The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-11
MGREGOR GOES TO TRIAL
He DEPENDS ON HIS OWN UNsUP-
PORTED sTATEMENr.

The state Calls Three Witnesses who
Declared That Cody Was Killed
Without Warning-Pwo Witnesses
introduced in Rebuttal to Disprove
Some OF the Prisoners Statements.
WARRENToN, GA, April 1O.-T6e trial Of
Maj. Charles E. NcGregor for the killing Of
James NJ. W. Cody was begun to-day.
Jailer Collins Of Augusta brought
McGregor here early this morning on 8
freight train. The greatest interest is
manifested in the case, and people from all
over the county and from other counties
are here. The court room has been crowded
almost to suffocation, the entire crowd
standing all day uncomfortably, closely
packed together. About noon sensation
was created by the fainting OF lady in ths
audience.
THE JURY SECURED.
The work OF securing a jury was com.
pleted in less than turee hours, and 109 men
were called in getting the twelve Jurors
The jury is composed of the following: c. T.
Davenport James Il. Bishop, w. T, B,wen,
George w. Harrison, B. H. Baker, W. A.
Byrd, w. @. BarkSdale, Thomas j. Barks-
dale, Curtis Il. Cason, Barney Heath.
George A. Porshani, and r. C. Rhodes
Solicitor General Howard is assisted IN
the prosecution by Judge Twiggs Of Au-
gusta, Col. Hal Lewis Of Greensboro, an6
Il. T. Davis, A. S. Morgan, and E. H. Ca
son of the local bar
Hon. Thomas Il. Watson and Hon, James
Whitehead conduct the defense.
THE FIRST WITNESSES.
After reading the ind ctment and stating
the case Solicitor Howard introduced
Messrs. Tillman, Poole, and Drury r gers,
who were talking with Cody at the time be
was shot by McGregor. They testified that
Cody was looking the other way, and in
their opinion never saw McGregor at all:
that McGregor advanced and fired on him
at distance Of two feet, and fired two
more shots as he fell. No words were
spoken and Cody was unarmed.
DR.. Hubert testified that the first wound
was in the right breast, the second in the
temple, and the third under the ear. and
either would have produced death. Here
the state closed its case
MGREGoR TAKES THE STAND.
The defendants counsel stated that as the
state had confined itself to proving the kill
ing, which was undisputed, no evidence
was necessary further than the defendants
statement to explain why he killed him.
McGregor then took he stand and read
SdAS%HiAg Gu winch IL TOOK
him nearly three hours to read, and which
would make about six columns. Il sets out
strongly the attempt to assassinate him ia
his front yard by Cody on d C. %, 1887,
and, stripping to the waist. he walked up
and down in front OF ths jury, showing the
scars where tho bullet entered on bis right
side aud passed out on his left, having
pierced him through and through.
IN CONSTANT FEAR OF DEATH.
He then followed carefully, step By step,
the way he fastened the shooting on Cody.
the subsequent indictment of Cody Cody's
failure to appear for trial, and his state
ment that he (McGregorJ would be hurt il
he pressed the case. Statements by Cody
threatening his Ii o, and attempts to get
others to kill him, are given in great detail.
Finally, the law having failed 70 bring
Cody to justice. and McGregor living in
constant dread of assas ,ination, took the
law in his own hands, and killed Cody to
remove the constant fear of Cody killing
him.
Two witnesses in rebuttal of certain parts
OF the statement were sworn by the state.
but nothing specially inteyesting or impor.
tant was added.
The court then adjourned until o'clock
tomorrow morning.
A sensational feature in the case which
has been hinted at in the newspapers as to
the motive for the trouble bstween Cody
and McGregor, has not been touched In this
court proceedings