The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-08
ABE wAYMAN's CRIME.
The Murder OF the Greek Ruso. for
Which BE Wss Sent TO the Aines.

The Murder OF the Greek HasO' 'oF
Which BE Wes Sent 70 the Mines.
Abraham Waymau, the coIorsd convict
who was hanged st Trenton day before
Yesterday for the part he took in the up
rising OF the conviets at Cole City several
months ago, in which several guards lost
their lives, Eas sent to the psniteniiary for
life from here 10 1855 for the murder Of
John Ruso, Greek fruit dealer at South
Broad and Price streets.
The murder occurred Saturday night
Sept. ~, and was one OF the most coTsrdly
crimes ever committed in Chatham county.
Wayman, together with Bob smith ana
Charles bass were passing the fruit stand
about 10 O'Clock AID Waymsn stole two
apples and ran down Price street into York
street lane. Puso's wife saw the theft and
called her husbands attention 20 IL. He
I turned Quickly and demanded OF Bass and
I Smith that the fruit either be returned OF
! paid for. After a little parleyinK Bass
handed over cents with the remark that
the boy who stole tie apples was gone. but
rather than have any trouble he woald pay
the price.
The two boys then went out and met
Wayman, who said TO Bass, after being told
that tha Gpples were paid for, You are
- fool TO pay for what you dida's take. u
Immediately after the trio started up Price
street, WaymHn being on the inside. As
they came abreast of Ruso, who was stand
ing with his back to the fruit stand, Way
man plunged knife into his heart, aud
quickly Withdrawing IL, turned and ran
down Price street.. The Greek fell dead on
the sidewalk. A crowd quickly gathered,
but no ore knew the names OF TIE three
negroes.
Assistant Chief of Police Killourhy. who
was then a sergeant. was among the frat on
the scene. Two negro women were whisp-
ering suspiciouSly to each other, and SerRt
Hillourhy heard one remark: bob Smith
J has been in bed three hours" The officer
felt satisfied that he had a clew. Taking
the woman asids be interrogated her, and
found she was the mother of Bob
Smith. She became greatly excited
| being Questioned by the officer,
and her actions made Sergt. Killourh y
! think Smith must know something of the
| murder. He made the woman take him to
where she lived, in the basement of house
on South Broad street near Abercorn.
There ho found Smith In bel apparently
asleep Pulling him out the sergeant
charged him with murder. Smith ex-
citedIy denied 10. bat admitted being pres.
ent at the killing, aud said Abraham Way.
man was the murderer. He was hurriedly
taken TO the barracks and turned over tn the
late Gen. Anderson, chief OF police.
who, after listening to his story, ordered a
detail 70 De sent aIt8r w aYmaO.
Officers Kelly, Rogers, Davis and Angfu
were sent TO Wayman's house on Russell
street near Cemetery. They saw the muir
derer sitting on the doorstep, but the mo
ment he spied the officers he bolted into the
house, with Officers Rogers and Davis closely
at his hsels. Officers Anglin aud Kelly
remained outside. Wayman tried t.
escape through a window, but was met by
! Officer Anglin's pistol. He then ran under
the bed, end was pulled out by Officer:
Rogers and Davis.
At the the barracks Wayman admitted
the killing. but raid be dtda't intend to com
NIT murder when he drove the knife into
Ruso. He was tried Dso. %, aud was de-
Tended by w. w. Fraser, Esq, the present
solicitor general, and A. II. MacDonslI,
Esq. Solicitor General duBignol conducted
the prosecution. Wayman denied the muir
der in his statement 60 the jury, and tried
| to put it on Bob Smith, claiming that be
saw him with knife in his hand Just before
Ruso fell. The evidence, however was too
| strong against Wayman. and his couEsel's
only defense was that the crime was not
murder, but one of the lower grades of
| homicide. The jury thought differently,
however, and conVi ted the young murderer
in an hour and half. Wsyman was evil
IDENTIFY expecting a death sentence, becauss
when he heard the verdict RELOCATING hin
TO life imprisonment he gave long SIGH Of
relief.
That Wayman's crime here deserved tbs
death penalty every one agreed, and it wa
generally conceded that the reason he es
capped the gallows was the failure OF the jurJ
a few days before to condemn Walsh, tn
white murderer of w. n. Dawson
| the night clerk of the Marshall house
Whatla Chatha county jury failed 60 d.
was done by Dade county jury, and Way
man met but just and deserved fate