The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-31
ATTACKED IN COURT.
DICKSON FALLS BACK IN his
CHAIR UNCONSCIOUS.

The Famous Trial Threatens Fatal
Ending-Dickson Seized With Con
Restion and Placed in a Physicians
Csre-Prompt Attention Saves Bis
Life-Threstened With Arrest by the
Court Earlier IN the Day-The Cass
| Turning Against Him.
The Dickson case came near having a
| fatal termination last night. The testimony
/ yesterday was very damaging 20 Dickson.
| Tbs government closed its case at the night
session. and the testimony for the defense
had began. Dickson's first and one Of his
most important witnesses was on the stand.
His testimony was not so favorable 70
Dickson as the latter had anticipated.
Dickson has been under a severe strain
during the trial, and the failure Of his chief
witness probably brought on a climax He
was seated near his counsel. when suddenly
hs fell back in his chair as Ii in a faint. A
bailif caught his head and supported him
and the court rushed TO his assistance.
Dickson appeared to be in a state OF col
lapse.
There were few people 10 the court room
except the court officers, the jury aud at
torneys and dozen spectators.
ATTACKED WITH CONGESTION.
DR.. Wegefarth was present and saw that
Dickson was ia a serious condition. Judge
Speer at once ordered his removal TO the
Pulaski house and directed that
he be givea the best attention.
Dr. Wegeforth remained with him some
time. He said that Dickson was In a crit
ical condition and was verging upon couges-
ton of the lungs, probably brought on by
exposure, and but for immediate attention
fatal results might have followed. Late
last night Dickson was resting quietly and
his physician said that with proper care he
will probably be able TO resume his trial to-
morrow.
There was an impression around the
court house that Dickson was shamming to
Obtain sympathy, which seems to have been
unjust.
THE TESTIMONY AGAINST HIM.
Things went rather hard with Dickson
all day. Several witnesses for the govern
ment testified as TO his ordering goods in
their names. This ives made very
plain in the case Of the Savan-
nah Brewing Company, several wits
nesses testifying that Dickson had told
them that toe Savannah Brewing Company
was sending barrel of beer free to every
body that would ask for it, and his asking
them to let him order beer for them. SeY-
eral barrels of beer were ordered and re-
ceiVed, and were distributed and drank by
the parties. They after ard received the
bills for the beer. which they did not pay,
however.
Dickson was candidate for the legis-
lature at the time, and O number Of letters
signed Dickson and Stafford & Co., and
Others, to various business houses were
read.
K. d. Munford, teller OF Fthe Southern
Bank, was introduced as an Iexpert upon
handwriting. He testified that the hand
writing Of the letters we're similar to and,
in his opinion, was the handwriting Of the
same person.
THREATENED WITH ARREST.
Dickson's fainting spell last night was not
the first sensational feature Of the case
yesterday. AT the close Of the morning
session OF the court as the jury was filing
out OF the court room, in charge of the
balitfs, Dickson arose from his seat as usual
and started as if about to leave the room.
Mr.. Dickson take your seat,n ordered
Judge Speer.
Dickson took his seat in some surprise.
Judge Speer waited until the Jury had
left the room then said:
II am seriously considering the propriety
OF ordering the prisoner into custody. /
am not at all pleased with his conduct dur
Ing his trial For the last two days during
the trial of this case have
noticed that on the adjournment of the
morning session he has left his seat and
taken his station outside Of the doorway as
if with the intention OF approaching the
jury as it came out. have seen him look
very meanlngly at two or three of the
jurors as II desiring to communicate with
them. Such conduct cannot be allowed in
this court The case has already progressed
far enough 20 show that the crime with
which he is charged is felony and not
misdemeanor. / am not sure but
that l would be following the
proper course to order him into
custody anyway under the circumstances ;,
Judge Speer recalled that he had to sen
tence Dickson to twenty days imprisonment
for contempt OF court upon his former trial
for attempting to intimidate witness, He
advised bis counsel to warn him against any
such manifestations during the remainder
of the trial, otherwise he should remand
him into custody.