The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-09
HOWELL PUT ON TRIAL.
he MAKES A LONG STATEMENT IN
HIS OWN Defense.

Inc hepul6iVe Letter written TO MRS
Howell by Nc 3rath Produced in
Court-Osher Sensational and Scan
dalous Epistles Also to Come to the
Front-A Story of the Tragedy.
WARRENroN, GA, Oct s.-The case Of
the state VS.. Ashley V. Howell, charged
with the murder OF Capt. w. J. McGrath,
on June IL, was called in the superior court
here this morning Up to 10 o'clock only
ten jurors had been sworn. The panel being
exhausted the court adjourned until this
afternoon to give the bsiliffs time to sum-
mon other jurors from the country. On
the opening of the court this afternoon the
other two jurors necessary were sworn in.
A WITNESS OF THE KILLING.
The state opened the case by putting
Judge 81. H. Fitzpatrick on the stand. He
swore to the killing of Capt. McGrath by
Howell IN his office on June IL.
The next witness sworn was Marshal
Thomas n. Shurly, who swore to the arrest
of Howell by himself and the difficulty of
getting Howell TO say what he had done.
The state here rested.
The defense opened by introducing DR..
r. w. Hubert, W. F. Without and w. G.
handwriting of Capt. McGrath and swore
that TO the best of their knowledge and be-
lief the letter which Mrs. Howell received
was in the writing of Capt. McGrath.
HowELL's STATEMENT.
Howell was then allowed to read his
statement off a closely written manuscript
or about 5000 words, which was in sub
stance declaration that he had never had
any occasion to doubt his wife's sincerity,
and when the insulting letter was received
by him be confronted her with it, and she
bitterly protested her innocence. To pro-
tect his home and the honor OF his wife, he
had TO take Capt McGrath's life. His state
meat occupied the balance Of the afternoon.
The court adjourned until tomorrow
HowELL's MARRIAGE.
On April last Howell married Miss
Julia DeBeaugrine, one Of the daughters of
w. DeBeaugrine.
She was one of several sisters and is a
dashing brunette. The young couple
moved to Atlanta soon after the marriage.
Capt. McGrath came here from Charleston
about four years ago and opened a general
store, soon building up prosperous bust
ness. He was about 40 years old and had
handsome wife.
Ill feeling arose between Howell and
MoGrath few months before the formers
marriage, but when Howell and his bride
left Atlanta TIE matter was forgotten until
one morning in early June Howell suddenly
appeared in Warrenton. He remained
about the town three days and it began to
be whispered about that trouble was
brewing.
AS sequel to this Capt. McGrath was
seen to leave his store on the morning or
June II and walk toward the court house
with some mail matter in his hand. The
postoffice is ia one room Of the court mouse.
Howell was seated in the window of his
brother-in-law's store on the east side of the
court honse a moment after McGrath had
disappeared in the doorway Howell arose
and walked rapidly toward the court house.
THE KILLING.
Capt. McGrath was then in the postoffice,
and conversing with Judge Fitzpatrick, the
postmaster. Howell entered, approached
MoGrath, and exclaimed: era y
Capt. McGrsth, you have been writing
letters to my wife" With this he whipped
out pistol and fired five shots. Every shot
took effect in MeGrath's body except one.
The wounded man sank to the floor, and,
after speaking a few words. died.
The letter which Howell claims that Nc.
Grath wrote to his wife and which fell into
his hands is saidto be very repulsive. Mrs.
Howell told her husband at the time that
McGrath had prosecuted her for a long time
with letters of similar character, and de-
Died bitterly that her conduct had been
such as to warrant advances from Nc
Grath. The defense will offer this letter
and others of similar character as evidence
of justification on Howell's part. and also
will present witnesses whose testimony de-
velsps the fact that McGrath sent messen-
gers to Atlanta to secure the address of Mr..
Howell.
On the other hand the state introduces
about twenty letters from Mrs. Howell to
McC5rath, one of which, it is claimed, in
vited the answer which fell into Howell's
hands.
Mrs. Howell was out driving with her
sister day or two ago, and appeared to be
cheerful and happy.