The morning news., 1891-02-20
WILSON GOESUPFORLIFE
JIM TAYLoR'S SLAYER RECON-
MENDRD TO MERCY.

The Recommendation surprise-The
State Makes Out Case OF Denbsr-
ate Murder Wilson Admits the
Killing, But Claims Justification.
The Jury Out an Hour and Thirty
I'VE Minutes.
John a Wilson (colored) was tried yester-
day in the superior court for the murder Of
Jim Taylor Cc7lored) Sunday nigst, jan
II, at colored church on the Gibbons
place, SIX miles from the city on the Au-
gusta road. The jury brought in a verdict
of murder last night but recommended
Wilson to Imprisonment for life.
1t was 1880 o'clock yesterday before the
case was called, the delay being caused by
the absence Of several Of the defendants
witnesses. who lived some distance in the
country. 1t took nearly four panels TO Sc
cure jury. The state struck s, the defend
ant II, and went off for cause The FOL-
lowing was he jury:
Joseph ]. PrenderGast, William E. Mongin,
William A. Calder, Henry T. Douglass,
Daniel w. Woodruff, Percival r. Cohen.
Charles =. Yonge Francis H. Marshall
Gordon Woodruff, Frank L. George.
READING THE INDICTMENT.
After the jury had been iapaneled SolIc-
itor General Fraser read the Indictment
charging Wilson with murder, and stated to
the jury that the state expected TO prove
the crime such, and II it did a verdict of
guilty would be expected.
Lewis Minis, an officer of the church. tes-
titled that he heard two shots while he was
counting the collection, and his wife ran
into the church screaming that she was
shot. Nuns dropped the money and ran
over to see what the trouble was, when
Taylor ran up to the railing and falling on
the floor died in a few minutes without
speaking.
HEARD THE SHOTS AND SAW TAYLOR DIK
Kinsee Small. sexton Of the church, was
the next witness for the state. He was in
the church when he heard two pistol shots
and turned around to see what the trouble
was, when he saw Taylor stagger in and
walk TO within about four feet OF the pulpit
and fan. He died in a few minutes Small
said he was 50 frightened that he ran away
without looking at Taylor again.
Slnda Williams said she heard one shot as
she reached the church door on her way
out, and in about a minute Taylor ran
against her, almost knocking her from her
feet. As he passed into the church a short
negro, whom she did not recognize, ran I'D
and fired shot at Taylor. She followed
into the church and saw Taylor dying at
the foot of the pulpit
WITNESS OF THE SHOOTING.
Juno Minis, the wife Of Lewis Mius
who, thought she had been shot by Wilson,
gave the most direct testimony for the pros
ecution. She said that when she got OUT
side she saw Wilson standing at the corner
Of the church and Taylor short distance
of. In moment or two Wilson walked
up to Taylor and asked as this Jim Tay-
lorT Taylor answered Eyes" Then the
prisoner said: 49, you" and, pull
ing a revolver, deliberately shot TAYLOR.
who cried out: 30, Lord, and ran into the
church.
In reply TO a question by the solicitor II she
could not possibly be mistaken about the man
who did the shooting she replied: mo, sir;
there's the same ma, ~ pointing her finger
at Wilson. who perceptibly quivered aud
cast his eyes OH the floor. The croSs-exam-
ination by Attorney Gordon failed to break
down the witness testimony.
AT the conclusion of the Mimms womans
testimony the state rested and recess was
taken until 30 O'Clock.
HEARD TAYLOR MAKE THREATS.
Wilson's brother was first put up by the
defense TO prove that Taylor had made
threats to him that he would kill John
Wilson as soon as he met him. On cross.
examination by Solicitor General Fraser it
was brought out that the witness had never
communicated the threats to either the
prisoner or any one else, and the solicitor
asked the court to rule out the testimony
as irrelevant, which was DONE
The testimony of the next witness for the
defense, Dick Grayson was likewise ruled
out, as he knew nothing whatever of the
facts of the case.
None Of the witnesses for the defense could
give any evidence about the shooting. and
two or three said Taylor was a man of bad
reputation and had the habit Of CARRYING a
revolver and drawing it on the slightest
provocation.
THE PRISONERS STORY.
Wilson made a rambling statement. in
which be said he did not deny the killing of
Taylor, but claimed he was justified from
the fact that Taylor had been visiting his
wife for some time and alternating her affec.
tionS He said he had warned Tavlor in q
letter about going with his wife No atten-
tion was paid to this. and be shortly after
heard that his wife and Taylor
had been TO church together in a buggy.
Then he wrote him another letter, which be
gave to man named johnson to deliver to
Taylor, but Taylor never received il. Soon
after he heard that Taylor said he intended
to take bis wife, and, If necessary, he
would xiii him to get him out Of the way.
Wilson also said he heard that TAYLOR
stopped several parties on the road with a
pistol in mistake for him. He claimed that
ON the night he killed Taylor lac went out
20 see his wife, and while waiting for her
outside of the church Taylor came out and
began kicking and cursing him. He backed
away, and when the deceased made q move
ment as if to draw a weapon he pulled his
pistol and fired at him twice, after which he
ran off,
Wilson was seemingly quite anxious TO
impress the jury with Taylor's intimacy
with his wife, and kept repeating that he
was telling the truth, and all the witnesses
for the state were trying to swear away mis-
life. During the recital of his story Wilson
plainly showed that he didn't feel safe by
any means, and was very nervous, stutter-
ing and stammering.
REBUTTAL TESTIMONY,
John Williams, an old gray-bearded in
telligent looking colored man was called in
rebuttal by the state. He is the father-in-
law Of Wilson. He said that his daughter
had been separated from Wilson since Sep
tember on account of his beating her. At
torney Gordon interrupted the witness at
this point by an objection that no matter
how many assaults had been committed
previous TO the murder, nothing in regard
to them was admissible. The Judge sus-
tanned the objection, but it made no differ
ence as old man Williams insisted on talk
ing about the WaV "dat Scamn " ilsor1 haat