Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-06
Holland TELLSHISST0RY
ukILLED TOMDAVIS, HE SAYS,
TO PROTECT HIMSELF.

ReAde street and Paid Him $500 for
$4,000 which was in n Satchei-As
NE started to Leave Davis said He
should Not Go, and Attacked Him
The Shooting.
The trial of James 7. Holland, Of Texas,
for the killing of the Sawdust Swindler in
New York city few months ago, is ex-
citing a great deal Of interest in New
York CITY, Our dispatches have contained
extracts from the testimony. The follow
ing is the account of Holland as to how
the sawdust game was worked, and how
he came to kill Davis, the swindler;
Tie Texans story from beginning to
end was perfectly straight and sound. He
began in a low tone Of voice, apologized
to the jury, explaining that he was hoarse
and requested them to lean little for
ward. But after the first few moments
be said everything in clear, trm voice
that could be heard distinctly all through
The court room. This is Hollands story
as elected by questions put to him by Mr..
Makemson, his lawyer, from Texas;
THE TEXANS HISTORY.
81 am 80 years old. / was born and
raised in Leon county, IN the northwest
Brn part of Texas. L have no family. Ny
lather died when / was years old and
nv mother when l was years old.
nave been engaged IN various occupa-
lions.
81 left Leon county in 1880, and went to
Abilene, in Taylor county. Abilene was
not city at that time. 1t had simply
been laid out, and | went on to be present
at the sale of city lots, There went into
the furnishing goods business. stuck at
that for about two years, and then sold
Il FaasarN aaFnln I'D ~
into speculatiOns in real estate and live
stock, and kept at that up to the time
when 1 left Abilene 10 come here. During
the time that was in real estate and cattle
acquired an interest in liquor saloon
kept the interest a year. L did not per-
sonally look after my saloon interest, but
hired two men to run 1t for me.
81 left Abilene to come to New York on
Aug. Is last. My intention was to go first
10 st. Louis, where l wanted to see my
brother-in-law about some real estate
transactions, then TO New York, and af-
terward to Washington before returning
home. | wanted to see the city Of New
York. which was one reason for nay COM
ing here, and then l had heard about this
business and wanted TO look into that"
ssWhat business?' asked Lawyer Ma
henson. Il know, but explain it TO the
jury"
Holland drew a long breath, coughed,
took occasion to scorntully return the
fierce look which he found The Davis had
fastened upon him, and explained:
ssWhy, this sawdust, counterfeit, swim
ding business that had heard about in
TeXas.'
Q.-How did you hear about it? Alt
was this way 1t leaked outin Abilene that
a young man named Parkhurst had been
to New York and had lost 81, 900 there. L
knew Parkhurst, and asked him how he
had lost the money. He confessed to me
how he had lost it at this sawdust bust
ness, and told me what he knew. lie had
got a circular offering to sell him eoun-
terfeit money at reduced rates, and while
passing through New York ne stopped TO
see about it, and called upon the parties.
He told me that the money was put in
bag for HIM, and that he had carried IL
down to the express Office with the party
who had sold 1t. The bag had been eX-
pressed to his address in Texas, but when
he got it there the bag contained nothing
but rubbish. He accounted for the mys-
terry by saying that they must have
changed the bag on him, either on the
way to or at the express office.
stI'm not certain" Holland continued,
whether or not he thought the money
was good when he bought it. Anyhow,
after he had been swindled he took
good deal of trouble to look into the mat
ter. He came back here to New York,
saw the parties, got sample of the pre-
tended unterfeits from them, and took
it to bank where he was informed that
it was good money. When l heard this
| said to him:
"sPm going to New York and I'll just
look into this matter. II make up my
mind that the money that these men show
me is genuine, and if they are willing to
sell me SIC, 200 for $500 lll 90 there and
take nay chances OF having any changing
OH the road worked on me-
81 left Abilene with $2I5 in cash and a
letter of credit for $500 drawn by the First
National bank, of Abilene, on the Han
over National bank, OF this city. Biz.
Hill, City Marshal OF Abilene, came with
me-"
Q.--How did that happen2 How long
before you LETT did you arrange to come
together? Ale was going TO New
YORK, and was, too. We simply made
1t convenient to go at the same time for
company. 1 stopped it ST. Louis tour or
1--WE days, and arrived In New York on
Wednesday, think, about the 18th OF
August. Anyhow, 1t was the Wednesday
before Mr.. Davis died. We stopped at
the Summit house, that is on a street
called the BOWery. believe. saw Hill
write something on the blOHer, aud found
he had registered my name. He handed
ne the pen, and l said, ''shall 1 register
your name?'
'sNo," he said, ''put me down as j. z.
Johnson, of Colorado City, Texas"
81 did so. At O'Clock on the afternoon
OF our arrival we went over to the Phila-
delphia house, in Jersey city. We went
there by directions. had received a
little circular from a man signed H.
I Woodward That circular gave direc-
ions TO come to the Philadelphia house,
aud to telegraph TO him beforehand at
what time we would be there, and man
would be there to meet us"
Holland then told of the first visit ofthe
sawdust men. he and johnson had only
been IL the hotel ten minutes when there
came a rap at the door, and an elderly
looking man entered, advanced TO the
centre of the room, and gave him a pass
word. The password was "Orange."
FIRST VISIT or Go.BETwEEN BUTLER.
ssThe circular had informed me-" HOl-
land went on, "that password was nee
essary, because there were 80 many
thieves and scoundrels here. 1t told me
what the password would be, and that
whoever gave It would DO all right. 1
arose, repeated the password, and, intro
ducing Mr.. Hill, said:
"sThis is my friend, Mr. Johnson
THE stranger said that he bad come in
response TO my telegram, and represent
cd Mr. Woodward. He told Us about
those goods and said be would like TO
.havr than 10 tta 1 tnIa him lin bnVn "a