The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-02
DIED FROM HIS WOUNDS.
p. R. O'CONNERs SUPPOSED TO
HAVE BEEN BEATEN TO DEATH.

ton in South Carolina Brought to ST.
Josephs Infrmary Covered With
Wounds 49, Two Rural Shopksepers
Under Arrest-The Story that O'Con-
ner Fell Through Hatchway Disbe-
lIeved by DR.. Elliott-The Character
ofthe Wounds Indicate that the Man
was stabbed--The Wife's story
Patrick r O'C1nners, keeper Of gro
Gerry on Flies plantation, about eight miles
from Savannah on the South Carolina side,
died at st. Joseph's Infirmary yesterday
morning from wounds received three weeks
ago, it is supposed, at tho hands Of William
Barrett
The wounded man had been Mt st. Joseph's
Infrmary under Dr. Eniott's treatment
since Jan. 10. aud at no time has he been
rational enough TO say anything about the
occurrence Tho parties with whom
OConners was in company on the night he
was wounded say that he fell through
hatchway. DR.. Elliott says that the man
was beaten 10 death. 1t was almost impos
sihle to receive such injuries from fall
The dead mans body was removed from
the infrmary TO the residence Of Mr.
William H. Devlin, No. % Gordon street.
where his funeral will take place tomorrow
BELIEVES THAT HER HUSBAND WAS MUIR
DERED
OConners' wife was with him last weak
She was seen by a MoENING NEWS re
porter. She said that she is clearly satisfied
that Willie Barrett, a young man who
keeps grocery at louisville, a village
about eight miles from the plantation, on
the Beach Hill road toward Vaudeville,
was her husbands slayer So impressed is
she with his guilt that she swore out war
rant In Hardeevile for Barretts arrest and
also the arrest of his father, John
Barrett. They were charged with
assault with intent to murder
the men were arrested, gave bond and
were released.
THE CAROLINA AUTHORITIES TELEGRAPHED.
Justice Haywood was telegraphed at Har-
deeville last night the a noua cement Of the
death Of O'CouneCs, aud was asked to mold
Barrett and his son
Abiding b. TIE death of her husband,
Mrs O'Couners said Friday morning my
husband left home intending IT, 20 to Nellie
Barrett's to kill beef He went on horse
back and expected to return early in the
afternoon. He did not return in the after
noon nor that night / became uneasy
about It, About o'clock Saturday
morning a wagon was driven up in
front OF the door with my hushan d
lying on his face. A negro drove the wagon.
and when l asked him what had happened,
he said that my husband fell through a
hatchway on pair of scales.
CARRIED HOME UNCONSCIOUS.
He was unconscious, and was unable TO
speak. sent for some Of the noighbors, and
DR. Elliott was summoned from Savannah.
He got there about o'clock and ordered
my husband removed 60 the city next
day. | came with him to tho iufrmary, and
then ] retur cd and had the warrants sworn
out for the two men A colored man, who
with NV I'M bo nd gu NJ Ro
told me after got home, that he knew
great deal about the affair." and that when
the tune came he would tell me.
He said that he saw Barrett
and my husband together on the Beach Hill
road, between Smiths store and Barretcs,
which are less than a quarter of mile
apart
BEATEN WITH A CLUB.
He said that he saw Barrett strike my
husband two blows on the head with a club.
They were quarreling. The colored man
said that he told Barrett not to do that, and
Barrett turned upon him and he had to
leave. The last he saw of them they were
In the road, aud besides the two white men,
Jack Grant, the colOred man, who brought
my husband home in the wagon the next
morning. Mr. Smith, who lives within a
quarter OF a mile Of Barrett's store said
that Barrett sent for him about 2 o'clock
Saturday morning. Mr.. Smith went down
there, and upon reaching Barrett's store
said that he found my husband lying
in the front part Of the store in
pool OF blood and blee ling
profusely. Close by was a tub full of bloody
water and rags that then had been using in
pipng the blood from Wis wounds Mr.
Smith said that Barrett asked him what to
do. Smith replied that be had better send
for me and for doctor but Barrett said he
would do neither, but would bring my hus-
band home.
THE RATOHwAY STORY.
he said that my husband had fallen
through the hatchway, but Nr. Smith, upon
examining the scales under the hatchw0y,
said tAat Ire found no blood, nor any sign Of
where ono had fallen, aud he left, thinking
Barrett would take my husband home He
told mo that nay husband and Barrett spent
portion of Friday afternoon at his store.
They tool, three or four drinks, but neither
was drunk ~
Mrs. O'Conners thinks that she can fur
nish evidence sufficient TO convict Barrett
of beating her husband to death.
DR.. Elliott, who treated O'Cunners from
the second day Of his illness until his death,
says that be is clearly satisfied that IL was
case OF beating to death He said that he
had never treated IA similar case Besides
being dubbed TO insensibllity, tho man eK-
hibited signs Of being drugged.
NO HOPE FROM THE FIRST.
The phi ysiciau was ell The while doubtful Of
Tue recovery OF MS 0llout, ana ~ answer 10
a letter from the Hardeevie officials as 70
the probability of O'COnnors being able to
be present at the trial Tomorrow, he said
that the patient was in critical condition
and If be survived the injuries, he was
doubtful il his mental faculties would be
restored The wounded man bore MARKS OF
severe violence that could hardly be re-
ceived from the mere fal ing through a
hatohway, DR.. Elliott said tie had bad
wound on the bridge Of his nose
end that portion Of it higher up between
the eyes was mashed into a Jelly. lie had a
deep cut over the left eye aud two or three
teeth were knocked out. lis lower lip was
badly cut and the lett kneepau was b. oxen
DR. Elliott said that ho WAS satisfied that
the beating was done with blunt intstru-
Inent
HlGH FEELING ON THE PLANTATION.
John F. Ragan, who lives across the river
and a short distance from where O'Conuers
lived, said that the news OF his death spread
rapidly through the neighborhood aud senti-
ment there is stro against Barrett. He
said that everybody IN the community is
satisfied that he beat O'Counsrs and that the
hatchway story is untrue Parties who are
acquainted with young Barrett say that he
l. Ayf ND r,11 nan.