The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-01

I
living, don't intend TO now, and won't 70
with you,' answered. DeLaughter pointed
has big Colts pistol at my head and said
'NOu see thisl I'll kill you il you don't 60
Yes, kill him. said Perkins. dead men tell
no tales l felt that be intended to kill me
nld got up That's right, said DeLaughrer.
come on and we'll help you If you give out
AS we left the house DeLaughter turned
TO the girls and said: If find man here
when l come back I'll kill every -- one Of
you and kill the man as WELL We started
out and when we reached the canal | gave
out. DeLaughter caught one side and Per-
kins the other and helped me along. When
we reached the Four-Mile Hill we sat along
side the railroad track 20 wait for the train,
taking several drinks in the meantime. We
heard q train coming, and putting on our
masks started for it. We found out that
we were mistaken; that il wasn't the train
We wanted. In little while the right one
came, and DeLaughter ordered US to
come on.
LAYING FOR THE TRAIN.
81 fell and Perkins ran over me. l
reached the steps just as the train was pull
ing away aud got on. As | reached the
door of the express car l heard shot. As
the smoke cleared away / saw the express
messenger with his hands up. Then De-
Laughter turned to me and said, '--
you, Turner, come on; follow me- / was
afraid and walked in. To Perkins he said:
You stand there at he door and don't let a
- soul pass. When we get through /
want you to pull the bell rope and stop the
train
"Then DeLaughter took the money from
the express messenger, Perkins stopped the
train and We got off. As | struck the
ground q pistol was fired behind me, then
another in front, and squatted down to save
myself from being shot. As the train pulled
away the shots continued. | heard whis-
tie. and answered it. DeLaughter came up
and said that he had fallen into a hole and
his pistol went off. DeLaughter said he
hadn't got much money for his trouble. We
went into the woods, where DeLaughter
opened the pouch, cut the letters open, put
the money in a sack, burned the papers and
started for home.
I'VE passed through the cemetery and
when we got TO the house DeLaughter
divided the money, giving me $62. He told
Perkins to sleep with rue to watch me. Next
morning DeLaughter came into the room
and made Perkins and myself get up and 10
with him to Freid & Hicks restaurant for
breakfast. Then we had several drinks,
and, going to Bay street, got on Belt Line
car and got off at the White Bluff road
crossing. asked DeLaughter where he was
going and he replied, - it, l am going
to get out of town. l know my business. |
have been long time in it, )"
Then Turner told the story of the trip to
Florida and bis subsequent capture.
AFRAID OF DE LAUGHTER's INFLUENCE.
The first sensational surprise of the trial
was when Judge O'Byrne said he wanted TO
put Minnie Ward on the stand, but was
afraid the presence of DeLaughter in the
room would Intimidate her from telling
anything, because he had been advised that
threats had been made against the girls
life. Judge Faligant smiled at Judge
OByrnes statement, but ordered DeLaugh-
ter taken to the other side of the court
room and given seat on the steps leading
to the bench. Minnie came in with a far
away look in her eyes, which might be
taken for hypnotic spell as much as any
thing else.
After being sworn Minnie positively refused
to say anything about the robbery, claim
ing that she was afraid she " ould be killed if
she did. Judge Falligant told Minnie not
to pay any attention to the threats, but tell
the truth, and the court would see that she
was protected. Minnie replied in an inno-
cent manner that she wouldn't be with the
court all the time, which brought down the
house, the laughter continuing for several
minutes.
Judge O'Byrne sought to make Minnie
tell what she knew, but she positively re-
was the first victim in the court room of
the hyponotIc and mesmeric influence idea
surrounding the case.
MARY MORDECAI's STORY.
When Minnie had retired Mary Mordecai
was put upon the stand and told story
which corroborated Turner's statement as
to his being sick and forced by DeLaughter
into going with him to the scene of the rob-
berry.
Mr.. duBignon sprung a surprise when the
defense announced its case closed by asking
the court to allow DeLaughter, the con-
vlcted robber, TO 90 on the witness stand
and be sworn In rebuttal to Turner's state
ment Mr.. duBignon said that it was De-
daughters desire to tell his story. Judge
Falligant agreed to the request, and then
there was greater interest shown by
the spectators than at any other time since
the famous trials began. Everybody
crowded as close as possible, and Can't
Anon DeLaughter, the father of the con-
victe6 man on the stand, walked across the
room and took up a position directly in
front OF his son.
DeLaughter took the oath In cool and
collected way and then sitting down, turned
to the jury and told for the first time since
the confession to tho express people the full
details OF his crime. 1t makes an inter-
esting story, and is as follows: Several
months ago | was keeping a bar at Hunt
ingdon and Roberts street, and living with
Minnie Ward. Turner was living with n
woman named Mary Mordecai, and one
day she came to me in the bar and asked
me if | couldn't find some place for them to
live because they were to be put out of their
house for non-payment Of rent. knew
Turner very well, aud said l would try and
get them the lower portion Of the house
where was staying.
COULDN'T PAY HOUSE RENT.
81 did so, but after two weeks he failed
to pay the rent and had to settle the bill.
About that time | gave up barkeeping and
went back to work at the road, telling Min
ME TO rent a house. While | was on thu
road she rented the house In Henry street
lane in my name, and when | returned to
the city found her there with Turner and
Mary Mordecai.
Zone day she told me she couldn't get
along with Mamie Mordecai and said She
wanted TO move. ] told her l was willing
TO send her to Atlanta or any place else to
get rid Of her. She said she would rather
go to live with friend in the 'Craw. and
stood for her board. One day | was walk
ing in the street and met Turner. | told
him l was thinking Of going out west. He
said he would like TO go there also. He
told me he had tired of working
and wanted to be a robber. and
asked me TO join him. told him wouldn't
mind it, and asked him where we could
strike something we better tackle No. 81
said Turner, and catch the express | said
we should try and strike something better.
make big haul, and go out west. / didn't
think there would be enough in No 3.