The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-10
VICTIM OF A WOMAN'S SIN
HOWELL ADMITS THAT HE WAS
DECEIVED BY his WIFE.

Letters Unfit for Publication Written
by Mrs. Howell Found IN Capt. Nc
Grath's Safe-A Witness Testihes
That Howell Knew OF the Rumors
About Her Before He Married Her.
WARRENToN, GA, Oct. Court con-
vened at $50 o'clock this morning. A
larger crowd than Yesterday was in attend
ance, standing room being at a premium.
The first witness called was T. N. Shurly,
administrator of Capt. McGrsths estate.
He swore to the finding Of the letters and a
picture in the safe of Capt. McGrath, which
he recognized as that of Mrs. Howell
E. a. Friess of Sparta was the next witness.
He recognized the handwriting in the letters
as that of Mrs. Howelrs, as he had CORES
ponded with her long time previous to her
marriage. The states counsel here read the
letters, about twenty in all. They were
filthy and dirty beyond description and I'M
fit Jor publication, often referring to places
of their private meetings and trusting that
they might repeat them.
PROPOSED A MEETING.
In one of the letters written after her
marriage to Howell she makes the sugges-
ton that he come to the Markham house or
| Decatur, where they could spend the day
| together in private. She also told him thar
| Howell had caught on to their corre-
spondence, that he must direct his letters to
a fictitious name, and that her husband was
a---. and she wished that he was
dead.
Edmund Shurly was then called and swore
| that on che evening before the killing he
had a conversation with Howell, in which
he (HowelD, said that he hated McGrath
worse than and would kill him on the
shortest provocation.
HOWELL KNEW HER CHARACTER.
| T. B. Wicker swore that on the evening
| of Howelrs marriage he asked him IL he had
1 not heard the ugly reports about the lady he
was about to wed. He replied that he had
heard them all and they were - lies.
The court here adjourned for dinner.
| On the converting of the evening session
| the defendant was allowed to make a state
ment in rebuttal, which was to the effect
that be had been deceived by his wife, that
| he thought he was protecting an innocent
! woman a d that he was surprised and dumb
founded when the letters were read from
his wife. He asked for the mercy of the
| jury and said that he had already suffered
| intensely in protecting woman whom he
| thought was pure and innocent.
THE ARGUMENT IN PROGRESS.
and w. r. Davis of Monticello made the
opening appeal for his client.
Solicitor General Howard followed with
a strong argument for the state, and the
prisoner was handled without gloves.
Col. Tom Hunt Of Sparta spoke for about
two hours, and his speech was pronounced
fine one.
Col E. P. Davis of Warrenton made the
closing speech for the defense. 1t was pro-
nounced the finest effort Of his life At this
writing q D. m.) Col. Davis is still speaking.
Fl. T. Lewis will close for the state to
night in two-hour speech, which every
body is eager to hear and which is expected
to have its weight with the jury
The judge is expected to charge the jury
tonight, aud the case will be given to them
about II o'clock. People differ as to what
the verdict viii be. Some think a convic-
ton is certain, while good many think
there will be mistrial or acquittal.