The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-09
GUILTY AND TO HANG.
ALFRED HARRISON CONVICTED OF
NUMBERING HIS NIECE.


Liberty County to Have Hanging
Jan. 1.-THE Slayer of Little Annie
Harrison Found Guilty Without a
Recommendation TO Mercy-A New
Trial Asked For-Ths Story OF the
Crime.
Alfred Harrison, the murderer Of his
12-year-old niece, Annie s. Harrison. at
Hinesville, Liberty county, was convicted
of murder at the Liberty superior court
Saturday night, and was sentenced By
Judge Falligant to be hanged on Friday,
Jan. II. The jury was out about five hours
celebrating doubtless on whether the
prisoner should be imprisoned for life OF
whether the death penalty should be fixed
upon him. II was 1890 o'clock when the
jurors brought in their verdict with no
recommendation for mercy.
Solicitor General Fraser was a neighbor
of the Harrisons and did not take leading
part in the prosecution, although he argued
the law points for the state. I. d. Rock
well, Esq, addressed the jury for the prose-
cution. L. H. McLaws, Esq, aud Hon. p
w. Meldrim defended the prisoner.
NO EVIDENCE FOR THE PRISONER.
The defense introduced no evidence and
Mr.. Meldrim made the argument for the
prisoner. When the verdict was brought
in Mr.. Meldrim was absent from the room
aud DIR. McIaws made motion for new
trial which will be heard in this county.
It is thought the case will go TO the
supreme court.
The prisoner took matters coolly for
awhile after the verdict was announced,
but before he was removed from the room
he was seized with paroxysm of passion,
and used the most profane and indecent
language to the jury which had convicted
him.
HARRTsoN's CRIME.
The circumstances connected with the
murder are as follows: Alfred Harrison's
niece, Annie Sylvania Harrison, a girl Of
II years, was visiting the home of the Har-
risons at Hinesville, and expected to return
to the home of her parents in day or two.
On the night of Oct. 20, 1888, Alfred Har-
rison, his sister Sallie, their mother and
the little girl Annie, were in the house to-
gether. Annie was sitting on the floor at
the foot of her aunt, trying to solve child
ish puzzle, while Alfred was pacing back and
forward in the room. Suddenly he turned,
and facing his niece, drew a Al caliber bulldog
revolver and shot her through the heart.
His sister did not realize what had been
done, thinking he had set off fire-cracker,
and she said TO her brother, "You don't
want to set the child on fire, do you?n aud
stopping over she discovered that her niece
had been shot.
TRIED TO KILL HIS SISTER.
As she essayed to pick up the lifeless body
the brother fred at her, the ball taking
effect in her thigh. An hour after the
shooting the murderer, who had previously
left the noon, returned, his clothing
soiled and muddy, and asked who did
the shooting, and when questioned said he
had heard the pistol shots, which were fired
by the colored men employed about the
place. and that the shots had frightened
him, and he hadj umped into the well.
The killing is said to have been on &C
count of strange infatuation the murderer
had for his niece. few days before the
killing they and some neighbor children
had been hickory nutting together.
SET THE HOUSE ON FIRE.
On their return home he told
her she should never enjoy the
nuts she had gathered, and on the Friday
preceding the killing the clothes-press in
the Harrison house had been set on fire,
and all of Armies clothing except what she
wore on the night of her death was burned.
On the day following the murder Alfred
inquired particularly how his aged mother
took the tragedy, how his sister was getting
on, and how and by whom little Annie had
been laid out. The murderer is 80 years
old and unmarried, and is a brother Of
Daniel 7. Harrison of this city, long en-
ployed in the Savannah, Florida and West
ern paint shops, and of William Harrison, a
well-known merchant of Hinesville.