Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-11


STATEMENT OF THE JAILER.
A NEWS reporter called at the Jail after
the jury had concluded the inquest. and
asked Jailer Russell what he thought Of
the verdict. The jailer said that the jury
had done all that they could be expected
10 do under the circumstances. out that II
they could have postponed the verdict for
a few DAYS ne would have been better sat
isfied. 4 can not reconcile said he, the
statements OF the cOlOred boy who went 10
buy feed al the store with other points
which have been developed. /
am led TO believe that Hamilton
is as big a rascal as jackson,
and possibly as guilty. He has told me
all sorts Of contradictory stories since his
arrest. with the purpose Of throwing the
responsibility Of the murder upon jack
son: but | shall continue TO work on the
case until ] am satisfied where be and
Jackson were during every minute Of the
time which interviewed between O'Clock
on Saturday night and the hour when the
I bodies Of Mr.. and Mrs. Haertel were
found on sunday morning. neither
other parties were not connected with the
crime Is question which / wish to have
determined beyond a doubt. / did not at
first believe the story Of the boy who went
70 get the feed. 1t seemed improbable
and | sent for the boys father, who was
had always been truthful that / telt it
must be credited, for the time being at
least. The truth Of the matter Is that
only about One-tenth Of the particulars
relating 10 the murder has been worked
out. | heard to-day Of parties whose evil
dence Is extremely important. But there
was no time 10 secure it. and besides ]
know | am going to have trouble TO getit."
WHAT HAMILTON SAYS.
The reporter was permitted to see
Hamilton. He is negro some
what above medium height, with
large bright eyes. large mouth.
and bold features. He rested both hands
on the bar Of the cell door, and as he lean
ed forward 20 converse with the reporter.
the latter had "a good opportunity to study
his physi0gnomy.
Where did you work just before you
were arrestedf" asked the reporter.
Il worked over there on Mr.. Hamlets
house" he said, pointing in the direction
from the jail.
what did you do there:"
Il was a labOrer."
How long were you working there =
Ever since Mr.. Hamlet commenced his
house, about the beginning Of last Septem-
ber-a year ago
Did you ever see me before:'
Yes. sir, | saw YOU the day you We're
=
every room in the house"
what were you doing that day.
Il was scrubbng OFF paint that had
been dropped by painters. | had this hat
on" Hamilton went 10 the rear part Of
the cell and showed a felt hat, moving
quickly as a young and active man would
move. During the conversation he seemed
perfectly frank.
How old are you, Hamilton" asked
Il am about 40 years old. l was
born at Blufft0n. My father and
mother are dead. ] have half brother
named David Haywood living in South
Carolina. / came here about twenty
years ago and used 10 live near the cul-
vert in the ThunderbOlt road, close to the
railroad track"
" hen did you first see Jackson:"
lone year ago in March, but | didn't
know who he was until the last spring,
when he came to me and wanted to take
part Of my house, the place | was living
in when this murder was done. didn't
know anything about him then or |
wouldn't have taken him. He had the
whole OF my house at first, for | was
working in town and couldn't bother
about going out there: it took too
much time. But later, J | thought
as summer was coming on, | could 90
10 the other house, and the rent | am pay
ing in town would help TO pay on the
house out on the road. / found jackson
was a troublesome man, all the time
quarreling with somebody, and he got
into fights in town. / wanted him to
leave the place, but his wife was sick,
and he begged that as he owed me Sll and
] owed Justice Molina Sl4 on his account,
that be might stay until he paid it up"
''What took him before Justice Molina:'
He had a partner in the chicken bust
ness, who lived up TO Whitehall. He got
into a fuss with that partner, named
Wright, who thought he wasn't toting
fair. | loaned Jackson money during
that trouble, because | didn't like 10 see I
his wife so much worried when she was
sick"
THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.
'.Were you with Jackson that Saturday
night Of the MURDER
.'No. sir. l didn't see jackson until /
early next morning. He said he had IA I
big fight that night. ! asked him who I
with. He said he didn't know, / asked .
him where he had the fight He said .
somewhere on the Waters road. / told .
him he ought to stop fighting; that he \
would get into more trouble and have to I
spend more money, and that he should .
try and keep his money and pay up.
jackson said, on, thatll be all right
Later in the morning some cOlOTed peO- [
pie came to the house and asked me if | /
had been down to see the people who /
were killed. ! asked what people and
they said: why, Mr.. and Mrs. Haertel
they've both been killed at the store | (
called Jackson and told him about it, and
he proposed we should 20 over there.
When we got there / went and looked in
the place. and saw Mrs. Haertel all cut
and Mr.. Haertel But Jackson wouldn't 4
come: he staid off among the people in
Al H. 4. Il L.
said: jackson, is that the fight you were ;
in last nightE That's bad business
.'While We were talking there we were
arrested. After we were in Jail jackson .
one day had chance to come past my /
cell door, and asked me if / had told any
one what he had said to me. ] said no,
but that ! would have 70 do Il before the
jury jackson said, We'll, if you do .
you'll be the cause Of good deal Of .
trouble"
''What had jackson told youE''
That he and two others were in the /
fight on Waters road, and they. or he, had F.
killed the Haertel people"
The reporter here stopped Hamilton and /
asked
'.Did you ask jackson who those two
others WereT'
ono, slr!'
''Do you know where they werey"
"No, sir; but Jackson said they had .
gone up to WHITEHALL
The reporter was about t. leave when
Hamilton asked him If he knew Alderman
Hamlet, and If he would not ask that gen
man to get him lawyer
TALK WITH JACKSON.
The reporter asked permission to see
Jackson, whom the jury in their verdict /
named as the principal in the crime. The
prisoner was brought out Of his cell into
the Jail office. AS he came into the room
the jailer asked him what the loud talking
was about as he was being led from the
corridors, and added that he didn't vans
any Of his prisoners admoniehed anneces-
sarily. This seemed TO affect him,
and no began to cry. The
jailer said. "stop, Jackson, here's
gentleman who wishes to know where
you were born, and | want to talk TO YOU
plainly for a few minutes"
The prisoner composed himself, and
as he stood in the centre OF the
roOm ne was asked how tall he was.
jackson said he didn't know. The
reporter then stood up at his side,
and the prisoner was judged to be about
feet 10 or IL inches in height, with a
broad and very deep chest, prominent feas
lures, with square chin, about which
few tufts Of beard were grown. His CON-
pieXiOn is a deeper black than Hamilton's.
He has but one eye, which is deeply
set in his head. His face is more repul-
siYe than that of his companion in crime,
and though he may appear to be the
brute, the other is, seemingly by COM