Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-14
HIS LIFE IS AT STAKE.
MINGO mELROSE TRIED FOR
YOUNG COOPER'S LIFE.


Story of the Crime-scene In the Court
Room During the TriaI-TestimOny OF
Witnesses of the Fatal ARRAY on the
Telfair Place-The Case Given to the
Jury-Awsiting Verdict.
MinRo Melrose, indicted for the murder
of Frank Cooper, was placed on trial in
the Superior Court yesterday. Melrose is
about the color Of roasted coffee, and is
apparently between % and 80 years of
age. His victim was also a young col
ored man, who, prior to August, 1880,
lived in the country two or three miles
from Savannah, on the Augusta road.
On the night OF August 10 Cooper was
cut on his head by Melrose at dance on
the Telfair place. The cuts caused lock-
jaw, from which Cooper died about a
week after he was cut.
Nearly 30 jurors were called before a
panel was obtained. The state, repre-
scented by Solicitor General duBignon, OBJ
jecJed 90 9; MelrOse's counsel-Messrs
Levy n Lazar0n-struck IA. one went
off because be had heard some of the evil
DC. &c under oatn, , on account Of preju-
dice, and II because opposed to capital
punishment.
The following y wsre accepted and
sworn: Cooper Harris, }. ii. Kemps, I. Il.
Cassels, j. II. Cavanaugh, D. c. Harris,
W. q. Thompson, Isaac ROOs, John A.
Feuger, W. S. Mcfarland, j. N. Harden,
J, J. Dillon, Ernest Grant.
Inc gallery was crowded all day, but
very few white spectators were present.
The state mad half a dozen witnesses
summoned and the defense twenty-five.
When all Of Melrose's witnesses were
drawn up IN line ready TO be sworn they
made almost as strong a showing as the
First Battalion Georgia Volunteers, col
ored.
The State called for its first witness DR..
X. i. Harris, VINO stated that in August,
1885, he was summoned to attend one
Frank Cooper negro, living on the Tel
fair place, three or four miles out from the
city. Cooper was suffering from tetanus
clock jaw and was in a dying condition.
The physician examined Cooper and
found two wounds on his head which un-
doubleday produced lOck-jaw 1t is very
rare ia this climate for tetanus to result
from anything except wound or injury,
said the Doctor. Tne witness has since
learned that Cooper died six hours after
he called.
On crosse examination DR.. Harris test-
fed that the larger wound was on the
frontal part of the head, and was evident
ly made by a sharp instrument, a knife,
razor, brOad-ax, or something OF the kind.
The wounds We're not mortal OF them
selves, but they caused tetanus. from
which death resulted. The longest OF the
wounds was not more than an inch ana
half long. Both wounds had healed over.
Ienna Stevens lives on the TeltaIr place,
lie knew Frank Cooper, but did not know
much else. Ielfair place is in Chatham
county and State Of America, In Stevens
geography. The witness was present
when Cooper was cut. Stevens saw Min
90 MerOse do the cutting with a razor at
ball in hall one Monday night. The
ball followed an ice cream festival given
under the auspices OF colOred church in
the hall OF the sons and Daughters Of Je-
rusalem. Cooper and boy named Jack
son were playing when MelrOse came up,
and with an oath, said he was prepared
for the crowd.
After MelrOse cut Cooper he tried to cut
the witness, who was cousin of Cooper.
Cooper died one week after ne was cut.
On crOss-eXamination Stevens testified
that he was dancing when the fight be-
gan. when the fuss started the music
stonped," he added.
The State did not put all of its witnesses
on the stand.
EnOch Lewis was the first to testify for
the defense. Lewis was the musician of
the evening, and played ian instrument
wot you call pinanner." Prof. Lewis
swore that he saw fight, and saw one
man strike another on the head with q
stick. The man that was struck was car
ried out by two others. After the crowd
rushed out OF the door the witness first
spoke to Melrose. Lewis did not know
either the man that was struck or the one
who did tue striking. The fighting was
resumed outside of the building, aud the
witness heard palings ing pulled of the
fence.
Daniel FOgarty was another of those
who were at the ice cream festival and
ball. FOgartv stated that he was stand
ing on the "tlattorm" outside OF the hall
at the time the row occurred. The wit
ness ran into the hall and some one
threw soda water bottle in through
window or door.
When the Solicitor General took hold Of
Fogarty it came out that the witness was
formerly Justice OF the Peace. He adj
mitted that he did not resign.
Mr.. LaZarOn, who conducted the exami
nation for the defense, called eight or ten
witnesses who mainly eOrroborated each
others statements that they did not see
Melr0se cut Cooper or any one else. One
witness swore that he saw negro named
Bibb strike Cooper with club.
The prisoner stated in his own behalf
that he did not cut Cooper. He had no i'll
will for Cooper and claimed to be the VIC
tim Of a conspiracy.
Mr.. Lazar0n, in his argument, declared
that the evidence did not prove Melrose
guilty. The defendants counsel asserted
that the prisoner is the innocent victim of
conspiracy, and an acquittal was asked
for.
solicitor General duBignon closed for
the State, aud the case was given 10 the
jury about O'Clock at night. After being
out two hours and a bali the jury re-
entered the court room and asked Judge
Adams 10 charge them on tue lesser
grades Of homicide. His Honor declined,
8ltn the statement that Melrose is either
guilty Of murder or is innocent.
The Jury retired, and az midnight had
not agreed upon a verdict.
Local Personal.