Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-03
CRIMES AND CRIMINALS.
Rugg Guilty of Four Murders and other
Offenses Innumerable.

OHenSeS lnnuInGfaDIes
LONG ISLAND CITY, N. Y, Feb. g.
Selah Sprague, the last victim of Charles
Rugg's murderous designs, has again had
a relapse, and the attending physicians
have abandoned all hope of his recovery.
He was sufficiently conscious to say that
him. Mrs. James c. Townsend
is in a more favorable condition,
but the physicians say that it is
only matter of few days, or perhaps
weeks, before she will succumb to
the wounds and shock she received on
January 7. Rugg will have four murders
to answer for when the Court of Oyer and
Terminer meets in April. He is strictly
watched in the Queens county Jail, the
Jail officials fearing that he may attempt
suicide. Detectives have absolute proof
that Rugg has committed at least ten
crimes of robbery and violence within a
few years. in addition to those which dur
ing the past three months have agitated
Long Island.
THE M'BEAN TRAGEDY's END.
AUGUSTA, GA, Feb. "A special from
WaynesbOrO says: "The Superior Court
of Burke county has been engaged for
several days on the trial of T. Brit Rogers,
charged with the murder of Thomas and
Frank Syms, father and son. The case
excited much interest. On October 20th
the defendants, with Duff and Frank
Syms and others, were engaged in a game
of base ball, when a dispute arose
concerning the game, during which
Thomas Syms, the father of Duff and
Frank, who was present as a spectator,
slapped Rufus McNOrrell in the face. Next
dow Sunday fhn rarfinc OF Sunday
school, and another alteration arose.
They retired to the woods to settle the
difficulty. Thomas and Frank Syms were
killed, and Duff Syms and Brit Rogers
were wounded. An array of able counsel
was employed on both sides. The case
was given to the jury at o'clock this
morning, and after a half hours absence
they returned verdict of not guilty as to
Brit Rogers and Rufus e.. McNOrrell.
James Cox having severed his case it will
not be tried until the next term of court.
All the persons engaged in the affray be-
longed to respectable and well-to-dO
families.
JENKINS FATAL MISTAKE.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. "A dispatch
from Mansfield says: "To-day Miss Mary
Butler, her sister and two brothers, who
attended the commencement exercises at
Mansfield College, and went home to-
gether on train accompanied to Kobe
line station by Rev. Benjamin F. Jenkins.
to-day testified in the Jenkins-Borden
case, their testimony going to show that
Jenkins made a sad mistake in supposing
Borden guilty of any serious misconduct
toward Miss Mary Butler. The witnesses
considered Jenkins sane. Miss Butler ad-
mitted having said to Mr.. Jenkins that
Borden had treated her badly, and that she
had declined to tell him in what way.
She referred only to BOrden's having re-
fused to allow them to enjoy themselves
when opportunity offered. The witness
corrobOrated fully the statements made
in letter published few days after the
homicide. Mrs. Borden was also ON the
witness stand. She testified to the
friendly relations existing between her.
self and Miss Butler This closed the
testimony, and argument will begin Mon
day. A plea Of insanity is made by the
defense