Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-18
A BARLOW SENSATION.
A Negro Sneak Thief Surrounded by a
Female Seminary Arraye ed In His De-

A Negro Sneak Thief Surrounded by a
Female Seminary Array ed In His De-
Tense.
OartersUtl5e tGa.) Special TO the Courier
Journal.
At O'Clock on the morning of July IA
last, Capt. Geo. H. Wariug was aroused
from sleep by burglar and had despe-
rate struggle in the dark. Capt. Waring
lives a mile and a half above Kingston,
and his mother-in-law, widow OF the
late Charles Wallace Howard, of lite
rary fame, lives within five feet Of
him, with her daughters, who teach
q select seminary of young ladies'
known as Springbank school. Though so
close together, there is no communication
etween these two houses or inmates
thereof. A negro boy, Dennis johnson,
used to be employed by Capt. Waring in
his cement works near his home. For
the last two years Dennis has been
trusted servant of the Misses Howard
and lives on their premises. Last Feb
ruary Dennis had a difficulty with the
grown son of Capt. Waring and prose-
cuted the young man for assault and hat
terry, and was aided in the case by his
employers, the Misses Howa d. The
prosecution failed. Ever since this Dem
mis- has been an enemy of WarinR
When Capt. Waring found the burglar
in his room he leaped out of bed and
found himself in the ruffian's grasp. He
grappled with his assailant and called TO
his wife 10 strike light and get his pis-
toll. Then the burglar struggled desper-
atey to escape, and mistaking a closet
door for an exit, ran into it. Capt. War
ing tried 10 confne him In the closet, but
could not get the door fastened and he
burst out, but Capt. WarIng, de-
termined to capture him, grasped
him again, hoping TO hold MIN till
Mrs. Waring could make a light and
get a weapon. In the darkness, confused
and terrified. the lady could do neither,
and the burglar, growing desperate, drew
pistol and fired vice, the second shot
striking Cant. Waring IN the right breast.
Then the Captains hold relaxed, and the
burglar escaped through window and
fed. In the struggle Capt. Waring found
his antagonist was a negro by feeling his
woody head. BY the fash OF the second
pistol shot he recognized the features OF
Dennis johnson. The noise Of the struggle,
mirrors and chinaware, lamps hurled
down and broken, pistol shots, Capt. War
ing's calls for help and bis wite's long,
loud blasts VI a horn reused the house
hold and the female seminary adjoining,
and for the first time IN two years the IN
mates of two houses came together IN one.
One OF the HOwards went 10 Dennis
house 10 send him for a surgeon. She
found Dennis ~ home, and brought him
20 Mrs. WaFing. She sent him for another
messenger, who summoned a surgeon
A search about the premises discovered
barefoot tracks leading right 70 Dennis
house. The burglar was barefooted, and
left tracks on white cloth In the closet,
corresponding with tracks outside. Dem
mis- was arrested and brought II Carriers
VILE Jail. Capt. Warnings wound was
slight, and in two weeks he appeared be.
fore the grand jury and obtained two in
dlctments against the pTisoner-One for
burglary, the other for assault with intent
10 murder.
When Dennis was arrested the Howard
ladies' Immediately undertook his defense.
Three attorneys were employed--J. NJ.
and w. j. Neel, Of Gainesville, and Col.
W. X. Moore, Of Dalton. While Dennis
languished in jail, his friends, the ladies',
cOmforted him with such substantial as
surance OF continued protection as money,
clothes and food, and cheered his gloomy
cell with flowers from the beautiful gar
den his hands had tended at Springbank.
When his case came up for trial last
Tuesday on the indictment for burglary,
and Dennis was brought into the court
room TO face his accuser and intended
victim, be was still further treasured,
for be beheld the most novel and
remarkable scene that was ever
Witnessed In the courts OF Georgia. The
Howard ladies, with all the young ladies
Of their school, we're there. and when
Dennis sat down with bis attorneys. the