The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-16
MERINEs NOT THE MAN.
The Charges Of Assault with Intent TO
Murder and Robbery Not Sustained.

The Charges Of Assault with Intent TO
Murder and Robbery Not sustained.
The preliminary trial Of bob" Merines,
charged with assault with intent to murder,
ro5 berry and obstructiug legal process, came
of in Justice Shefta.rs court yesterday
afternoon. Merlnes was discharged upon
the charge Of robbery, and Solicitor General
Fraser made the first charge assault and
battery instead Of assault with intent to
murder Dempsey Griffin. Esq, represented
Merines.
Merines was brought from Jail by Con
stable Isaac Nathaus. His wife met him at
the magistrates Office with her babe in her
arms. Solicitor General Fraser took up
the case Of robbery first. ManiOn made his
statement, which is substantially the same
as that published in the MORNING News
the day the alleged robbery is said TO have
taken place. He said that he was in Mrs.
BarnwelIs house on Indian street. He
went there to deliver a message. He was
drinking, but was not drunk When he
went outside the house, Merines was stand
ing by tree-bOx on the street, and when
Manlon passed Merines knocked him down
aud took from him gold watch and chain,
finger ring and $77 20. He said that ne did
not know Merines, but when Merines stood
up III the court he said that it was the man
who struck him and took his money.
Manion said also that Marines took from
him knife, which he understood was at
the Jail. 1t was found on his person. The
knife was sent for, but he could not swear
that 1t was his Mrs. Barnwell was intro
duced by the defense. She said that Me-
rlnes hal not been inside of her house since
April. She said that Cracker Charlie"
and man by the name of Sullivan had
told one Of her friends that they beat
Manion. She asked Manion for
money when game Of cards
was proposed, but all that he
exhibited was lead dollar. She went out
Of the room and went to sleep, and Marion
said Merines came in while she was asleep
and that the party went out before she
came back into the room.
James Clarity testified that he met
MaDion on South Broad street and that he
had his watch then. Manion told him that
he had been robbed.
b. ID. Crane testified that the knife,
which Manion said resembled the one taken
from him, was like knife that he swapped
to Merines.
Merines said in his own defense that he
was at home when the alleged robbery took
place. Mr.. Garwes, merchant at Duffy and
West Broad streets, was introduced, and he
swore that he saw Merines go into his house
anu AOCA us uOOl hU 0.OU O'CLOCK, Out ne ulQ
not know whether he remained there He
said Merines was drinking. After the evil
dence was in, the case was argued a few
minutes, and Justice Sheftall held
that the evidence was not sufficient
to hold the prisoner, and he was
discharged. Solicitor General Fraser said
after the evidence was taken in the assault
with Intent to murder charge, that he
would withdraw that charge and make it
assault and battery. The bond was fixed
at $500. The defense waived examination
on the charge of obstructing legal process
and Merines was remanded to Jail. Mr..
Griffin said that he will endeavor to have
the case Of assault and battery brought up
ia the City Court to-day