The morning news., 1891-02-20

tect himself Dy kllnng Taylor II ne drew
any weapon on him. The prisoner also
claimed this in his story. Solicitor General
FrSssr made a sworn statement 70 the jury
that be mover told Wilson anything Of the
I kind, as IL would be the last thing
be would think Of TO advise
one man to kill another. He said
that he had no recollection of Wilson visit
| ing him, but still he would not deny it, as
he had people coming into bis Office all the
time with complaints, and he could not re-
member the names and faces Of every one.
IDENTIFIED THE PISTOL
A young white man named Lewison,
| who keeps q store in Yamacraw, identified
the pistol with which Wilson killed Taylor
as one which Wilson borrowed from him
the Saturday night before the killing, and
which Wilson returned the following Nom
day morning.
Mr. William Lathrop, on whose pace
Wilson's wife lived, and where the murder
occurred, was put up by the state TO prove
that old man Williams had shown hum the
bullet hole where Wilson had fired into his
house after the murder. Attorney Gordon
asked Mr.. Lathrop IL he had not paid part
| of the reward for the capture Of Wilson,
! and he replied that he had
| given $50 for the reason that
| there had been several murders on bis place
aud he wanted to have some Of the GRIMM
ais brought to justice. Mr.. Lathrop denied
/ emphatically the intimation made by de-
fen1ant's attorney that be had intimidated
the negroes on his place into giving testi-
mony against Wilson.
The testimony wa brought to a close at
5:l5 o'clock, and Solicitor General Fraser
for fifteen minutes stated the points Of law
which he would use and the line OF argu-
ment he would follow, and said he would
contend for a death sentence. as the evi-
dsnce showed that it was deliberate mur-
der, and the prisoner deserved 10 mercy.
THE ARGUMENTS.
Attorney Stubs made the speech for the
defense. He argued that Wilson was iusti-
hed in two ways in killing Taylor. First,
Taylor had repeatedly threatened his life,
and had even stopped people at the point OF
pistol whom he mistook for Wilson. The
prisoner, Mr.. Stubs said, fearing that
Taylor intended to put his threats into exc
cutlon killed him to save his own
life. The second theory of the defense
was that Taylor had heen intimate with
Wilson's wife, and under all law and reason
man was justified in protecting the
marital relations even to the death of the
offending party. Mr.. Stubbs closed his
argument with plea for an acquittal
under all the facts submitted.
Solicitor General Fraser, in his argument
to the jury, reviewed the evidence in a con-
else manner. and claimed that it was not
ShAJ OoHClubANtl1 proven bnaU wilson naQ
committed brutal and cowardly murder,
but that he had also intended to kill his
wife, as he followed her to her fathers
house and, when he co1ld not get in, fred
through the wall. He had shown malice
Rforethought by the fact that be went out
to the church on the night Of the murder
with full determination to kill Taylor.
The solicitor paid his compliments TO the
attorney for defense for pleading on an
entirely different line from the evidence
they had introduced. He concluded his
speech by asking the jury to find a verdict
OF guilty without a Recommendation. as
the evidence did not justify any leniency
whatever.
THE JUDGES CHARGE.
Jndge Falligant's charge occupied fifteen
minutes, and was lis ened to by the iury
and prisoner with the closest attention.
During the delivery of the charge Wilson
leaned over on the back of his attorneys
chair and looked the judge straight in the
face, and, as Judge Falligant emphasized
the necessary points Of law relating to the
different grades Of homicide, the prisoner
seemed to lose hope and leaned his head on
his hand IN disconsolate manner.
THE VERDICT.
The jury retired at $40 o'clock, aud at
S:35 o'clock, after deliberating an hour and
thirty-five minutes returned a verdict of
guilty, with recommendation to impris-
onmsnt for life
The we're thirteen persons present be-
side the officers OF the court when the Jury
was brought in, and while the roll was
bsing called Wilson nervo sly bit his lips
and Kept bis eyes steadily fixed on the
twelve men who had decreed his fate, and
when the clerk read the words which saved
him from the gallows he uttered a sigh of
relief, while every one in the court room
except the jury plainly showed surprise at
the verdict. No one who heard the evidence
expected a recommendation.
THE PRISONER SENTENCED.
As soon as Clerk Carr finished reading
the verdict Judge Falligant ordered VIII
son to stand up. In passing the sentence he
told the prisoner that he ought to be
thankful in having escaped with his life, as
all the facts and evidence showed DELHI
crate and cruel murder, and he might we'll
thank the merciful jury which had seen flt
to recommend him to life imprisonment in-
stead Of consigning him to the gsllows, as
he deserved.
Wilson's attorneys gave notice that they
would make motion for a new trial.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE MURDERER.
Wilson is a short, black negro, about feet
inches in hight, quite intelligent looking,
with bulle 5-shapsd head and rowing eyes.
>.
and on the lapel of his vest was an OH
Fellows badge. His weight, apparently, is
not over 130 pounds During the trial he
sat immediately behind his attorneys and
displayed great interest in all the proceed
ings. getting up out Of his chair innumer-
able times to give Attorney Gordon pointers
about which to question the witnesses. 1t
seemed to be an lmpossiOility for him 20
remain quiet. He was constantly shifting
about in his chair, gazing about
the room, first at the specta-
tors, then at the jury with nervous
anxious look and then up in the gallery,
where his colored society friends were con
gregated. 1t was impossible for him to keep
COOL
Solicitor Fraser says that it was the So
cieties to which Wilson belongs that fur
nished him the money to get to Waycross,
paid his fiue there for carrying concealed
weapons, and thsn sent him to Tampa, from
which place he was to have goae to New
York within day or two of when he was
captured.
GOT HIS QUARTER BACK.