The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-22
TO BE TRIED FOR MURDER
FRANK RUsTINs SLAYER HELD BY
THE CORONER'S JURY.

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Story of the Tragedy as Told at the
Inquest-Rustin's Frequent Visits to
Smiths Home and What They Led
follow the Prisoner Received the
Verdict-An Effort to Secure Bail
Mrs. Smiths Visit to Her Husband
in Ills Cell-scenes at the Murdered
Mans Home.
William P. Smith, the slayer Of j. Frank
Rustin, spent last night in Jail. He was
committed Yesterday afternoon by the cor
oner to await the action of the grand jury.
The verdict Of the coroner's jury WAS not
surprise The killing Of Rustln was
looked upon as premeditated murder and
while there were some who thought the kill
ing iusufable, the majority sided with the
jury.
The southern part of the city, in the
naighborhOod of where the crime was com
mitted and where the murdered man lived,
was greatly stirred up. The scene Of
the murder, at Bolton and sWest
Broad streets, was visited by crowds
of people. The murdered mans home, on
Anderson street, near West Broad, where
his remains were taken, was the object Of
curious interest. and when the coroners
jury went out at O'Clock TO view the body
the street was thronged with people.
Smith spent the night very quietly in his
cell at the barracks, and exhibited the
utmost GOODNESS until he read in the MORN
ING News the account Of his crime Then
be gave way, but he quickly recovered his
control, aud when the officers came to take
him TO the inquest he was cool and collected.
THE CoRoYER's INVESTIGATION.
Justice Mohna's court room was packed
with people and the sidewalks in front Of
the Office were blockaded when the coroner
began his investigation. The jury was
taken to the murdered mans house on An
derson street TO view the body, and it was
nearly 10 o'clock before the examination of
witnesses was begun. The prisoner, after
he was brought from the barracks, was in
charge of Officers Wetherhorn and Endres
in the Justices private Office During the
inquest he sat by the side of his counsel
Hon. P. W. Meldrim, and exhibited the
same GOODNESS that he did when he fired the
fatal shots and gave himself up to the
police. Solicitor General duBlgnon was
present at the Investigation, by request Of
the coroner, in the states behalf.
IN THE COURT ROOM
The heat in the court room was sitting,
OGL lA0 epSNJtlblS OldIh anu NuAlbt JhCkt4
together close as sardines, stayed till the
court room was cleared for the jury to
make up its verdict Coroner Dixon con
Quoted the investigation, and the testimony
was cOrroborative of the account Of the
shooting in yesterdays MORNING News.
The first witness was Luke Fraser, a col
Ored man, who was standing on the opposite
side of West Broad stress when the shoot
ing took place. He saw two men, whom he
-. l.
his cousin, Knox Rustin, on the corner.
The former was sitting in his sulky. His
cousin was standing with one foot on the hub
Of the sulky wheel. Fraser saw man come
I'D behind the Sulky, and when few feet
away draw pistol and shoot Frank Rustin
from the sulky seat. At the first shot Rus
tin fell to the ground. As he fell the man
shot again. and then stood over his body
and fired three more shots. Fraser recog-
nized Smith as the man who did the shoot
ing.
OFFICER MIKELLS STORY.
The testimony of Policeman j. w.
Mikell, who took Smith to the barracks,
was among the most important of any of
the witnesses. Policeman Mikell was riding
out New Houston street, toward West
Broad, few minutes after o'clock Fri
day night. When he got near West Broad
lie saw four men standing on the street
corner. One of them called TO him that
there was shooting going on further down.
The officer saw a crowd and rode rapidly in
that direction. When he reached Bolton
street he saw Knox Rustin and Smith
crossing the street together, and saw the
body lying in the sand. He asked who did
the shooting. Smith said that he did, and
he wanted to be taken to the barracks. The
officer took him TO where the murdered
man was lying on the crossing and sent for
Policeman Dwyer and put him in charge of
the body. Officer Mikell then took Smith
TO the barracks. Before leaving the scene
Of the murder he asked him for his pistol,
and Smith handed it to him.
THE DEADLY WEAPON. 4
The weapon was a new 32-caliber, double
action Smith & Wesson revolver. 1t Law
on the coroner's desk during the investiga-
ton. and the officer identified it as the one
that Smith gave him. He was asked by
the jury what Smith said to him on the
way to the barracks about the shooting and
he replied that Smith told him that after
lie shot Rustin he reloaded the revolver and
asked his companion to take him to the
barracks Knox replied: You have shot
my cousin" Smith added that after he had
hhot Rustin he throw out the empty shells
and reloaded the pistol with another round
Of cartridges for his own protection. He
said that he shot Rustin because he had
been worrying his wife. He said that he
had talked with Rustin and his father
about the matter He had made up his
mind to shoot HIM, and he shot him. He
said that he had always been taught to do
his work well, and when he shot Rustin he
shot 70 kill him. The balls all struck close
together in the murdered mans head.
In answer to a question from one Of the
Jurors, the officer said that Smith did not
tell him that he had ever seen Rustn wor-
rying his wife, but that he had mistrusted
IL for a long time. He said that his wife
had told him that Rustin had pushed his
way into her bedroom, but he had never
seen him there.
RUSTIN AT SMITHS HOUSE.
A. W. Corker, who rooms at Smiths
house, and has been rooming there for the
past five or SIX months, was the next WIT
ness. He testified that he had seen Rustln
there on severa occasions and he had seen
Mrs. Smith in tears. Naturally he wanted
to know what Rustin had been saying TO
her; and on one occasion, when they we're
together in the parlor, he stopped as he was
passing the door and listened He heard
Mrs. Smith eutreat Rustin to 20 away aud
leave her alone. Rustin begged her TO 20
with him, and said that be loved her and
that he never could be happy without her.
Mr.. Corker said that he never had been
called upon to put Rustin out Of the house,
but that he felt inclined to put him out on
his own account when he heard what he
said to Mrs. Smith.
"How long had this been going onn
asked the coroner
For three or four months. About two
months aUO Rustin gtODnad cOninu 70 tho