The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-18
FOUR MURDER CASES
TO BE TRIED IN LIBERTY COUNTY
THIS WEEK.

THIS WEEK.
Alouzo Dawson for Shooting Sam
Murchison, Alfred Harrison for
Shooting His Niece, James Gordon
for Killing Lester Middleton, and
Sarah Roberts for ButcherIng Her
Infant Nephew-The Religious Craze
Cases to be q Part OF the Court Pro-
ceedings-The Tutly Miscegenation
Case Likely to Come Up.
Judge Falligant, Solicitor General Fraser
and Court Stenographsr Cam will leave
this morning for Hinesville, where the
November term of the Liberty superior
court will be convened to-day. Hons. r.
E Lester, p W Meldrim and William
Clifton viii accompany the court officials,
and Aessrs. duBignon and Erwin will join
them on Thursday, and also 7. D. Rock
well, Esq. Mr.. duBignon will assist So
licitor General Fraser in the prosecution of
James Gordon for the murder of Lester
Middleton.
The present term Of the court at Hines
vile will probably be the most eventful in
the history Of the county. There are four
as many more murder cases that will be
likely to come under investigation by the
grand jury.
THE DAWSON MURDER CASE.
Alonzo Dawson, colored, is to have a new
trial on the charge Of numbering Samuel
Murchtson. In q row at negro dance
Dawson shot at colored woman
by the name Of Ellen Thomas,
and although she was hit twice, she
was not seriously hurt, but one of the shots
struck Murchison and killed him. Dawson
was convicted year ago and was sentenced
to be hung, but a new trial was granted on
the ground that his attorneys, Messrs. Way
and Williams, who were appointed to de-
fend the prisoner, did not have time to pre-
pare their case.
Alfred l.. Harrison, who shot his niece in
February last, is to be tried at this term for
murder. Owing to tho illness of his coun-
sci, Hon. P. W. Meldrim, the case was con-
tinued at the last term.
James Gordon is to be tried for the muir
der of Lester Middleton last May. This is
the case where Middleton, having charged
Gordon with hog stealing, aud the parties
afterward meeting in the road, the killing
| took place. It is claimed that Middleton,
who was in his wagon, reached for his gun,
when Gordon, who was on horseback, drew
his revolver and got the drop on Middleton
and killed him. Hon. R. e. Lester of this
city, and A. E. Way, Esq, of Liberty
county, will defend Gordon, and Mr.
duBignon will assist in the prosecution.
THE FALSE CHRIST CASES.
The religious crazs will furnish its share
of criminal prosecution. Sarah Roberts is
to be tried for the murder of her 16-months-
old nephew. This murder was vicarious
sacrifice. It is alleged that she cut the in
fant's throat, stabbed it in the head and
threw the victim in pond Of water during
the time that Bell, the false christ, was
doing apostolic work in Liberty county.
Jack Pray. Simon Walthour, Ned Stevens,
John Douglass and Sam Jones are to be
tried for assault with intent to murder
Sampson Carter, whom they beat nearly to
death. Carter disputed the claim that
after Bell had been taken to the asylum his
spirit entered into the body of one James,
who claimed to be Christ, and in the dis
pute Carter and James Came TO blows
James followers SCI upon Carter and beat
him terribly. james was afterward sent to
the asylum.
Another of the fanatics. Shadrick Wal
thour, was confined in the jail and was
killed while IN the Jail by a blow on the
head which fractured his skull, and the
murder of the luuatic will doubtless be
fully investigated by the grand jury at the
present term.
IL is learned tnab q negro was killed In
Liberty county on last Thursday by man
| of his own race, but the PARTICULARS have
not been learned, and it will also be for
| investigation.
Given Yates, for burglary. and Nat Stat
| ford, for cotton stealing, are to be tried.
THE TUTLY CASE TO COME UP.
| The celebrated miscegen alton case Of the
state against Charles Tutly and Maud
Ward is also for hearing at this term. This
is likely to be celebrated case and may go
to the courts of last resort The parties
are indicted for fornication. Tutly is
| white and the woman is colored, and they
claim to have been legally married in
Washington city. Mixed marriages are
forbidden in Georgia, and the grand jury
indicted the couple. The defendants will
enter plea of not guilty and will contend
that the marriage is legal and duly
solemnized at the national capital, and that
the state of Georgia has no right to annul
the marriage and prosecute them when
they are man and wife under the laws Of
the land in force where they were legally
joined.
There are a number Of minor cases, and
it is not at all likely that the docket can be
cleared up this week, and some cases will
have to go over, as Judge Falligant will
have to hold court in Mcintosh county next
| Monday