The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-12
SLEDGE Is A FREE MAN.
THE JURY BRINGS IN d VERDICT
OF NOT GUILTY.

L A. Wilson and Col. Mcdonald Make
the Points For the Defense and Hon.
I I. Sweat and Solicitor General
RrartIey For the Prosecution - a
Terrible strain on the Prisoner.
WAvcRoss. GA. April l2.-The second
dav of the Sledge- Donaldson murder trial
onened this morning at o'clock The case
was opened fer the defense by l.. \. Wilson,
Eso who reviewed the evidence pro and
con in a mastery and eloquent manner,
making one of the ablest efforts Of his life.
He was followed by Hon. J. L. Sweat for
the state in a two hours speech
which left no stone unturned in its
effort to unravel the mystery and arrive
nj the truth. The court adjourned at noon
and Col. Sweat completed his argument
after dinner. Col John c. Mcdonald then
smoke for two hours and half in defense
CT Sledge.
THE SOLICITOR GENERALS GREAT SPEECH.
At $50 o'clock Solicitor General Brantley
peneo for the state in the closing and final
beech His argument was mastery, dis
passionate and eloquent, and his manner
sincere and impressive, and pronounced oy
some who heard it one of the best ever
Heard in this court house. Solicitor Brant-
ley is destined to take high rank among
the leading lawyers of the state. The
,srrong point he made in bringing out the
physical facts of the case caused Sledge TO
move uneasily in his seat Is he scanned the
faces of the jury for some evidence or their
effect upon them.
GIVEN TO THE JURY.
AT ITO o'clock the argument was closed
rand Judge Atkinson began his charge, and
at 1850 o'clock the fate Of Sledge was given
over to the jury.
Sledge and his little son, his brother and
another took in with nervous interest every
point of the long and tedious trial Sledge
sat in advance of his mother and brother,
with his little boy at his side, within four
feet of the jury and with undated interest
ianalyzed the expressions, the shades ana
shadows of the case, as their influence NIT
ted athwart the countenances OF the twelve
ynen whose word to him meant liberty, I'M
lpriSonment or death
SIGNS OF NERVOUSNESS.
His right hand wandered nerv ously to his
forehead and face now ana then, and but
for the occasional nervous glances to the
counsel for the prosecution or word with
his lawyer, his eyes never turned from the
jury bax. His little bright eyed boy chewed
gum or rolled it between his palms in tire
some monotony, while his mother hid her
face behind her hand to utter silent prayer
or wipe from her eyes the springing tear.
THE DEAD MANS FATHER.
Old man Donaldson, much broken and
rareworn with grief for his boy in his
depicted in his honest face, sat just behind
the solicitor with his head bowed in his
hands. He never looked up, but seemed to
be almost oblivious to what was transpir ing
around him. "a
The judge, after charging the jury in his
able and dignified manner. ordered them to
retire and consider their finding, and as they
filed past the prisoner at the
bar, anxiety could be seen
plainly written upon every lineament of his
features. He has borne up well under the
terrible mental strain, which, in the closing
hours of his trial, have been most severe.
The door of the jury room closed behind
the twelfth man, and shut in the fate of
Sledge for life or death, liberty or impris-
onment.
At IL o'clock tonight the jury brought
in verdict of mot guilty"