The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-20
CAPITAL OF THE STATE.
A BAILIFF FINED FOR LETTING a
PRISONER GO.

a Negro Boy Caught in the Act OF
Assaulting a Child-The State Road
Lease signed-The Reunion of the
Thirty-eighth Georgia Regiment A
Visitation of Grasshoppers-
ATLANTA, GA, July l9-Bailiff P. ".
Merritt, who some time ago allowed j. l..
Robert. a sicz prisoner, TO escape from the
Providence Infirmary was heavily fined by
the city court judge to-day. Robert was
the man who attempted TO assassinate Bur-
ton Smith of the law firm of Hoke & Bur
ton Smith on the street some time ago. Mr..
Smith took Roberts pistol away from him
and beat him SO severely that he
had TO be sent to the hospital,
and Merritt was detailed to guard him.
The bailiff is an excitab.e old fellow, and
when the Atlanta Rifles returned after win
ming the prizs at the Kansas City drill he
was carried away by the enthusiasm Of the
moment, and Joined the hurrahing crowd
that welcomed the victors at the car shed.
When he returned to the hospital he found
that Roberts, who had pretended TO be in
an almost dying condition, had gone.
A DEMON IN HUMAN FORM.
miles southwark from the city, VIII High
tower, 14-year-old negro boy, was sur
prised this afternoon while making lend
ish assault upon baby named Belle Smith,
only years of age. Patrolman Patterson
had been detailed for special service IN the
neighborhood When not far from the
water works he turned aside from the main
road into a footpath and came upon
the culprit by the merest accident. This
is said to be the second instance
N which the boy has been prevented at the
last moment from consummatlng his out
rageous designs. The relatives of the child
were wild with resentment, and at one
time the officers feared that it would be
impossible for him to convey his prisoner
away alive. He succeeded, however, and
banded him in the station house. When
discovered, the boy confessed ever vthing to
the officer but tonight he stoutly denies
his guilt.
THE STATE ROAD LEASE.
The state road lease contract was executed
this afternoon. 1t makes the provisions of
the lease act the terms of the lease. and
stipulates that in the event the contract and
act conflict in any particular the act shall
govern the contract. The lease is signed
by the Nashville, Chattanooga and st.
Louis railroad by ]. w. Thomas, president
and J. H. Ambrose, secretary. Gov. Cor
don signed for toe state, and Secretary of
State COOK witnessed the signatures. L ne
corporate seal of the new lessee and the
great seal of the state were then attached.
A REUNION.
At Decatur to-day the Thirty eighth
Georgia regiment held its reunion. Hon.
Murphy Gambler delivered the address of
welcome which was responded to by W. H.
Braswell of Doraville.
A CHRISTOPHER PLAGUE.
The farmers in the vicinity of Rome are
greatly alarmed over the appearance
of a voracious green grasshopper,
which devours not only crops but strips
fields of weeds, grass and every kind of
vegetation as they go. Some wonderful
stories are told of their destructiveness
The Atlanta ProhibitiOnist, the new
organ of the prohibitiionists, with the dis
pensary qualification, got out its first issue
to-day. John NJ. George and E. NJ. Evans
are the editors and publishers.