Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-25
GEO. w. AVANT
Must Again Answer at the Bar
for Alleged Murder.
An Interesting Session of the Criminal
Court Commences Monday Morning
Five Murder Cases.

Criminal court for Montgomery
county, Judge Tyler presiding, viii
convene at the courthouse Monday
morning, and 1t will be one OF TIE
most interesting sittings this court
has had for several years. There are
some five or six murder cases on the
docket and scores of others OF less
Importance.
The first and most interesting muir
der case on the calender is the Avant
case, now well known to the people
of the county. George Avant is
charged with poisoning his wife,
something over two years ago, In the
Fourth district OF the county. The
charge attracted much attention
at the time it was made on account
of the prominence of the family In
that locality. 1t will be remembered
that Mrs. Avant died rather sudden
ly one morning, and under peculiar
circumstances. The remains were
inferred in Kentucky. A day or
two after the interment the friends
of the lady brought charge Of mur-
der against the husband and hsd
him jailed. The remains were dis
inferred and the stomach was Az
alyzed by Nashville chemist. Ths
analysis revealed traces Of mineral
poisoning. The frat trial resulted I'm
the conviction of Avant with naiti.
eating circumstances. Judge Tyler
sentenced him to the penitentiary
for life, and the case was appealed 10
the Supreme court. The decision OF
the lower court was thrown asidA
and the case was ordered back for 4
new hearing.
This is the condition of the ease
now, and it will be called the ATSt
thing after court convenes Monday
morning. The witnesses have all BEEN
summoned and the only thing now
which looks like delay In getting
the case to trial is the selection OF the
Jury. This may be troublesome, and
then it may be easily done.
There are very few people IN
the county who have not forMed
or expressed some opinion 40
to the guilt or innocence OF the
accused from hearing portions OF the
levidence or from reading newspaper
accounts. The custom in this partic-
ular will hardly be followed as close.
ly as in common cases, however.
There are hundreds of men In the
county who have expressed their
opinion on the case and who yet
could give the prisoner justice at the
bar. Right here seems to be a defect
in the jury system. 1t makes no Off
ference to fair intelligent man
whether he hss expressed an opinion
or not. He could hear the evidence
in a case of this kind, and give the
accused justice as well as II he had
never heard of the cose. Judge ~.
Ter remarked in the presence OF q ve-
porter this morning that hs thoaght
it would be better plan to have ths
, jurors appointed for the year and lot
this jury try all cases. There would
be no need to challenge juror thea
unless he was related 10 some OF the
parties involved In the suit, or had
some other personal connection with
, lit.
l However this all may be, Geo. w.
Avant must again appear befors the
6 bar and be tried for his life. Thu
announcement will bring 10 the
n minds of the court the long and tire'
d some ordeal through which the prts-
oner passed during the other kisi
which lasted over week. Throuxh
q all his long confinement, and sss
y court experience, the prisoner hes
kept his health, and to-day he 10 70
S ported as being in excellent health
/ and spirits. The chief counsel fua
= the defense will be w. A. Qusrlss, d
!. this city, and Jas. M. Quarlss, n
Is Nashville, who are criminal lawyssI
y of well known ability. They will be
v opposed by Leech 4 Savage and b
- - II. Burney, who assisted Attorney
- General Pitt in the other trial. Sew
eral of the younger members OF thu
=, bar will make speeches on either sds
Il OF the case and altogether the trfa
NJ will be an interesting one.
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