Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-16

was little strange. To the west OF Pa
latka were heavy clouds, accompanied by
lightning and thunder, while over in the
east the moon was pouring down her sill
very light on the bosom of the river as
placidly as on a June night, and just over
head light clouds moved about, from
which gentle showers occasionally fell.
Az Palatka Saturday night Policeman
McNeil arrested a man named VIM.
Muncy and lodged him in the city Jail for
violating the city ordinances. Muncy
claimed that he had boat at Under
woods canal, where he had been camp
Ing, and asked that the officers get 1t.
Thinking that they would capture the
parties seen loafing about the canal lately,
they went out after the boat about 2
octock Sunday morning, and while
Policeman Mcneil and boy who had
accompanied the officers We're rowing the
boat back to town, Chas. WoodrIng, a
| special policeman, undertook to walk
| back via the jacksonville, Tampa and
KEY West railway track. Just before
he reached the track, however, he was
fired at twice by parties in the bush, who
ordered him to halt. One OF the balls cut
through his shirt and blistered his left
side, when he fell to the ground to dodge
other shots. When the highway men saw
Woodring fall one oil them remarked that
they had fixed one, and then they would
go down and see about the other two who
had taken Chips boat" as they EXPIRE ssed
1t. Officer Mcneil and the boy landed
and went to Woodring's assistance, but
they had fed when WoVdring commenced
firing at them and they could not be found.
Palatka News: In a conversation Mon
day with State Attorney Wigg, OF this
judicial district, he gave us some valua-
bic Information relative to the motion for
new trial in the case of Henry Virgins,
the colored boy now in Jail under sentence
OF death for killing Porter, at Orange
Point, In this county. The Governor has
been censured for not issuing the warrant
for his execution. But the Governor has
no power In the case as yet. Immediately
after the trial and conviction, Virgins
counsel moved for new trial on the
ground of certain Irregularities IN the
proceedingsOf the court. One was that
the jury did not specify the degree Of
murder in their verdict. Another was
that the records Of the court do not show
that Virgins was asked the usual ques-
| tions in such cases, If he had anything to
say why sentence of death should not be
passed upon him, and that the sentence
was made in the third instead of the Sec
ond person. On these and some other
technical grounds new trial was asked
for and motion made to that effect.
This motion will be heard before the SUI
preme Court at Tallahassee at It's next
term, which will be held in January. La
the meantime the Judge of this
| judicial district, and before whom Wig
| gins was tried, has issued an order to
stay proceedings until the motion for
new trial can be heard by the Supreme
Court. The Governor cannot issue
death warrant until the Supreme Court
has decided the motion now pending.
This will explain why the Governor has
not taken any action. Whether Wiggine
gets new trial or not depends. The
grounds on which the motion Is made are
good, but they are technical, and may not
be regarded by the higher court as sufi-
cient to Justify new trial. From all we
can learn we think it doubtful if young
Virgins gets new trial. In the mean
time he will remain In Jail here at Pa
latka.