Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-11
UNDER GUARD AT MILLEN
UHE SAVANNAH SUSPECTS
AWAITING A HEARING.

-Ths Examination of PrepGeTgast and
LawIer, Charged with Fireman Mad
dox's Murder, 10 Take Place in Burs e
County Next Tuosday-DetcctiVes
Strengthening the Evidence Against
Thsm-What the Prosecution Expects
to Prove.
Prendergsst and Lawler, the two men in
3ail at Mi!len, charged with the murder OF
fireman Maddox in the Rogers Station
disaster on Tuesday morning, viii be
given a hearing in Burke county next
Tuesday. The prisoners are closely
guarded and have very little to say.
1t was expected that they would be
given a hearing yesterday. The alb
sence or important witnesses, how
ever, necessitated delay and
the case will be brought up next
week. The warrant for their arrest
was issued on Wednesday by Magistrate
ii. V. Lester, of Scriven county, at the
instance OF the Central railroad agent at
Miilen. the Ohense Is alleged to have
been committed in Burke. Miilen is the
dividing line between the two counties,
and the case will be heard on the Burke
county side Of the town.
As vet the evidence discovered against
the prisoners is only clrcumstantlal. De-
tectiVe Jones, the sO-cailed "SWamp Fox"
is working up the case, and expects by
Tuesday to have enough evidence TO oom-
nit them. The general feeling at Millen
j. that Prendergast and LAWYER wrecked
the train. Both claim to have been
at the wreck and that they were riding on
Inc forward platform Of the express car,
next to the tender, when the crash came.
but that they left before the wreck was
cleared away and walked to Millen, where
they were seen early the next morning.
they show bruises which they say
theY received by being thrown from
fhe train when it left the track. They ac-
for being on the platform by saying
that they were stealing a ride to Savan-
nah.
The prosecution expects to prove by
SecIonmaster Burke that PreEdergast
and LAWYER were at HerndOn, three miles
west OF Rogers, late Monday night. Train
81, which was wrecked, is q through train,
and lett Macon, 106 miles west OF Rogers,
at 1850 O'Clock. H. did not stop at Hern-
don. aud the prisoners could not possibly
have been on board. Noone saw them at
the wreck.
1t is claimed that witnesses can be pro-
-duced to prove that they were aJ Rogers
a few hours before the accident occurred.
The prosecution also expects 10 prove
that the bruises which the prisoners
CldlHl 10 nave IeSeifeu III tue NieVA wire
received the day before in being put of a
freight train. While there is yet no posi-
tive proof that the prisoners placed the
block Of wood in the "irOg," their con-
flcting statements and failure to salts
factorily account for their movements are
against them.
The road officials decline to say any
thing. Detective Jones came to the city
last night from Millen, and held confer
ence with Superintendent Rogers and At
torney Lawton. Matthews Il Lawrence,
of Millen, have been employed to repre-
sent the prisoners at the preliminary
hearing. LAWYERS father and brother
both visited him yesterday. The prIso-
ners are not ironed, but are closely
guarded. They were taken to Millen from
Rocky Ford by Detective Jones Tuesday
night, and will be held there until after
the hearing.