All courts suspended sessions during the Civil War for various lengths of time. In this period of time, a notorious bandit and his gang were in Weakley County. His name was Bill McDougal, who was born in Palmersville. He would not rob the people of his home county, and the citizens of Weakley County would not hesitate to call on him to help against bushwhackers.

McDougal rode a trained show horse that was said could perform almost impossible feats. One day when he found a crowd of people on the Courthouse Square he started to ride his horse around a large sycamore tree that stood near the courthouse. He began to yell and shoot at the tree as he rode around it, and when the gunfire ceased it was discovered that he had shot his name into the tree.

Weakley County Courthouse – 1854

He then proceeded to ride his horse into the courthouse, up the stairs and into the courtroom where he fired four bullets into the wall. When he and his horse came out of the courthouse, he quietly rode away. For several years he continued to alarm the people of Weakley County with similar feats.

Tennessee County History Series – By Virginia Vaughn

Thanks to Robert G Reynolds of Palmersville, TN