The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-27
COVINGTON'S BIG TRIAL.
ECHOLS PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO
TIE MURDER CHARGE.

A Jury Obtained After Eight Panels
Had Been Exhausted-A Majority of
the Jurors Farmers By Occupation
The Porter at the Pitts House the
First Witness for the State.
CONVICTION, GA, March 26.-The case or
the state agai st Charles Echols. charged
with the murder of J. H. Thomas, was
taken up this morning. The court convened
at $50 o'clock, Judge c. E. Honey pre-
siding The antagonists in the great legal
battle were arrayed on opposite sides OF the
table f. Womack, with his two assistants,
Col McHenry and f. F. Edwards, appeared
for the prosecution, and for the defense
Judge Alex NJ. Speer, Col. T.. c. Foster,
Capt. J. NJ. Pace, Col L. L. Middlebrooks,
IF. Rogers, W. S. Upshaw.
PLEA OF NOT GUILTY.
When the prisoner was arraigned and
the indictment read, and Solicitor Womack
asked: What say you for the pris0ner!'
the prisoner said in a clear, distinct tone
that could have been heard all over the
house: Not guilty" Then began the
calling of names for the jurymen as they
were put upon the stand From the first
twelve names called two jurors were Sc
lected, A. l.. Jackson, farmer. and W. &.
Thompson, clerk in general store.
THREE MORE SECURED.
From the second twelve three jurors were
secured. P. z. Middlebrooks, A. j. Lewis
and w. S. Kirkpatrick all farmers. From
the the third twelve only one juror was
secured, j. R. Bird, a farmer. he fourth
twelve furnished two jurors, William S.
Down and L. w. Lee, farmers. This ex-
hausted the regular panel AID only eight
jurors had been sworn in. The court then
took recess until the sheriff and bailiffs
could summon more men.
THE JURY COMPLETED.
Eight other panels were gone through
with to obtain the other four necessary TO
complete the jury, which was obtained
about $3.50 o'clock. The names of the last
four jurors are as follows: A. l.. Hays, j.
s. WiIlngham, Thomas Boyd, farmers, and
w. B. Harvey, clerk.
THE FIRST WITNESS.
The first witness for the state was Lewis
Bryant, the porter at the Pitts house at the
time of the tragedy. He says the card
party went to their room at $3.50 O'clock.
Il and three other boys were playing cards
in the Office when they came and went into
their room. l saw no one but Mr.. Echols.
He told me to make a fire, and |
sent Shug Blassamgame to do it,
played cards till o'clock
and then went tosroom No. 6 to wake up
man who wanted to take the morning ex-
press train for Atlanta 1 then went to
room No. s, where Thomas and Cohen we're.
] saw Thomas leaning against the wall.
His head was badly bruised, and he was
making noise trying to breathe.
COHEN APPARENTLY DEAD.
"Mr. Cohen was lying on the bed, ap-
parently dead. l saw Mr. Echols that
morning, but don't remember what time of
the morning it was. He came into the office
for drink Of water, but saying nothing
He HAD on light pants when | saw him. A
pillow was found in the street about IS or
100 yards away, near an opening in the
fence. The pillow was from Thomas
bed. A crowd of people came to
the hotel to see the room and the
wounded and dying men. l did not see Mr..
Echols there. | left the hotel about 1890
o'clock aud went to Lowe Christians house
and did not get back till II or / o'clock. A
boy named l. u Jones went with me.
WENT TO THE DEPOT
"But instead of returning with me he
went to the down night passenger train
with a woman going to Augusta. At the
same time, nearly o'clock. John Hendricks
went up to wake up man who was in
room near the one occupied by Thomas and
Cohen to take the early train. He came in
about O'clock Shortly after Mr.. Echols
came into the office. the train was behind
time. saw no blood on MIR. Echols."