The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-12
TRIAL OF THE HORIZONS.
THE TESTIMONY ALL IN AND TEE
ARGUMENTS BEGUN.

The Efforts OF the Counsel for the De
tense Directed to Prove Isn Aiibi.
The Prisoners Claim to Have Been
Out Searching for a Brosher-A Me-
gro Train Hand Claims to Have Seen
Them Apply the Match.
SANDERsvILLE. Ga. March 1.-THE
trial Of the Horton boys has been progressing
two days and half. the testimony for ADD
against the prisoners was concluded this
afternoon. The counsel for the prisoners
endeavored to prove an alibi. They claim
that younger brother. 10 years old. who
had for some cause teen whipped by the
| elder Horton on SatuId day, Dot. "a had dis
appeared. On Sunday, Oct %. the mother
OF the boys prevailed on VIII and Fred, the
prisoners to go in search lof their brother.
They went 20 Sun Hill station, the nearest
to their home, and bought two ticket for
Oconee, twenty miles toward Macon They
claim that they did not go to Oconee, buu
got off at Tennille. half way between Sun
Hill and Oconee, and made their
way back to their home near Downs, seven
miles from Sun Hill, the starting point.
having abandoned the search for their
brother, whom they expected to find on the
train. They could introduce no evidence to
show that they got off at Tennile. They
claimed they met no one ON the way home,
but stopped at a neighbours house on their,
way.
CONDUCTOR BEEBE's STORY.
Conductor Beebe testified that the pris.
oners boarded the train at Sun Hill and
presented tickets to Oconee. He could not
swear where they got off. Tue train had
stopped at water tank near Oconee, and it,,
is possible they got of at that place. Nears
there the bridge and trestle burning hegan.
Nine were fired between there and Sun I
fires. The Horizons bad with them a largo
valse and it is supposed this valise con-
| tanned the oil.
THE TRAIN HANDS DISCOVERY.
Jacob Fantz, colored train hand at Ten
mile, testified he was awakened after mid 1
night on the night the bridges were burned, ]
and Informed that the bridge near Oconee |
had been burned. He was told to 20 to-
Sun Hill TO warn the incoming train from !
Savannah OF the danger ahead. He found
the first Jrestle he came TO on fire, and two
men applying a torch. He approached near
enough to see that they were white men.
| aud identified the prisoners as the uen. He
made a circuit Of the woods 10 get around
them, and proceeded to Sun Hill. where hs
warned tne passenger Train tnat SOON
arrived.
| MOTIVE OF THE CRIME.
The crime with which the prisoners are
| charged 10 supposed to have been prompted
from desire for revenge against the rail-
road and express companies for
the imprisonment OF a brother OF
the Horizons, who had been convicted
as principal in the express robbery near
Forsyth. Threatening letters had been re-
ceived by the express company in Atlanta
outlining the plan of attack, which was exc
cuted by burning the bridges. These letters
were postmarked Davisboro, station near
the home ef the Horizons.
ARGUMENTS BEGUN.
B. T. Rawlings. one Of the prosecuting at
torneys, opened for the state after the con-
clusion OF testimony, and Marion Harris
followed for the defense.
Court then adjourned till tomorrow.
Several moro speeches will be made by ths
| attorneys for the prosecution and defense,
and the case will be given to the jury by
| noon. What their verdict will be Is q met-
ter Of conjecture, but it is believed that they
will convict. The testimony for the defense
| is not very favorable, while that of tho
| prosecution Is strong.