Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-10
WAY OVER IN wAYCRoss.
A Record of Court Proceedings and Other
Topics of Interest.

WAYCRoss, April 9.-Ware Superior
Court convened here on Monday last, with
Judge Mershon presiding and a full bar.
In his usual good style the Judge dis
patched the business of the several dock
cts with satisfaction to our people. The
cases of particular interest were those of
the State VS.. Henry Knight, indicted for
the murder of Edward Hunter at Taylor's
Hill, in this county, July last the partic-
ulars OF which were given in the MORN
ING NEWS at that time), and Nellie
Stewart vs.. Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway Company, suit
for damages for the killing of James Stew
art, colored, in December, 1881. In the
former case Knight was given a fair and
impartial trial, being ably defended by
Coils. G. j. HOlton and r. j, Phillips. bnt
the facts were so plain as to his guilt that
the jury soon returned a verdict of guilty
OF murder in the first degree. The Judges
sentence was 'that he be taken one mile
and quarter north of the court house on
the 18th day of May next. between the
hours of 10 a. m. and , p. m, and hung bv
the neck until dead" He was sent to
Chatham county Jail for safe keeping.
In the latter case the plaintiff was repre-
sented by Coils. John c. Mcdonald.
Leon A. Wilson, of our town, and +. II,
Harris, OF Brunswick, all of whom made
very fOrcible arguments. The railway
company was represented by Colonel Il.
g.. Erwin, of your city, who did full
justice to the defense. The rulings of the
court were very clear, and followed the
law closely. The jury in this case gave IA
verdict for the plaintiff of $1,000. Appli-
cation for new trial was served by the de-
Tense. Court adjourned on Friday,
having cleared the calendar. The Judge,
bar, jury and visitors have departed. and
everything is again quiet
The building boom still continues. there
being at this writing some eight or ten
buildings going up, among them large
and commodious freight house for the
savannah, Florida and Western Railway
The Ladies' Episcopal Church Society
gave festival during court week for the
purpose of raising funds to aid in the
building of house of worship here. Con-
sldering the comparative short space of
time they had to work III their efforts were
deserVedly successful, and the financial
harvest t1attering. Among those present
were Judge Nj. l.. MershOn, Solicitor Gen.
eral G. b. Mabry, Col. F. H.. Harris. and
other visitors to our town.
The Baptist Church is nearing COM
pletion, and i'll quick succession
Will follow the erection of
Presbyterian, Episcopal and Catholic
churches. We can then lay claim to the
name of the "City of Churches" for if we
count ''the brother in black'' we will
number nine in all, a pretty good average
for place of its years and proportions.
The Plant Institute is making rather slow
headway at present, nothing much hav-
ing been done to it since the completion of
its foundation. We understand from our
indefatigable "Uncle ThOmas," however,
that the work will go on. To quote him:
"We are going to have the grandest and
best institution III Southwest Georgia, and
as good as any in the State of its kind"
He says the money to complete it ''will
come, and shall Gomez" and we think if
his untiring zeal will bring it it is sure
to come. Since the cold winds of March
have subsidized, and April with her smiles
and tears is upon us, everything has be-
gun to look brighter, and with our Albany
avenue and Gulf street lined with beauti-
full oaks and beautiful flower gardens,
our little ''piney woods" city looks like
an oasis.
President Arthur and party passed
through our city on his way to Florida on
Friday afternoon last. The scene at the
depot was quite animated, and presented
many eager to catch a glimpse of the
Chief Magistrate of our Union. There
was no boisterOus demonstration made.
and after a stop of fifteen minutes the
train rolled out from the depot with its
illustrious passengers.
fATrI