The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-30
UNDER THREE WARRANTS.
A Soriven County Woman's Arrest on
Variety of Charges.


Detective Wetherhorn made a very neat
arrest yesterday of colored woman in
Justice Molina's office. Winnie A. Bryant,
a colored girl on whose face charcoal
nowhere made cadaverous tracery, walked
into the Justices office and detailed how her
steps were logged by the tireless minions Of
the law, and wanted to know how she
could obviate a continuance of the I'M
pleasantness. Officer Wetherhorn, who was
sitting in the Office at the time, turned and
asked her name, and when she replied he
told her that she was the girl be was look
ing fer, and he arrested her for assault with
intent to murder. Later Constable Nc
Dermott turned over two warrants against
her, one for larceny after trust and the
other for simple larceny.
The arrest has stirred up considerable
feeling. The warrants are all sworn out by
a white man named Robert r. Williams of
Scriven county, and the sheriff of Scriven
was authorized TO offer reward OF $40 for
the womans arrest.
The case is peculiar one. The warrant,
charging assault with intent to murder"
has evidently been tempered with. 1t
shows that it was issued april %" but
that date has been scratched out and June
~" substituted. Two or three Scriven
county negroes who are familiar with all
the circumstances, have taken an active in
forest in the matter, and have engaged j.
| F. B. Beckwith ESQ.,, to defend the woman
| They say, and Winnie says, that it is per-
secution, and that the motive on the part
of Williams is to compel Der to continue
| service with him, whose relations with the
woman have been of debatable character.
| Prior to her arrest a friend went
to Solicitor General duBignon to counsel
with him as to what steps she should take
| to escape the persecution of Williams, and
the espionage of the officers, and it was to
| prevent a repetition of the annoyance that
led her to the Justices Office when she was
made a prisoner and lodged in the jail to
await the arrival of the sheriff of Scriven
county, who is expected to arrive in the
| city to-day.
| Some weeks ago Williams came to Savan
nah and tried to persuade the woman to
return with him. She was then stopping
with her cousin on Lumber street. Williams
tried all bis persuasive powers to induce
| her to return, but she was determined, and
go back she would not.
This was ont Thursday. On the Sunday
| following Williams went to the house, ac-
companled by Policeman Floyd, who re-
manned outside while he went in, and the
women say terrorized them with a drawn
| revolver, taking the Bryant woman with
out a warrant She was carried to the bar
racks There she threw herself upon the
mercy of Sergt. Killourhy for protection,
| and she stated the prosecutions she had been
subjected to by Williams. Officer Killourhy
promised her that she should not be deliv-
cred over to Williams without a war
rant Williams went to Justice Elsinger's
| house in the forenoon for a warrant, but he
was not at home. The following day
Justice Elsinger said he would have re-
fused to issue the warrant. Meantime,
| Williams actions had stirred up the friends
OF the woman, who were ebout to take
steps to prosecute him, and without waiting
to prosecute the woman, he left the city on
the night train, and on the following morn
| ing Mayor Lester discharged her.
| Williams returned, and the next heard of
| the case was the warrant for assault with
intent to murder Williams, which the war
rant sets forth took place on April 81. This
| the woman accounts for by saying in
playful scuffie, while she was peeling pota-
toes, Williams hand was slightly cut with
the knife, 1t is thought to be very suspicious
| by all who have examined the warrant
| that the date should have been very
clumsily scratched out and June 10 substi-
| tuted. Examined under the microscope
both dates clearly show.
The warrant for larceny after trust al
leges that she appropriated So rs. On the
/
| turn it is said he admitted that he gave the
woman the money with the understanding
that Is cents Of it should be spent to buy
him pipe.
The third warrant, for simple larceny,
| charges her with taking a valise, night
shirt, ETC.. which, it is claimed, she offered to
return to him at the time he visited her on
Lumber street to persuade her to return,
| and he refused to take the things, saying he
wanted her to go back with him, and didn't
care for the articles and especially the
valise which he had loaned her.
The sheriff of Scriven county is expected
to-day, and before the prisoner is turned
over to him Solicitor General duBignon,
who has had all the circumstances brought
to his attention, will have a talk with him.
The solicitor general also informed MORN
ING NEWS reporter that he will communi-
cate all the facts to the solicitor general of
the Scriven district.
Mr.. Beckwith and the friends Of the
woman will accompany her to Scriven
county to-day if the sheriff comes for her,
and if the sheriff does not come to-day
Justice Molina will order her discharge II
the sheriff comes, Mr., Beckwith will
demand an immediate preliminary inveSti-
cation and see that the woman is extended
all her rights, and bond, II necessary, will
be promptly forthcoming. Meantime
it is learned that warrants will
be issued for Williams arrest,
and the Scriven county officers will be
looked to to return the service of Chatham
officials by placing Williams under arrest,
and bringing him here to answer for his
unauthorized descent upon q private house
without warrant, and for drawing a weapon
in violation of the code. Much sympathy
has been enlisted for the woman
Mr.. Beckwith has looked into the case
visited the barracks and got record of the