The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-23
all OF TaUNDERsoLT IN COURT.
To Witness the Trial Of Marshal Leutz
for Clubbing Mrs. Bsyers.


To Witness the Trial Of Marshal Leutz
for Clubbing Mrs. Bsyers.
Hartman J. Lentz. marshal of Thunder
bolt, was tried yesterday in the superior
court on charge Of assault with intent TO
murder Mrs. Frederick Beyers Sept. last.
The jury, returned q verdict Of assault and
battery against the defendant last night.
The case occupied the attention Of the
court all day, and large crowd Of epecta-
tors witnessed the trial. Mrs. Beyers told
the story OF how Marshal Lentz assaulted
her. She said he was clubbing her husband,
aud when she demonstrated the officer
turned upon her and beat her down with his
club.
In his own behslf LsntE claimed that he
was trying to arrest Beyers and the man
resisted aud tried 10 shoot him with a rife.
The officer said he was compelled to use his
club In self-defense and to bring Beyers into
submission. While doing so Mrs. Beyers
ran between them and was struck aoci-
dentally.
Mayor Fennell Of Thunderbolt and
number of the citizens of the village testi-
fed to the good character of Marshal
Lentz, and said be was a man of peaceable
disposition.
w. R Leakeu, ESQ.,, represented Leutz
and made a half.hour speech to the jury.
He followed the line that as the officer was
in the discharge Of his sworn duty at the
time Of the accidental assault upon the old
lady he should be acquitted.
Solicitor General Fraser ridiculed the ac-
cidental claim. He pictured the marshal as
excited and angered with Mrs. Beyers be-
cause she tried to save her husband, and
forgetting all manly feeling struck the
aged woman with his club.
Judge Falligant's charge occupied only q
short time, aud the jury retired about 1880
o'clock. At 9 O'Clock they agreed. Sentence
was reserved. There is another similar In
dictmeut against Lentz for clubbing Mrs
Beyers' husband.
Old Hopeful Grant was convicted OF In
voluntary manslaughter yesterday. When
the superior court convened at 10 O'clock
there was large crowd present to see IL a
verdict had been arrived at. The jury sent
note to Judge Falligant asking for re-
charge, and when it was brought down
Foreman Manucy said there was Disagree
ment about law. Judge Falligant went
through a clear exposition OF the different
grades Of homicide, and the jury retired
again.
In fifteen minutes verdict was an
nounced and when the jury was brought
down nearly everybody expected an ac~
quittal. When the involuntary man
slaughter finding was read there seemed to
be little surprise all around. Old Grant
didn't expect it and after he left the court
room he cried. Judge Falligant reserved
sentence. Attorney Morgan will appeal
for a new trial II this is refused it 1t un-
derstood an application for a pardon will
be circulated and forwarded to Gov.
Northen.
The jury stood first, for acqoittal, for
Involuntary manslaughter and for con-
viction of murder. The verdict was com.
promise.
Charles Thompson (colored will be tried
In the superior court to-day for the killing
OF Josh Hey ward on the Augusta road last
August. He will be defended by Hon.
Walter G Charlton. The plea will be ao-
cident. Thompson ran away after the affair,
and after remaining away several months
returned and voluntarily surrendered.
F. A. Aborn, who runs a little photo
graph establishment in Yamacraw, was
| before Judge MacDonell, in the CITY court,
yesterday, on charge of violating the
Sunday law by keeping his place of bust
| ness open on Sunday. Aborn pleaded
guilty and was sentenced to pay O fine
| OF $25 and costs or thirty days in jail
He didn't have the money and went to Jail.