The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-30
REILS' CASEDISPOSED OF.
TIE KILLING OF JRFF LOWE A
JUsTIFIABLR aOMICIDR.

The Finding of the Magistrates Bench
In the East Broad and Liberty
Streets agedy-The Testimony of
the witnesses of the Shooting.
Loves Attack on Reils a Savage
Ons-The Arguments.
The killing of JEFF Lowe by Henry F.
Rsils Friday night, July %, at Wendelken's
store was last night declared case of
iustifabs homicide. The decision was
unanimous one by Justices Rlsinger,
Naughtn and Reynolds. sitting as bench
Of magistrates.
The preliminary examination began in the
superior court room yesterday afternoon at
o'clock. The court room was filed almost
TO suffocation by one Of the largest crowds
of negroes ever in the building. Every
available space outside of the bar was
packed and the gallery overaowed. The
seats within the bar were occupied by the
white friends of Reils.
The examination began with the intro
duction of Willie White, who was with
Lowe when Reils killed him. White tried
to make out that Lowe was first attacked
by Reils without cause and was killed while
defending himself. Under the cross-exan-
nation of Mr.. duBignon, however, White
admitted that Lowe was shot while in a
clinch with Reils.
LOVES FRIENDS ON THE STAND.
Several other negroes, who were in the
neighborhood of the store at the time Of the
tragedy, were put on the stand, but their
evidence was immsterial None saw any
part of the commencement Of the difficulty.
When their attention was attracted they
saw a white man and negro fighting in the
store, and a moment or two latsr heard
four pistol shots IN rapid succession.
When Reils took the stand every negro in
the room paid strict attention TO his story Of
the shooting. He said that himself and Mr..
Wyness were walking along East Broad
street and Lowe and a couple of compan~
ions tried 30 push them of the sidewalk.
He demonstrated and angry words followed.
Reils said that rather than have any diff
fculty be and Weyness walked away. The
negroes followed He went to his office
In the Savannah, Florida and Western rail.
way and got his pistol.
SAW A CROWD GATHERING.
Then he and Weyness went across the
street to Wendelkens store to got a couple
OF glasses Of beer. While drinking be
noticed negroes gathering around the door,
and feeling that trouble was brewing be
started to write a note to Chief Of Police
Green to send him police protection, but
Rfterwsrd decided that he wouldn't aud
tore up the note.
After that Reils and Weyness started
to leave the store. Lowe met
them in the door aud struck Reils
a blow in the breast, knocking him against
himself. he said, Lo We grabbed him around
the body and drove knife into his face.
Then he pulled his pistol and fired four shots
at close range.
Weyness eorroborated Reils story In
every particular. A few other witnesses,
whose testimony had no direct bearing on
the tragedy, we're examined, after which
the arguments were begun.
LAWYER KINCKLE's SPEECH.
John H. Kinokle, Esq, the colored at
tornev, opened on behalf OF the state His
speech was short and rather of a passionate
nature. Mr.. duBiguon followed in an elo-
quent plea for the defense, in which he
took occasion to rebuke in scathinR terms
those who had assisted in arousing ra-
vengeful spirit in the hearts of the colorsd
people, as was plainly shown by the great
interest they took in the issue In closing
Mr.. duBignon said if ever there bad
been a case Of self-defsnse brought
before a court of justice the one against
Reils was SUCH IL was one Of those cases
he said, where the taking of human life is
justified by the instincts of nature and is
authorized by the law OF God.
Col1red Attorney Davis concluded for
the state. He spoke well, the burden Of bis
speech being an answer 20 Mr.. duBignon's
remarks about the interest shown by the
colored race.
THE BENCH's DECISION
The justices consulted about five minutes
and then announced that from the evid ence
submitted to them the killing of Lowe was
Justihahle, and they ordered Reils release.
The negro spectators left tina court room
In bad humor over the finding, and gang
congregated outside and waited for Rells
to put IN an APPEARANCE. His friends formed
a body guard around hin, and as they
emerged from TIE court house one crowd Of
negroes moved forward, as IL 90 cause
trouble, but Rs.A Ess hurried home, that
his appearance w51-d rOs add to the excite
mens whiea EaA 5reEing.