Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-16
From a stqO Correspondent.


From StGT Correspondent.
SPRINsFIELD EFFINGHAM COUNTY, November
14.-This little village, the county seat of Eff
fiugham, is considered one of the healthiest,
pleasantest localities in the county, and is the
most central Within the recollection of many
of the readers of the MORNING News. it was
once place Of considerable note and was the
summer resort Of numerous Savannahians.
The county of Bingham was settled by the
Salzburgers. who, forced to flee from the op-
preston visited upon them in Austria, sought
America for that liberty which was denied
them in their native land. and located in this
section. They were a sturdy race, strong
in their religious convictions, and his
tory has it that they brought in their
ships brick for the building of a church,
which were afterwards used in the construc-
ton of the ediflce at Ebenezer, now venerable
with age and around which cluster so many
pleasant recolections Of the early days OF the
colony. They were thrifty, industrious and en-
ergetic, and it was not long ere the colony was
firmly established and their growth and pros
perity rapid. Such were the early settlers of
this county, and their defendants of the pres
ent generation prove themselves worthy their
ancestry. To-day Efaogham is noted as one of
where in Georgia are the people more law
abiding and industrious. Among the
whites idleness Is regarded with ab-
horrence and the result is that whilst there
Is not great wealth in the county, there is no
real poverty or distress As a class, the peo-
pie are small farmers, but their system Is
thorough, and what crops thsy raise are good.
The moral influence of such a community Of
upon the colored population, and hence there
is less crime than is to be found among this
class in some other portions Of the State. 1t is
not to be assumed that the county is q veriua-
BILE paradise, and that crime and offenses
against the law are unknown, but we can say
from the best information obtainable. and from
the records, that few places are now freer from
these evils. The character OF the people can
readily be judged by the careful observer on
COURT DAY,
when the yeomanry OF the entire county are
gathered at this little village. Their appear
ance denotes their condition and shows them
to be respectable and Intelligent, and repre-
sentatives OF @ fine type of the Southern farm
er. From all sections OF the county they have
assembled here to-day, attracted through duty
or interest by the convening Of the regular
term OF the Superior Court, at which considera-
bic business is to be disposed Of. The court
house and surrounding grounds are thronged
with people, and the little village Is brilliant
scene of activity and hustle.
On the train which left Savannah at 9:21
O'Clock this morning came Judge Tompkins,
several members OF the Chatham county bar
and your correspondent, and at Whitesville,
the nearest railroad station to the court house,
vehicles were found In waiting to transport
them hither. The drive of six and half miles
over pleasant road was accomplished In good
time, and shortly after eleven O'Clock the
court and barr were on the ground. In less
than ten minutes thereafter Judge Tompkins
WAS on the bench. and the court was duly
opened and the legal machinery set in motion.
THE LEGAL FRATERNITY
are well represented, an indisputabl bic evidence
that the session viii be interesting and means
business, as lawyers rarely IL ever are to be
found around judicial temples for pleasure.
Colonel R. E. Lester, hessrs. p. W. Meldrim,
J. r. SausSy, John w. Wilson, Major A. B
Smith. B. Lazaron, and A. F. Adams represented
the Savannah bar; Messrs d. r. Grower and T.
H. Potter, Bulloch; H. P. Brewer, John G..
Clarke. S. B. Pittman, Effingham and R. H. O.
Smith, Bryan. Solicitor General Charlton has
several criminal cases OF interest to look after.
but the burthen Of the docket comprises civil
suits.
1he grand jury were organized with Colonel
Morgan Rawls as foreman, and will have to
report upon some interesting matters.
SUING AN ESTATE FOR GRANDMoTHBR's BOARD
After the usual routine had been gone
through, the first case ready for trial was
called, and proved to be of that character
which it were better to have settled withouE
the Intervention of lawyers or the publicity of
court trials, for the sake OF all parties con-
cerned. This was q suit brought by Joseph
D Gnann against w. w. Metzger and s. D.
Metzger, executors OF the estate of Mary 8.
Mstzger, for the sum of S251, besides interest
alleged to be due for board and washing. The
deceased was the grandmother OF the plain
tiff's wife, and had lived at his house from
October 1st. 1875, to March 1st, 1876, and again
from October LIST, 1878. to June 18th. 1879 1t
was in evidence that there was no specified
contract as to the terms Of board, but that the
deceased had on several occasions referred TO
the matter, and stated that she intended pay
ing board; her granddaughter relegatiDg the
fAFA
mother and husband. The price charged
for board was established by witness as reason
able. The defendant introduced letter from
the wife OF plaintiff to her grandmother.
tended her to visit their house. Evil
dence was adduced showing that Mrs.
Metzger, on the marriage of her grand
daughter, had broken up house keeping and
had taken her furniture, etc. to the plaintiffs
house, and It remained there until after her
death. and that at various times she had pur-
chased supplies for family use. P. w. Meldrim
for plaintiff; A. 2. Adams for defendant. The
case went to the jury about half past five, but
up to half past six O'Clock there were no indi-
cations OF agreement.
JURYHAN ON THE FENCE
The hour of adjournment having arrived,
Judge TompkiDs instructed the Sheriff to pro-
ceed to the jury room overhead and ascertain
IL there were probability of their soon de-
Gliding upon a verdict. In few minutes the
Sheriff returned into the court room and, In a
loud tone, proclaimed that 'eleven were OF a
mind, but there was one juror 'on the fence"
How he managed so quickly to CLEAN this i'm
portant information was puzzler to one un-
acquainted with the psychological talent of the
average county Sheriff. However, the infor-
nation was definite, and the court gave in
structions for the jury to bring in sealed YER
dict, and recess was ordered until $3.50 a. m.
tomorrow, and the stubborn juror was left to
the enjoyment of his seat on the fence.
A KNIFE DRIVEN TO THE Hit IN A kAE's HEART.
- ~
portion of the county which has not yet been
made public, although it occurred one night
last week. About three miles from station No
s1z on the Central Railroad, the next station
to WhitesVille, is small settlement of negroes
who are engaged in turpentine work. Among
them was Charles Rouse, q North Carolina
negro, who was living with daughter Of
Herod Best, colored, as his wife. Rouse got
drunk on Wednesday night and beat his brevet
wife severely. Old Herod reprimanded him for
his brutality, when Rouse Knocked Herod down
twice and seized q rail to batter his head The
old man recovered his feet. and, as Rouse came
at him again, drove his knife with all his force
into Rouses left breast up to the hilt, left It
sticking In his body and departed. Rouse
pulled the knife out OF his Quivering flesh, and
falling to the ground, Immediately expired.
at preliminary examination Herod was ac-
quilted on the ground Of self-defense. Rouse
had bad character, and whisky was the prime
cause OF his death.
TWO TAx coLLEcToRs-A QUEER STATE OF
AFFAIRS.
A rather singular state of affairs exists in
the county at present. which has aroused CON
siderable feeling and divided the people into
two distinct parties. The exact origin OF the
trouble 1t Is difficult TO ascertain, but Is at
tributed to some local prejudice. Whatever
tbs cause, It has occasfoned wide division OF
opinion. There are few counties in the State
that are not satisfied with one Tax Collector
IN faes. it may be said many people would be
perfectly willing TO dispense altogether with