Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-18
RECOGNIZED BY A SCAR.
FELIX MATTHEWS OLD MRS.
SCANL4N'S ASSAILANT.

n ~ y
SCANLAN'S ass AILANT
He Denies all Knowledge OF the AFaiI
and Says He Can Prove an Aiibi- fhs
Evidence Against Him Strong, and Il.
fs Held for the Grand Jury Il ark S
DavIson's story.
The railing which divides the Mayors
court room was lined six deep with wit
nesses and spectators yesterday morning
when old Mrs. seaman tottered fee0ly up
to be sworn. Felix Matthews, the negro
charged with assaulting and trying to rob
her on Saturday night, stood up at the OPP
posite side Of the desk with a sullen look
on his SCARED face.
Mrs. Seaman said that she was not
raised to take an oath upon the Bible,
whereupon the Mayor told her to hold mp
her right hand. After being sworn she
stated that she left her stand in the mar
ket about 10 o'clock, she thought. She
went directly to her house on Pres
ident street. near Whitaker. just as
she was entering the gate she was
seized and thrown down by two negroes,
who attempted to get her money out OF
her pocket
Barkis Dawson was called next, lie Is
she old cOl0red man who rescued the old
market woman from her assailants. His
right hand Was Oaudaged and IN sling.
He told plain, straightforward story,
and positively Identified Matthews as the
one VINO cut him.
Il was crossing Telfair place." he
stated. 'between no and 1920 O'Clock sat
urday night. when I heard some one cry:
Murder! l thought it was a boy tue
frst time. but when it was re-
peated | perceived it was a woman's
voice. Had it been a man ! would not
have gone. but as it was a woman
screaming ran across TO the east side OF
the square. / saw two men standing over
q woman. one ran away when / APP
preached. the other jumped up and made
lunge az me with "a knife. ! seized him,
but he cut me across the sleeve on the
shoulder and on my hand. He seemed to
have the knife open when he raised up
from over the old lady. He j8bbed at my
face. but kept him off with my umbrella,
though / broke il over him. When / Went
home | missed my pocketboOk contain
ing S. 80 Early Sunday morning gctup
aud went to the place 70 see il could ind
it. 1t was only little after daybreak.
As ] turned the corner | saw this fellow
(pOinting 10 the prisoner He was 80
busy pOking around in the dirt that he
picked up piece OF my umbrella ham
die, but could not find my pocketboOk. I
did not say anything 10 Matthews but
went on. When he LETT | followed him
around to Poplar street lane. where he
seemed 70 see me and got away.
81 have known him for ten years by a
scar on his face / searched all around
Farm street and Poplar street lane.
Awhile after that as | was passing a sta
bic in Broughton street l saw him inside
cleaning a horse. | went over to the Mar
ket.g0t Glicer Fleming and had Matthews
arrested. Before any one spoke TO him
he said, i can get witnesses % prove
was not at the place AZ 10 O'clock
picked his coat out OF pile Of others. as !
knew is. He said 10 me, "All you ID
Savannah niggers is good for is TO get
other people arrested That is the right
man."
During his testimony Dawson showed
his coat with 4 long cut in the right ell
bow where Matthews had slashed at him.
His evidence WAS very strong and satis-
factory. He is one Of the old civil, re-
spectacle, Intelligent colored people.
"What have you to say" asked the
Mayor Of the prisoner.
"PVe got witnesses to prove where |
was from O'clock Saturday night TO 3
O'Clock sunday morning" he replied.
one az mis- Witnesses, John Willis, a tall
mulatto, was sworn. He testified that he
met Matthews Saturday night and they
went to the market aud got something to
eat downstairs. He did not know what
time ne met Matthews, but thought 10
was about 10 O'Clock. He thought
the market was closed upstairs
when they got there. They stayed
at the market until - O'Clock,
when they left. He was with the prisoner
until O'Clock. A yellow girl stated that
she met Matthews in the Market, but she
could not tell what time it was, but was
sure it was pretty late.
The evidence was strong against Mat
theWs, and the case Was sent up to the
Superior Court. The prisoner is from
Atlanta, is a stout-built young negro, and
il easily recognizable by scar on his lett
cheek. He said very little during the
hearing, but sat quiet, with stolid,
frownlng look.