The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-30
THE ROBBERS ON TRIAL.
DE LAUGHTER THE FIRST ONE
TO FACE THE JURY.


ness Stsnd-The Part DeLau9hter
Took in it-Conductor Cubbedge and
Messenger Coulter's Statements.
Minnie Ward Proves a Damaging
Witness to Eer Robber-lover-Tur-
ner's Trial 60 Follow That OF De-
LauGhter-A Plea OF Hypnotic Infiu-
ence to be Made.
Jubal Early DeLaughter, the express
robber leader. was put on trial yesterday
for his crime on Sept. IL, when with Tur-
ner and Perkins be held up Southern Ex-
press Messenger Coulter at Four Mile Hill,
on the Central, and compelled him to give
up the funds in the safe. The case occupied
the attention of the court until 6:15 O'Clock
last night, when an adjournment was had
until this morning.
Hon. F. q. duBignon conducted the ex-
animation for the state and was opposed by
Thomas s. Morgan, Jr., Esq, representing
the prisoner. The greatest interest was
manifested during the proceedings yester-
day and the biggest crowd that has ever
been in the new court house was present.
WAITING FOR THE WITNESSES.
The case was called at 10 O'Clock, but M.
duBignon asked for recess until noon on
account of the delay Of the Central train,
which had on toard Express Messenger
Coulter. Detectives jackson, Bedford and
Grim, who assisted in the capture of the
robbers at Moseley Hall, Fla. Judge Falls
CANT granted the recess.
! There was big crowd, both white and
colored. when the case was first called, but
1t was nothing compared with the crowd Ia
the court room when the court reconvened.
Half an hour before the time set for the
trial, people began to crowd into the court
room, and when Judge Falligant took his
seat on the bench at - O'Clock, there wasn't
foot Of standing room to be had 10 the
court room outside of the bar railing, and
the crowd overlooked out into the corridor.
Upstairs in the gallery there was a sea of
black faces. The seats inside the bar were
occupied by Southern Express officials,
attorneys and reporters.
DE LAUGHTER PUT ON TRIAL FIRST.
The cases were severed, and DeLaughter
was first put upon trial. He walked into
the court room with a careless air, as If be
were going to an enjoyable entertainment,
instead of having his future liberty placed
in jeopardy. The robber leader took his
seat directly behind his attorneys Ssabrook
Il Morgan. He looked well, and appeared
stouter than when arrested. He had a short
growth of beard on his face, and was
dressed in the same suit Of clothes which
he wore when taken at Moseley Hall. While
the jury was being selected, DeLaughter
seemed intensely interested, and looked
every juror squarely in the face, all the
while twisting his mustache.
just behind the prisoner sat his father,
Capt. Anon DeLaughter, who watched the
proceedings with as much interest as his
son, and seemed TO feel the humiliation Of
his position considerably more.
1t took four panels to secure jury. At
the outset Attorney Morgan suggested to
Judge Falligant the propriety of excusing
all jurors who were employees of the Gen.
trail railroad on the ground that the alleged
robbery had been committed on q car while
in transit over its lines and there might be
some prejudice existing in their minds.
Mr.. duBignon replied that he didn't see
that employees of the Central had any
thing to do with Southern Express matters,
but nevertheless he wouldn't OBJ
ject to Mr.. Morgan's sugges-
ton. Judge Falligant thereupon
excused the jurors connected with the
Central, about half dozen. There were
three jurors secured from the first panel,
three from the second, four from the third
and two from the fourth,
THE JURY.
The jury was as follows:
L. A. Montague, w. r. Evans.
W. N. Kidwell, Henry G.. Ganahl,
John Hogan, John F. Walsh.
Hal II. Bacon, Robert K Bragdon,
James NJ McCosker, II. G. Tregidgo,
John r. Enright, Nathan B. Adams
As soon as the jury was secured Judge
Falligant discharged all other jurors until
this morning at 10 o'clock, with the request
that they remain away from the court room
during the DeLaughter trial, because he
didn't want them 20 hear the case on trial
in view of the fact that the other defend
ants would be tried to-day. Some of the
jurors left, but number seemed DESTROYS
of remaining and listening to the proceed
ings Then Judge Falligant turned his re-
quest into the shape OF an order, and di-
rected that the jurors leave the room
forthwith. 1t was with considerable re-
luctance that they retired.
Mr.. duBignon opened up the case by read
| ing the indictment. He looked in bis old
place, when he was Chatham's prosecutor,
and his appearance before the jury In the
OLD time role was familiar to nearly every
body in the court room. Mr.. duBignon
! told the jury that no doubt the defense
would try TO set up the claim that the rob-
berry was one of intimidation and not of
| force, but that such question was strictly
legal one would be left to their decision
from facts of the case and the law as given
in the charge by the court. he believed the
stdto HOuiu uldAS OuG u ClehC case OF IOrC6.
THE FIRST WITNESS.
The first witness for the state was a
young man named Hodges, clerk for
William Hone & Co.. who testified that on
the day preceding the night Of the rob-
berry DeLaughter, accompanied by two men
whom he didn't know, called at hfs place of
business and purchased quart of whisky.
| 1t was a rainy day, and Hodges asked
| DeLaughter II be was going out that night
on the road. He answered that he was,
and Hodges remarked to MIN, you'll have
| a tough night" referring to the bad
weather. DeLaughter laughingly assented
and went out. The morning after the rob.
berry the men again came into Hone g. Co..
establishment and purchased another quart
of whisky. DeLaughter carried a small
box under his arm, and Hodges having
heard of the express robbery of the night
previous jokingly remarked, "Is that some
of the stuff you got last night" DeLaugh.
| ter and his companions started little and
he replied "No," aud the three walked out
| hurriedly.
DE LAUGHTER's PURCHASE OF THE PISTOL
Mr.. Nevills, a clerk Of the Palmer Hard
ware Company, was the next witness. He
testified that several days before the express
robbery, DeLaughter and two compan-
ions came into the store and the
former. showing a large Colt.
45-0aliber pistol, asked If he had any Ia
stock. Mr.. Nevills replied that be had