Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-07
TaE YAmACRAt aomIOIDE.
verdict OF Guilty Of Murder Against
James SpaIdIng.

An account of the killing OF JOSIAH
alias Cyrus, Harden, eolored, in the
Olympic barroom, corner Of st. Gaul
and Orange streets, on Wednesday
morning, by James Spalding, APP
peared in the MORNING News Of yesterday.
Considerable testimony was taken before the
Coroner's jury, the proprietor Of the saloon
being among the witnesses. As the testimony
as ELECTED corroborstes, in all its important
features, the account of the affair as has
already appeared in our columns, we do not
consider It necessary to give It at length,
but present brief synopsis of the important
points:
Scott Smith, one of the proprietors of the
place, testified: That he was asleep on the
counter when the shot was fired, which
swoke him. He jumped up and inquired
the cause, when he was informed by several
Of the negroes in the place that Spalding
had cursed Harden and then shot him.
John Perry testified that he saw Spalding
draw the pistol and heard the shot fired.
Joseph Barron after detailing the circum-
stances in the barroom up to the time that
Spalding entered the place and provoked
the quarrel with Harden, said Spaulding
stepped back a few PAGES, drew his pistol
Amos Dean corroborated this statement in
every particular, and further gave as
reason for not stopping Spalding as he was
leaving the place after the shooting, he was
afraid, because Spalding had his pistol in
mis- hand. Harden was unarmed.
The testimony of the other witnesses was
not Of an important character. II will be
seen, however, that there were three who
swore positively TO seeing the shot fred by
Spalding.
The other parties in and about the place
at the time, were Alonzo Coleman, John
Armstrong, Charles Green, Paul Gadson
and Levi Hall.
The evidence was direct that Spalding,
without other provocation than the simple
request from Harden not to inspect his hands.
had deliberately drawn a pistol and fired
upon Harden, killing him almost instantly
There had, however, been no previous
quarrel between the parties, and nothing
was sdduced to show that Spalding enter.
tanned any special Ill feeling toward Harden.
Thus the jury, composed entirely of colored
men, were harassed to determine whether the
crime was manslsughter or murder, and IN
der the charge of the Coroner as prescribed
in the section of the Code which we pub
lished few days since, they were compelled
TO designate some grade Of crime. Only
seven Of the twelve were required to make
| a verdict, and yet no agreement of views
could be arrived at. They wrestled earnestly
with the question the entire night, and the
testimony was discussed and re-discussed
without any result being arrived at. Two
| out OF the required seven, it is understood,
were for verdict of manslsughter, con
Guiding that there was no evidence of pre-
meditated malice, aud it seems were unable
20 comprehend the fact that malice may be
engendered in moment.
Finally, at half past eight O'Clock yester-
day morning. the Coroner was informed
that the jury had agreed, and was ready to
present their verdict. 1t WAS found to be as
| follows:
Eve, the jury, find that to- deceased, 10
siah Harden, came to his death from gun
shot wound inflicted by a weapon in the
| hands OF James Spalding, and we consider
it TO be murder in the first degree"
The jury were then discharged. The Cor
oner issued his warrant for the arrest OF
| Spalding on the charge of murder, and the
| cOustables are now on the lookout for that
worthy. It is not now believed that he has
left the county. aud 1t is anticipated that #
will not be many days ere he is discovered
and lodged in jail.