Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-14

CorOner's Mnquest-The Testimony
Verdict OF Murder.

Banks, colored, which resulted In the death
of the former on the night OF the 9th inst,
from the effects of blow on the head with
a spade, have already been given The
Coroner's inquest into the matter was q
investigation, the prisoner, Banks
being represented by Captain H. c. Gun
ningham and the prosecution by A. P.
Adams, ESQ. We present below full re-
cord OF the important part Of the testimony
ELECTED and the verdict of the jury:
THE TESTIMONY.
Robert Grooves testified: l saw Jim
Rabersham coming towards the big house;
he asked for Banks, and told him he was
milking the cows; Jim called to Banks to
come outside, as he wanted to see him;
Banks said come in; Jim replied, 'No,
Banks, l don't want to come In" Banks
said, "Come in, Jim, d-n it, I've got no
horns to hook you; come in, Jim;" Jim
then entered the yard and asked Banks
what was the trouble between him
and his (Jim's) wife; Banks said, eff
you come here for satisfaction, will give 1t
to you;" Jim said 81 want it, and you must
give it to me;;n Banks then came out Of the
COW stall, and / saw him run his hand be-
Jim's face, and Jim shook his hand in
Banks face; they struck one another about
the same time; Jim had Banks by the collar,
when old man Williams came between them
and parted them; deceased then then turned
loose and started out Of the gate; Banks
then picked up the shovel and struck de-
ceased on the head; deceased
fell. and Banks then got broomstick and
struck him three blows on the head; while
deceased was on the ground he cried,
"Stop, Banks, stOp;n deceased then
struggled and got out of the gate; his wife,
who was outside, screamed, and John Sea-
brooks and Nick Campbell tried TO get de-
ceased home; did not witness any difficulty
that afternoon between Banks and de
ceased's wife; saw part of the other
difficulty saw Banks kick de-
ceased's wife down on the railroad track,
a short time previous to the time Of de-
ceased being struck; Banks wife then called
him home; deceased was going towards the
gate after they were separated by old man
Williams, when Banks picked up the spade
and struck him, and then hit him two or
three times with broom stick; am en-
ployed by Mr.. Hartridge; know both par
ties; worked for Mr.. Hartridge for three
months: worked for him previously, off and
on; Banks and / were milking the cows
sham was struck while In the act
of leaving the place, and his back was
turned towards Banks; the quarrel lasted
about half an hour; HabershGm was showing
Banks over the cask, when old man VIII
liams separated them.
William Williams testified: was work
ing at Captain Anderson's yard during the
day, and was returning home about dark,
when passing Mr.. Hartridgc's back yard
heard a noise, and went inside; found
Banks and deceased scufiling; spoke to
them, and deceased let go his hold, and
walked away; as he did so Banks struck
him.
Cross-examined: Am certain that the de-
ceased was leaving the place; Banks follow
ed him, and said something, and as he did
so deceased turned around and Banks struck
him; saw Banks strike him with a broom
when he was on the ground; the spade pro-
duced is the one used by Banks, who said
twice, 81 intend to kill him." he said to me
the Eame night, "You d-n old s-b
II viii kill you; Banks got the
broomstick himself from the cow house;
deceased was knocked down inside Of the
yard; l looked through the window and saw
them scGffling; deceased had Banks against
the cask and parted them; Banks struck
the deceased a short time after the scuffiing;
there was ample time to walk a very short
distance before he was struck.
Mick Campbell testified: l was standing
outside when heard this man Banks invite
deceased IN; what he said to him after he
got inside 1 don't know; afterwards l saw de-
ceased run outside all bloody.
Cross-examined: Did not see them inside;
heard deceased tell Banks he wanted salts
faction; Banks said If he talked so d-n
stiff he would not give him any; heard no
scuffling; was standing out in the public
road at the back of the house; the gate was
closed and l could see nothing; the fence is
a picket; they were behind the COW house;
John SeabrOoks and myself were the
only ones standing outside; saw no
one enter or leave the yard; saw de-
ceased come out bloody, I live at
at Mr. Willett's; have known both parties q
couple Of years; know nothing Of the pre-
vious difficulty between the deceased's wife
and Banks; did not come from Moutgom-
cry for the purpose OF seeing deceased get
satisfaction; the wife of deceased stays at
Mr.. Willett's; deceased ran when he got
out of the gate; 1t was about ten or twenty
yards when he met his wife; Robert Groves
was inside when deceased came out; was
near enough to hear his wife scream; did
not hear her do so; know nothing of the
character Of Banks.
John SeabroOk testified: Jim Habersham
went over to Beaulieu to see Banks; he went
as far as the gate; told Banks he wanted to
see him; Banks asked him in; he told Banks
he didn't wish to come in, when Banks
called to him to "come along in, that no
one would hurt him." after he went inside
saw nothing more until he came out all
bloody.
On cross examination Of this witness no
new facts were elected.
Charles Halls testified When deceased
came through the yard he asked me where
Banks was; told him he was down at the
COW house, later heard loud talking there
aud proceeded to the place; l saw deceased
have Banks up against the side of barrel;
Bark said, 'tJim, Ill have you arrested,
Cd d-n YOU" Jim said, 81 don't care
for that;" at this time old man Williams
came running in, and said, "Boys, don't
hght;" BANKS then got away from deceased,
aud turning around, picked up a spade and
struck him on the head; deceased wheeled
and fell; then he threw down the spade,
but picked 1t up again to strike him,
when said Blanks, don't hit him with that
spade;" he then threw it down and picked up
a broomstick and struck him two or three
licks; the deceased then struggled up and
ran out Of the gate; watched him until he
got about three hundred yards from the gate.
Cross-examined: They were three feet
apart when Banks struck him; deceased
looked like he was mad; Banks struck de-
ceased when he started to leave the yard;
Banks after striking him with the spade
threw It down and picked up the broom,
stick and struck him two or three lieks over
the back; know nothing Of the previous
between dcceased's wife and
Banks; was acquainted with the deceased
about three years; always heard his charac-
ter was good.
Maru To ~
noon l was sitting ON my steps with Patsy
Perry and Rosa Habersham, when we saw
Moses Banks and his wife coming down the
road; Patsy said to Rosa, "Now is the time
to ask Fanny Moses wife) why she speaks
of US 80 disgrscefully;" told her II she was
goirg TO ask Fanny any questions l would
90 to Mrs. Willett's house, as | would have
nothing to do with It.; afterwards. l was
sitting on the piazza of Mrs. Willett's
house, when / heard Patsy scream out,
"Help, helpl for Gods sake, helps" Mrs.
Wiilett said, "Run, runs" and rushed
towards the road; when l got there / saw
Banks with large piece of lumber over
Rosa's head; l hallooed to Banks not TO
strike Rosa with that wood; Patsy held on
to the wood; Rosa picked up a piece to
hit Banks, and told her to put It down,
for didn't know what was done between
her and Banks, she said "I will hit Banks,
because be called me d-n b." she said,
Mother, look at my face, see what welt
/ have on It, and he kicked me in the stom-
ach;" | went up to Banks and said, "Did
you curse Rosa such a curse as that, and
you were born Of a woman" he said "Well,
Mary Taylor, want no words with youI" l
said "There's no necessity Of carrying Banks
to any lawj we three women can strip him
and give him good whipping;" Banks said
&C. d-n, try IT." said nothing more to
Banks, as some gentlemen were coming up
the road and didn't want them to see me,