The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-03
NO MOONSHINE THIS TINE
ROWAN HERRINGrON ACQUITTED
OF ILLICIT DISTILLING.

Represented in the United States
Court in the Harrington Moonshine
Cases-Some Tan Talking About a
Secret Still onthe Vinelsnd Planta-
tion-Potato Beer the Kind of Liquor
That Emanuel Countians Drink.
Rowan Harrington of Emanuel county
was acquitted by a jury in the United
States circuit court at II o'clock last, night
OF illicit distlling. The jury was out but
about half an hour. The case was a notable
one. Some colcred men in Emanuel county
have figured more or less during the past
year before United States Commissioner
Lamar as witnesses against Rowan and
Berrien Harrington, and drawing more
money from the government as such than
they were willing or able to earn at honest
labor.
One of these witnesses, Jim Pattisoll, &C
cordlng to the testimony of Barlow Moore,
white man of Emanuel county, Is YOU
doc doctor. Both Pattisoll and Robert
Williams, another coiored witness, have
been prosecuted by Hon Alfred Herring
toms successor to the Office Of county at
torney, while George Dallas was prosecuted
and convicted by Hon. Alfred Harrington,
and put on the public works Of the county.
HAD SEEN THE DIsTILLERY.
The case occupied all of yesterdays session
OF the court, Dallas his wife, Jim Patti
soil and Robert Williams all swearing that
they had seen Rowan Harrington running
the distillery on the VIneand plantation
owned by Hon. Alfred Harrington. Ex-
United States Deputy Marshal Goodman
swore that he had been run off the place by
Rowan and Berrien Harrington, but had
a yfla ha Ao.xr Nit
Harrington, and found that the still had
been removed from the furnace. Bob
Williams swore he had followed
the trail to the OhoOpee river and
found the still set up there.
Pattisoll admitted on the stand that he and
Henry Taylor, (colored), had fixed the
thing up to report he still and they ex
pected to make 500 apiece, and he said that
Taylor had used up about quire of paper
writing to Washington, Savannah and At
lanta about it.
Barlow Moore, Thos D. Moore and Ber-
rlen Harrington, all white men swore that
Pattisoll and Dallas are not to be believed
on their oaths, and not only impeached their
evidence but testifia I'd that the still was not
in operation after the order Of Alfred Her
rlngton that 1t must not be operated.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRINGTOS's STATE
MsNT.
Alfred Harrington made a statement on
the stand to the effect that as owner of
Nlneland plantation ne had purchased the
still to distill liquor from a large crop of
potatoes about to be lost He applied to
the revenue department TO have it regis
tered, and anticipating the visit of the
registrar, Rowan aid Berrien Harrington
had gone to work and made some beer from
the potatoes, for distillatiOn, but when it
was found that the still could not be regis
tered for the purpose he had sent down
orders TO the plantation to stop the WORK at
once, empty out the beer and not attempt
to operate the stin, and his orders had at
once been complied with.
The case was conducted on the part of the
government by District Attorney Marion
Erwin, and Hon. Alfred Harrington CON
Quoted the case for the defense, assisted by
Hon. Rufus Z. Lester and Senator
duBignon, Mr.. Lester examining AL
fred Harrington and arguing a de-
murrer to the court. Mr.. duBignon
assisted as advisory counsel, and Mr..
Harrington examined the government
witnesses, conducted the direct examination
for the defense, and closing is work by an
argument to the jury, which Judge Speer,
after leaving the bench, alluded TO as being
a most able one. District ATTORNEY Erwin
closed the argument for the government in a
speech which was pronounced by counsel
THE OTHER CASES CONTINUED.
When the verdict of the jury had been
announced and the jury discharged, Mr.
Erwin asked that the cases against Berrien
Harrington, Henry Taylor, George Gay and
George Bird, the last three being colored,
charged with the same Offense as that
alleged against Rowan Harrington, and the
case against Alfred Harrington, charged
with conspiracy to prevent witnesses from
appearing before the United States com
missioner in the case, be continued for the
term, and the court so ruled.
Alfred HerrlngtOu, addre sing the court,
said that he had hoped that the charge
against himself would be disposed OF before
the week was over. He did not want such
a charge TO rest over him. He had sent to
Swainsboro for records of the courts there.
to show the character Of the negroes who
had brought this charge against him, and
he would DO ready for trial or Saturday, if
the court could SO tx it,
The court said that he recognized the
position Of Mr.. Harrington, but it was
matter for the district attorney Co consider.
TO co OVER FOR THE TERM
Mr.. Erwin said that as the court will ad-
journ Saturday, it will be impossible TO
take up the case, SIS there are prisoners in
Jail and awaiting trial whose cases are
assigned. Thereupon the court continued
all the Emanuel county cases, ordered tue
discharge of tho witnesses for the term,
and stated that he hoped to dispose of all
the cases early in ths fall.
Hon. Alfred Harrington, VINO is the rep
resentative from Emanuel county ia the
legislature, said last night that the action
of Dallas and Pattisoll was not only the
outcome of spite but OF a conspiracy to get
money, and their record on the criminal
dockets of Emanuel county would prove
all that he and the witnesses said of them.
He viii remain over in savannah during
May week, but the other parties in the case