The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-12
TRIAL OF THE GUARDsMEN.
The Case Now in the Hands OF the
Judges of the Court.

ATLANTA, GA, Dec. 1.-THE cOurt>mar
tial rcconvened this afternoon and tonight
appears TO have concluded the trial Of the
Gate City Guard attempted bribery cases.
The case against Lieut.. Roberts was re-
opened for the Introduction of further testi-
mony. The deposition Of Lieut. Mcdonald
was read. The lieutenant saw Spiilman in
Auburn, but did not see Roberts
there. He had no reason TO believe he
was there. except for the statement Of
others In an affidavit by Frank Hill,
telegraph operator at Auburn, it " as stated
that the deponent did not know Roberts.
had no conversation with him, and could
not say that he had seen him. A telegram
had reached the Auburn office addressed t.
G. NJ. Roberts. It was sent TO the hotel,
but was not delivered, as Roberts was not
there at the time. Accompanying Mr..
Hills affidavit was the telegram referred to.
Ii said.
Have written you full particulars, care hotel
NJ Is not at home ).
Copies Of other kilograms introduced in
the Sneed case, sent by and 70 Private
Myers and signed IS" and "A c. S.
were also in court, furnished by the opera
tor.
REPORTERS INTERVIEW.
Gordon n. Hurtell OF the Atlanta Journal
testified that he went TO see Spillman to get
an interview when rumors of the court-nar-
tial first became current. He was told 70
call again. Returning later he found
Myers, Spillman and Roberts talking TO-
gether. Ose Of them Myers, the witness
thought,l said. Eyes, we tried TO get the
programme. and would have made money
had we gotten it.
The witness did not know Roberts, and up
to that time Myers was also stranger 20
him. He did not remember that Roberts
said anything at all. The witness did not
stop to question him IL was nearly time
for his paper to 60 to press, and he left as
soon as he got the statement he desired for
publication. He could tell of nothing
further going TO show that Roberts had any
connection with the attempted bribery.
L. T. Gilbert, a clerk in the Western
Union Office, was offered as witness. with
one of the company'S books to show that
Spillman kept an account with the com
pany. This was objected to and ruled out.
THE DEFENDANTS DENIAL.
The defendant submitted written state
ment, denying absolutely the charges
against him, and protesting that he made
no effort TO obtain the programme, and had
no connection with any such effort He ex-
plain ed that he happened to be present when
Mr.. Hurtell called on Mr.. Spillman, but was
not concerned in the conversation, and
made no admission whatever. The case
then closed.
J. II. Lumpkin argued for the defendant
He attacked the jurisdiction of the tribunal
on the ground that the court martial was
not legally organized as it should have
been battalion instead OF general court
martial and because the offense was alleged
to have been committed in Alabama by In
dividuas not then in the service of this
state. nor acting as a company, or under
orders. The stenographic record in the
Sneed case was then read aud tonight that
of the Roberts trial.
At this writing it is impossible to say
how soon the finding Of the court will be
reported to the governor and publicly an
nounced