The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-01
SAVED FROM THE MOOSE.
ALBERT WILLIAMS CONVICTED OF
VOLUNTARY MANsLAUGHTER.

fenced to Ten Years In the Peniten-
tiary-The State Fails to Make Out a
Case Of Murder-The Jury Out Two
Hours.
Albert Evans. colored boy about Is
years OF age, was tried yesterday in the
superior court on a charge Of murder, for
killing Willie Washington, another colored
boy, about the same age, on Wednesday,
Sept IL, in pool room on Randolph street.
The jury, after being out two hours, brought
in verdict Of voluntary granddaughter,
with recommendation to mercy.
Hon. 2. w. MeIdrim represented the
accused.
The selection OF a jury occupied but a
short time, the state striking but six, the
| defendant the same number, and six going
of for cause. Following was the jury:
Robert #. Downing, James B. Joyce,
Charles Corner, Henry Dreese,
George w. Gruver, James NJ Palm,
Benjamin s Harris, James Miller.
| w. e. Behnken, James Talley,
James P. Naughtin, Oliver G.. Ryan.
THE TRAGEDY.
Tobey Maxwell tcolored), was the first
witness put up by the state. He testified
| that he was In Wise's barroom on the night
1
were present, two Of whom were playing
pool. Two of the outsiders offered TO bet
| each other on the result of the game and
| Willie Washington was selected as stake
holder One of them put ups cents. and the
other agreed to do likewise, but in a few
minutes changed his mind, and decided not
| TO bet. Washington did not give the other
party his money, and Evans called the
| latter's attention to that fact. Washington
| then shook his fist in Evans face, and
asked him what he had TO do with the mat
ter, anyhow, at the same time threatening
to break his mouth.
THE FATAL STROKE.
Evans began to cry, and Washington
struck him. Then both boys started for the
street, Washington ahead, with Evans close
behind. Washington ran across the street
and fell down, and as he fell Maxwell said
| he saw Evans stab him twice in the back,
and he ran across the street and grabbed
| hold of him
| Joe Skirty (coloredl detailed the row In
| the pool room almost the same as Maxwell,
except that he said Washington threw a
| pool ball at Evans and then ran into the
street. Evans followed him, and when
| Washington got across the street he fell,
and Evans ran up and stuck knife into his
| back twice. and as the deceased turned over
on one side Evans stabbed him In the
! breast.
EVANS FATHER PUT UP.
The dead boys father was placed on the
stand and told the jury his sons dying
statement, which was substantially the
| same as Skirty's.
The state rested at this point, and the de-
Tense called ID. ]. Wise, a white man, who
\ is proprietor OF the place where the trouble
| originated.
Wise told how tho two boys had engaged
in the row, and that Washington threw a
| pool ball at Evans, who ran into the street,
pursued by Washington, who picked up a
rock and started for the prisoner. Evans
cried out in loud voice: 81 am done with
| you, but Washington continued to advance
| and attempted to strike Evans, who threw
| up his hands In time to prevent being struck
on the head, and received a cut instead on
his left hand. Then Evans drew his knife
and stabbed Washington in the breast.
! Washington ran across the street, and stoop-
| ing down tried to pick up large rock, say
ing: II will kill you yet, you - -
- AS he was In this position Evans
struck him twice in the back with
| knife.
THE PRISONERS STATEMENT.
Evans was put upon the stand and made
a statement. His story about the starting
| Of the row in the pool room was almost
| Identical with that told by the states wit
nesses. AFTER Washington shook his fist
in my face" said Evans, zone of the boys
asked me if was going to stand that, and
handed me knife. put the knife in my
right hand coat pocket. Washington picked
mp two pool balls and said that he would
kill me. He threw one of the balls at my
head and | ran out. He followed me and
| struck me with rock on the hand lat this
point showing the scar to the jury. / then
| stabbed him in the breast. He ran across
the street and stopped down to pick up
rock, saying 'pll kill you yet l then
stabbed hiIu twice in the back. was try
! ing to get away all the time.n
THE REBUTTAL TESTIMONY.
Moses Graham, a colored boy about the
| same age as the prisoner, was put up by
! Solicitor General Fraser in rebuttal. He
said chat he was in the pool room when the
row started, and Washington was the first
to go out. Evans followed closely. Wash
ingtor, he said, did not stoop to pick up
rock, but fell down, and as he fell Evans
| jumped on him and stabbed him in the back.
The defense introduced the prisoners
| mother 10 lmpeach Graham's testimony.
She testified that about three weeks ago she
met Graham on the street, and asked him
| to come to her house and tell her something
about the killing, but Graham declined.
saying he knew nothing of the affair, as he
was engaged at the time of the row in
another game.
| OPENING THE ARGUMENTS.
Solicitor General Fraser outlined the
points for the prosecution, claiming that
the st Alto had proven conclusively by its
four witnesses that the case was murder.
Tbs only evidence against it was that of
Wise. which the state proposed to attack
ar" st'v+ " rue, az no such state of affairs
exi.65d, az lat the colured boy had told
| tff t. : Even should the jury believe
r. !, rs testimony was true the state
'vcl1 >l~rnand verdict OF voluntary man.
slaughtsE,
MR.. MELDRIM's rzFEEsE
| Mr. d eldrim commenced argument at
30 O'Clock and closed at 2:lC He claimed
that if the contention of the STATE was true
then E vans " as guilty OF murder, but il on
the orh,sl hand Evans took the life of Wash
ington to prevent a serious bodily injury,
and had the fears of reasonable
man In that respect, then he was
justiflabLs in the killing, and that
was the proposition he proposed
to contend before the jury. He ridiculed
Solicitor General Fraser's statement that
Wise's testimony was unworthy of belief
Indeed, it was a strange prop lsitiou," said
Mr.. Meldrim, that the solicitor should make
such claim, for Wise lad come into court
on the demand Of the state. He hid been
summoned as a states witness, but his testI-
mony was ZOO damaging to the case of the
| state Had he been nlaced unnn the eto nd