Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-21
THE GLYNN COUNTY MURDERER.

Why He Was Not Called for by the
sheriff on the Day Fixed for His Exc
cutIou-stfll I'm Jail Awaiting the Or
der OF the Court.
Considerable interest was manifested
last night in the case Of the negro Reuben
Pevton. who was sentenced by Judge
Mershon in the Glynn Superior Court last
Nav. to be hung ut Brunswick between
IL aud , O'Clock yesterday The nOn-arri-
val Of Sheriff Lambright to take
the prisoner on Thursday was re-
ferrcd 90 in the MORNING NEWS, and
a telegram from Atlanta, stating that
the Governor had mol been asked to stay
his execution was published. A large
number of people yesterday morning were
wondering whether the Sheriff might not
have made arrangements with the rail-
WAYS to run an engine and car through
To Brunswick i'm time to have PeytOn
executed in fuldllment Of the sentence.
But as the Sheriff did not call at the
iafI for the prisoner by 5 O'Clock,
and as no message was received up TO
noon explaining why the prisoner had not
been called TOR, several suggested that
there was a possibility that the Sheriff
had been waylaid or kidnapped, under
the impression that il Peytou were not
hung within the time appointed by the
court he would be a free man. The law
OF Georgia. however, is very explicit in
view OF the occurrence OF any such con-
tingeucy. The Code reads:
Whenever. for any reason, any convict
sentenced 10 the punishment OF death shall
not have been executed pursuant to such
sentence. and the same shall stand in full
force. the presiding Judge Of the superior
Court where the conviction was had, on the
application of the Attorney or solicitor
General o. the district, or other person
prosecuting for the state, shall issue habeas
corpus to bring such convict before him, anu
If no legal reason exists against the execution
Of such sentence, such Judge shall sign and
issue a warrant 70 the sheriff Of the proper
county. commanding him 20 do execution Of
such sentence at such time and place As shall
be appointed therein.
During the afternoon the MORNING
News sent a telegram to the Clerk OF
Glvun Superior Court asking why the
Sheriff had not put in an appearance. No
RESPONSE was received up TO O'Clock,
when a reporter called at the jail. PeytOn
was i'm his cell sleeping sOundlv. The re-
porter was informed that the prisoner had
apparently shown less curiosity to know
why he had not been sent for than
he had not heard from Bruins
wick when he replied. "No, sir;
not a word. Something must have
happened 70 tne Sheriff, or, perhaps, a
motion was made by the prisoners attOr-
news at the last minute. However, l
would not deliver the prisoner to any one
now. not even the Sheriff of Glynn cOun-
". except on a writ Of habeas corpus
from the Judge Of the Brunswick Circuit"
Later in the evening the MORNING
NEWS received the following from the
Clerk Of the Court:
Reuben Peytou's attorneys have moved for
a new trial and a supercedeas has been
granted The case viii probably be carried
70 the Supreme Court.
The telegram failed 10 state when the
motion for a new trial was made. 1t will
be some weeks, at all events, eefOre the
case viii be passed upon by the Supreme
Court. If. however, Judge MershOn shall
grant a new trial the case viii not prob
ably be called until the regular term Of
GIyun Superior Court, cOnvening the first
Monday If newt December