Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-27
SAVAGE AND JAMES.
Their Trial at Jasper-TestimOny Of
Dennis Eagan and Others - The
Evidence In-ATgument 60 Begin
TO-day-A states Witness Shot.

JASPER, FLA, June 2L-Several witnesse
have been examined by the defense. Their,
seems to be but little prospect of the testimony
closing this week. Mr.. Dennis Eagan gave hi
evidence this morning.
Jethro Robinson, colored, sworn: sell bee
in Madison Was in the court house February
8th, 1881; saw Savage go in five feet of th'
door and beckon to James, who went to him
Both were standing. whispering, when Patter
son walked up to Savage aud struck him
Savage wheeled round and Patterson strucl
him again. Then Savage grabbed him around
the right arm with his left hand and held him
Savage then drew pistol and they struggled
few seconds and the pistol fired Savage
still held him and put his pistol to him and
shot. Then started out, and as got to the
door heard the third fire and went out After
the second fire Patterson had a pistol in his
hand. Had nothing in his hand when he struck
him first.
Cross-examined: Am sure wasin the court
room when the difficulty occurred. Got there
ten or fifteen minutes before the disturbance.
! did not tell Capt. T. Fl. Willard week before
last that was not in the court house and
knew nothing of this matter Had a chat with
Willard after he got back from the Senate He
asked me if was frightened when the diffl-
Guilty occurred and II saw Savage shoot Pat
terSon. said yes. Did not notice particularly
who was in the room. Nobody was talked to
me about the evidence was to give Just after
the firing did not meet Mr.. Hankins, and ssy
to him, "Oh DIR HanknS, what is the matter ~
Witness declined to answer the question If he
had ever been convicted of larceny.
The examination of this witness was long and
tedious, He has been convicted of larceny,
and an appeal has been taken. 1t is said that
he can be successfully impeached.
Dennis Eagan, sworn: Was in Madison court
house. on the 9Th February, 1881, acting as No
tary Public in the contest Bisbee VS.. Finley.
The second witness had been called and sworn.
was making note of the fact when my at
tentlon was attracted by scuffie at the east
end OF the room. Looking up saw Patterson
stantly heard the reports of a pistol got
up and went near the railing As got there
the parties had become separated, Patterson
stumbling away from Savage and falling upon
his side. Savage was coming towards the bar.
AS he got up to us asked what was the mat
ter He said, Didn't you see him hit me?''
pointing to his forehead. Savage, James
and l went to the court room to-
gether. 1 did not leave the room before
the difficulty, and do not think the others
did. called Savage to me just after the second
witness had been sworn, gave him quarter
and told him to get me dozen pens While
making note, the scuffie occurred. The court
room is seventy five eighty feet long, more
or less. When gave Savage the quarter, James
was sitting inside OF the oar. 1t was three or
four minutes, perhaps, after giving The money,
before the difficulty co ommenced.
When Savage came to US after the affray, his
forehead was bleeding. When first saw Mr.
the bar. reading some manuscript. The
testimony of Savage taken before me-
the day before, involved Mr. Patterson
and others. This testimony connected him
with the election of the previous November
Everything was quiet up to the difficulty. 1
had been there about an hour before the
affray
Cross-examined: Do not know if Savage's
testimony as to Patterson was true or false
Savage and James could have gone out and
returned while was taking the testimony of
the nrst witness. l cannot swear that they
were in the room all the time. Do not know
what Patterson was reading. heard at least
two pistol shots-there may have been more;
do not know who fired them. The shots were
nred as was rising from my seat. They sepa-
rated after the shots Saw James with pistol
after the difficulty. / saw no blows exchanged.
Neither heard a blow or word
Redirect: Saw no pistol in Patterson's hand
that day, the day of the difficulty,
@. w. Stevens: On the 9TH OF February
1881, was assisting in taking testimony in the
BiSbee Finley contest at the Eagan plantation
in Madison county, before Dennis Eagan, No
tary Public. Savage was sworn as witness
He made statements that were derogatory il
true, but which were contradictory in his
further testimony. Patterson was informed
OF those statements on the 8th of February
He got that information from copies OF the
testimony. Think had no conversation with
him concerning the evidence. l told him
and Caraway Smith that Savage had sworn
several lies against them. He read the testi-
mony think Don't remember hearing him
make any threats He seemed to take the mat
very coolly.
