The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-24
TO DIE ON THE GALLONS.
JOHN WEBB CONVICTED OF THE
MURDER OF ANANIAS HILL.


MURDER OF ANANIAS HILL.
To be Executed Friday, Feb. 26.-The
Testimony on the Part Of tie State
Conclusive-The Defense Pleads
Insar ity from Epilepsy-Webb
Admits the Killing, But Thinks He
Was Justi1ed-The Jury Out an
Hour and a Half-A New Trial to be
Asked For.
John Webb Ccolored). who murdered
Ansnias Hill at Monteith, ten miles west of
the city. Oct. II, and afterward came into
Savannah and surrendered himself to the
authorities, was convicted in the superior
court yesterday and was sentenced to be
hanged on Friday, Feb. &c.
Nearly four panels were exhausted in Sc
curing jury. The state struck ten, the
defense nineteen, and four went Off for
cause. The following was the jury:
VIM. J. Harry, Jr., James P. Naughtin,
James 5. Talley, Walter l.. Mingledorf
William Cox, William E. Behnken,
Stephen L. Cole, Robert L. Royal,
Warren Snow. Charles +. Cler,
Edward B. Nell, John Quint, Jr.
As soon as the jury had been selected
ment and told the jury that the state ex-
pected to prove the defendant guilty as
charged.
The plea of the defense was temporary
insanity from epilepsy, claiming under the
prisoners statement that he had been at
tackled with the disease the night before he
shot Hill. George A. Mercer, Jr., ESQ.,,
and j. Ferris Cam, Esq, represented
Webb.
A WITNESS OF THE KILLING.
Joseph Sesbrook Ccolored) testified that
on Friday, Oct II, he had to go to Lizzie
Thomas house, at Monteith. after some
things which belonged to him. While he
was there Webb went up to the door, with
a gun in his hand, and tried to 60 in He
asked him what he intended DOING at the
same time partly shutting the door. Webb
pose to harm any one. and
Seabrook allowed him to enter. As soon
as he got inside Webb walked up to Ana
MAS Hill, who was lying asleep on the
floor, and cooking his gun pulled one trig-
ger, which only snapped the cap. He then
pulled the other trigger and the gun fired.
Seabrook said that as soon as he saw what
had been done he made for the door to get
out
SAW WEBB STRIKE HILL WITH CLUB.
When he reached the door he heard Webb
turned around in time 10 see him raise a
billet of wood and strike Hill three times
over the head.
The REORGANIZATION of Seabrook by
Attorney Cam failed to break down his
statement, and when the lawyer asked him
if he was sure he was telling the truth Sea>
brook caused much merriInent by replying:
II didn't come yer to lie fer either Ananias
or John.n
Rhena Williams and Lizzie Thomas, in
whose house Hill was murdered, testified
in about the same line as Seabrook.
A TART WITNESS.
John johnson testified to having seen
Webb come up to Dover Keller's store and
ask Mr.. Keller to loan him a gun. Mr..
Keller told him that he didn't have gun to
lend anybody. Half an hour afterward he
saw Webb 60 to Lizzie Thomas house with a
gun in his hand. In few minutes johnson
heard a cap snap, and in the next minute a
gunshot In moment or two he
saw Webb come out of the
back door and go through the woods.
johnson said he was not exactly running,
but was getting along at a lively rate.
johnson went over to Lizzie Thomas' house
after while, and saw Hill lying on the
floor dead
Under cross-examination johnson related
the incidents of the dance which took place
about three weeks before, at which Hill
tried to shoot Webb He told how Webb
wes compelled to put barrel before his
body TO prevent being killed.
Attorney Cam asked johnson il he ever
saw Webb have fits and he replied that he
had. Solicitor General Fraser asked how
long before the commission of the murder
did he know Of Webb's having fit John
son sal about three months. de was then
asked by the states representative If he
consid cred Webb a sensible man, and he re-
piled that he thought Webb had as much
sense as he had
At this point Attorney Cam asked John
son if he did not mean by that remark that
Webb did not have good sense. johnson
became indignant and replied tartly to Mr..
Cam that he thought he had as much sense
as himself.
OBJECTED TO HIS TESTIMONY.
Dover Keller (white) was next called by
the state, and Mr.. Cam Immediately raised
an Objection to his giving evidence, on the
ground that he had been standing outside Of
the door In position to hear the testimony.
and had not bsen sequestered, as requested
by the defense
Solicitor General Fraser asked Mr.. Keller
II he had heard any of the testimony, and
on his replying that he had not Judge Falli-
gaht ruled that he was competent wit
ness.
Keller testified that Webb came to him
on the day of the killing and asked for a
gun, saying he wanted TO kill nigger.n
Keller refused him, and shortly afterward
he heard the report of a gun. He then
went to Lizzie Thomas house, and found
Hill lying on the floor.
Coroner Dixon testified to the wounds he
found on Hills body when he was called to
hold an inquest. At the conclusion of
coroner Dixon's testimony the state rested.
POINT OF LAW RAISED.
George A. Mercer, Jr., ESQ. at the close
OF the state testimony raised the point that
the state claimed in the indictment that
Hill came to his death from a gunshot
wound inflicted by the hands of Webb.
when, in fact, the evidence proved that
death resulted from the use of the club, and
unless the state substantiated the allegation
he would demand that the jury be in
struceed TO acquit the accused
Solicitor General Fraser denied that the
Indictment was wrongly worded, and in
sisted That 1T covered both weapons. He
demanded that Mr.. Mercer read the indict-
ment, which he did. After hearing the
reading of the indictment, Judge Faliigant
SAID that 1t was question for the Jury to
oecloe as to whether the wounds inflicted by
the gun or club were the cause Of death.
THIRrY-oNE WITNESSES FOR THE DEFENSE.
The defense had summoned thirty-one
witnesses to prove that Webb was a sufferer