The morning news., 1889-05-21
AMURnERER'S NEW TRIAL
He GETg IT BECAUSE THE JURY
WENT TO PRAYER MEETING.

The SuprrGne Court Regards the Con
duct OF the Jurors ana Bailth as
sufnciepS Ground for Granting Re-
hearing .Dr. Ashworth's Death At
tributed to Suicide on Account OF
1sye
ATIAxrA, Ga, May 90 The following
supreme court decisions were handed down
to-day:
Atkinson VS. Orr; from Jasper. Re-
versed.
Riddle vs.. Hodge; from Houston. Re-
versed
Gum. Administrative, VS.. Slaughter
from Butts. Affirmed.
Hicks vs. Kiey; from Bibh. Affirmed.
Shaw VS. the state; from Butts. Re
yersed. Shaw was convicted Of the murder
of Thomas McNair in Butts county May
Is. 1887, and sentenced to hang. The de-
tense set up as ground for new trial that
pending the case and after the beginning Of
the argument the bailif at night, without
permission of the judge, took the jury 10
prayer meeting, where services were con-
Quoted by the prosecutor, who addressed
the congregation and afterwards prayed
for the court and its officers. The
1urymen made affidavit taat thoy were not
influenced, but the supreme court held that
it was suca misconduct as required new
trial, and that it was impossible for the jury
to know whether they hxd been influenced.
DR. AsHwoRTH's DEATH.
An inquest was held to-day on the body
of DR.. A. B. Ashworth, and the verdict was
that he came TO his dea 2roh an over
dose of morphine given with his own hand,
whether with suicidal intent the jurors
could not determi e. The body of the ply
sician was found in his room last night and
was already decomposing. The deceased
had not been seen since Friday
morning, and it is presumed that
he died some time during that day or night.
1t is the opinion of the public that .he
poison was taken deliberately, and the act
is attributed TO love troubles and whisky.
The deceased was insured for $1,000
SUDDEN DEATH.
Miss Julia Mills, a young lady of West
End, while visiting a neighbor to-day died
suddenly of heart disease. She was
daughter of Charles w. Mills, who recently
moved here from Rome.
Edward Thompson Of Hall county
pleaded guilty in the United States court
to-day of robbing the Pleasant Hill post
office in Forsyth county. He was SEN
tenced to years in the Columbus tOl
penitentisry.
Gov Gordon to-day reappointed F. B.
Dillard, solicitor Of the county court OF
Clay for the term Of two years.
UNIVERSITY ALUMNI
The Univef sity Alumni Club Of Atlanta
was organized In the ball room Of the Kim
bail house to-aight, sixty OF more gentle
mea being present. Judge VanEppes was
vice pres dent, and Prof. w. NJ Slaton,
secretary aud treasurer. A constitution
was adopted. and the third Monday night III
May was selected as tue date of the
annual meeting. Later a reception was
rendered Chancellor Boggs and a banquet
was given in his honor Judge Van Epps
presided, with he chancellor On his right
and Gov. Gordon on his left. Among the
prominent gentlemen present were Chief
W bite, Henry Grady, Judge Hammond, \.
J. Hammond, z. sP. Howell A. H. Cox,
W. a. Hemphill. and others.
THE RESPONSES TO THE ToAsrs.
The responses to the toasts were eloquent,
and met with rounds Of applause The gov
eruor spoke TO the toast of the Alumni in
history" Col. Hammond responded to
The duty Of the state toward the uni
versity" The faculty had a reply from
Prof White Hon. A. H. Cox spoke of
Tine past of the university Mayor
Glenn had a good word 10 say for AT
lanta,n and Mr.. Grady spoke for The
press 1t was nearly l O'Clock before the
distinguished guest of the night was called
up, but tue demonstrate n was enthusiastic.
The chancellor spoke eloquently of the needs
of the university, and pressed upon the
alumi the necessity for their help. and he
spoke of the way in whicA it could be of
most value He referred to the splendid
treatment lie had received from the alu mi
during his recent tour Of the state and the
eucours cement ie had been led TO feel for
the future of the university.