Cross examined: was at Eagan's place as
sisting Mr.. Finley to take evidence. Savage
was the only witness examined
Redirect: was the first TO assist Patterson
after he was shot. He handed me his pistol
after placing his hand on my shoulder
T. S. Coggins; Was friendly to Patterson
quite intimate. Never heard him make threats
against Savage. Don't know what his feelings
towards him were heard him say that he
hnl nd 10 Cntx xI.o L.
rants gotten up in the United States Court
against parties in Madison,
g. H. Teoder: l know Richard SpradIey.
Have known him ten or eleven years. Have
heard his neighbors talk of him. His reputa-
tion for truth is not very good
Cross examined would believe him on his
oath from his general reputation.
w. II. Seaver: Live near A. r. SpradIey and
have known him twenty years. | know his
general reputation as a truthful man. It is
rather bad among his neighbors.
Cross-eXamined: l would believe him on
his oath. and have never heard him inn
peached.
H. W. Seaver: Have known Spradley twen-
ty years. Know his general reputation in the
community where he lives. 1t Is bad.
Cross examined: From his general renuta
ton, would believe him on his oath.
w. W. Seaver: Spradley's general reputa-
ton is good among his neighbors.
Cross examined: Iwould believe him on his
oath.
Statement of Charles Savage Eagan gave
me quarter to get some pens Threw the
money out of the window to Bright Stevens to
get them Tor me. Then took notion to go
out; started out and got near the door LEADING
out. Then thought they would need a witness
before got back, and beckoned to James, who
came While talking to him Patterson stennod
up behind me and struck me back of the head,
wheeled round, and he struck me in the face
with his pistol, saying: You 81 of a b.
I'll kill you" gathered him round the waist
and pressed him tight to me, to keep him from
shooting me, and drew my pistol Being a
self-cocker, it fired accidentally; the second
and third fire was done in self-defense
| thought at the moment to turn him
would shoot me. 1t was all done in a short
while and had no chance for reflection. AS
to James. he never fired pistol, and | would
be hung.
did make an affidavit against Patterson in
the United States Court, and from what he had
said to me Friday night before this trouble,
had every right to believe he intended to xiii
me. said to the conductor on the train Fri
day night when was going to Jacksonville to
let me get into the mail car for protection.
said: ''IH get you, you of a
D" Some men were then following me-
THE TESTIMONY CONTINUES.
Burk Stephens, sworn for defense, says:
l was at the court house, down stairs when
the difficulty took place between Savage and
Patterson. Savage came to the window, and
threw me down twenty five cents, and asked
me to bring him some pens, and started of,
and got thirty or forty steps. and heard pistol
fire. heard three pistols in all.
Cross-examined: saw Savage down stairs
about three-quarters Of an hour before the
shooting began. James was with him
This closed the testimony for the defense.
REBUTTAL Fer STATE.
Theodore H. Willard. being sworn for State
In r5buttal, says: know Jethro Robinson who
testified for the defense in this case / had a
conversation week before last with Jethro
Robinson in regards this matter. He stated to
me at my brick yard week before last that he
was not at the court house when the dificulty
took place between Savage and James and
Patterson. He also told me that he knew
nothing about 1t; that he was not a witness and
had not been summoned and was not coming
to court. / am acquainted with A. r. 6pradly:
have been for four or five years, and am &C
quainted with his character for truth and
veracity In the neighborhood in which he lives:
it Is good. l would believe him on his oath:
would believe him unhesitatingly, knowing his
character.
Cross examined: know his general renuta.
ton by information received from his neigh
bors (naming a number of them) NV feelino
towards Savage end James is that hope the9
will rec i've justice. have no vicious feelings
against them
s. M. Handgs, sworn in rebuttal. saws: I
know Jethro Robinson, who is a witness in
this case / had him working for me on the
Stn OF February last, and know that he was
not at the court house during the difnculty
between Savage and James and Mr. Pattef-
son. Whom left the court house to 20 cross
the street. as l stated in my direct examine
ton, l gave Jethro note to take
up to Mr.. Williams, who was a car
penter at work on the new building. after a I
spirit level. When / heard the firms, went |
rupning to the court house from southwest
course, and he came running from northeast
course, and we met at the west end Of the I
court house. some seventy-five feet from the |
door. We met there at the same |
The time after the first pistol fred |
70 the time wa met was inst lonn annnoh 70