The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-26
TRIAL OF THE ROBBERS.
THE coLLrER's STATION BxPRnss
CASE UP IN COURT.

Horizons Case Taken Up First-He
Pleads Not Guilty-The Accused
Makes Himself Sick by Eating
Tobacco TO Secure Delay but the
Court Not to be Tricked.
Forsyth, GA, Nov. 25.-The case against
d. B. Horton. Ben Thornton and Josh
B-aswell, charged with robbing an express
car on Aug. 20 last, was called to-day. The
parties severed on the trial and D. B. Hor-
ton was formally arraigned and pleaded not
guilty. The state is represented by Solicitor
General Womsck, Hon. F. d. Dismukes OF
Griffin. hon r. q. duBiRnon Of Savannah
and Cabanjss & Willingham Of Forsyth
The defense is well cared for by Hines
4. Fielder of Atlanta, Col. J. A. Robertson OF
Sandersville and Bonner 6 Bloodworth OF
Forsyth.
By O'Clock jury was obtained and the
case against D. B. Horton was formally
opened. Several witnesses were sworn for
the prosecution.
Horton moved to continue his case for the
term because be was too unwell to go to
trial The motion was oyerruled, II APP
x.sring to the court that Horton had been
eating tobacco in order to make himself
sick.
STORY OF THE MESSENGER.
Messenger Byne, who had charge OF the
ear that was robbed, gave a full account OF
how the parties entered his car at Golfers
station with pistols drawn and ordered him
10 open the safe, and to do it 60 quick"
He could not identify any OF the parties. as
they were masked when they came in, but
the size of Horton led him to believe that
Horton was one of the men, and that they
took from him by force $2,474 Is. The
messenger also told how they pulled down
the train and jumped of.
The case is thoroughly worked up, and
witnesses are not wanting to fasten the
crime on the guilty parties.
CONDUCTOR MooRR's EXPERIENCE.
A. j. Moore, q conductor on the through
freight from Macon to Atlanta, testified to
putting off these men at Bolingbroke. They
said they wanted to 60 to Atlanta. He tes-
titled that when he found them they were
riding in a car that had been used for haul
ing lime. He identified one Of them as Ben
Thornton. The conductor had lantern at
the time. This lantern was the key that
unravelsd the mystery and led TO the arrest
of all the parties. In their eagerness to
board the train at Golfers on tho night of
the robbery they dropped their lantern,
which was found the next morning covered
with lime. This gave clew to start with
aud Conductor Moore was sought, and from
him it was discovered that the parties had
on the night before the robbery stolen ride
ON lime car, that he had put them off at
Boiling broke and that one Of them was Ben
Thornton, who carried a lantern which cor
responded in every respect with the one
found at the station the next morning.
THORNTON ARRESTED.
This fastened suspicion strongly on
Thornton, and an investigation showed that
on the morning after the robbery Thornton
went to his home in this county, at Smars
station md his clothes were covered with
lime. Thornton was arrested and from him
the officers received something over 5000
OF the money. Thornton confessed all and
told who his accomplices were. Horton
and Brazwell were then arrested and about
81, 400 was recovered from them.
The case will consume at least two more
days. 1t is exciting great interest and
drawing immense crowds Such cases are
not common in Georgia, and especially in so
conservative county as Monroe.
FAITHFUL RELATIVES.
Horizons unoles are here and seem de-
termined 60 see him through his trouble.
Thornton's father and mother and sisters
are standing by him. A solitary feeble and
infirm old lady, the mother of Joseph
Brazwell, also stands by not an uninterested
spectator, hoping something will crop out
that will help her erring boy.