said wards for their costes and other proper relief-- J. S. Hurt Guardian Ad Litem ***************************************************************** Bath Circuit Court Joseph H. Richard & al P??? &c Plffs vs Wm H. L. Moss and al Defts and the Plaintiffs amend their Petition herein by striking out the names of B. D. Lacy as Plaintiffs & striking out the word Trustees where ever it occurs and inserting the name Directors & strike out the Phrase legal title when it occurs Conner & Trumbo & Lacy for Plffs Bath County State of Kentucky Joseph H. Richard one of the Plaintiffs states that the facts stated in the foregoing Petition he believes were true & that the allegations made in the original Petition herein he believes to be true so far as it agrees with this Amendment. J. H. Richart sworn to before me by Joseph H. Richart one of the Plaintiffs this the 1st Oct 1857 J. A. Turner ??? ***************************************************************** [The following appear to be minutes of the Board of Trustees of the Bath Seminary, included as an exhibit in the case] At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, of the Bath Seminary held at the Hotel of J. W. Barnes, Esqr. in Owingsville and the 28th day of March 1857 Present J H Richart Chairman Trustees J W. Barnes H Rutherford L Goodpaster R. H. Conner On motion R. H. Conner was appointed Secretary pro Tempore Wm. M. Ragland Esqr tendered his resignation as trustee--Which is accepted by the Board On motion B. D. Lacy Esqr was appointed or elected Trustee to fill the Vacancy accasioned by the resignation of Wm M Ragland Esqr Ordered that Geo W. Brown be ??? he is hereby elected & appointed Principal Teacher for the Bath Seminary for two Sessions the first to Commence on the 30th day of Mar 1857 & continue four months the Second Session to Commence the first Monday in September next & Continue 22 Weeks--Said Brown is required to execute his bonds for the rent of the seminary the rent for the first session to be $50.00 and $60 for the second session, the Secretary shall take said Bonds Containing Covenants for returning said Seminary & grounds at the expiration of sd terms in as good order as it is at present unavoidable accidents excepted said Brown is required to employ at least two competent assistants--of one whom shall be a teacher of Music & the French Language Ordered that this Board now adjourn Attest R H Conner, Sec P T J H Richards P B S The Trustees of the Bath Seminary met at the Hotel of John W. Barnes in Owingsville on the 27th day of August 1857 Present J W. Barnes H Rutherford J P Ficklin L Goodpaster R H Conner R H Conner was appointed Secretary pro tem, H Rutherford appointed Chairman protem-- B D Lacy produced a certificate of his greatifaction as a Trustee of the Bath Seminary L Goodpaster moved the Board to make an order that the Bath Seminary Building & grounds shall not be used for any other than School purposes which motion was overruled--- The young gentlemen of the town of Owingsville made aplication for the Seminary Building for the purpose of having a party which was refused J P Ficklin resigned his office as Trustee H Rutherford Chm Protem From: "Smith, Elizabeth" Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998