The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-01

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| jury against the danger OF c1nvicting men
upon ciroumstantial evidence, and related a
story OF a case in France in the past cent
ury where the circumstantial evideu CO
against the accused was much strong er
than that produced against Williams, res
sulting in his execution. Many
years after IL was shown that
the man who had been executed was inno-
cent Of the crime for which he had been
made to pay the penalty.
Mr.. Gazan told the jury that the
blood stains upon the prisoners
clothes had been fully explained
by the eruption which was upon his body
at the time OF his arrest. At this point the
attorney read a case Of man named Shaw,
who had been convicted of the murder Of
his daughter because of blood stains found
on his clothes. The accused claimed that
tue blood came from cut upon his person,
the bandage having become loosened, but
nevertheless he was convicted and hanged,
only to have found out later that Shew's
story was true and he was innocent OF the
crime charged.
Next Mr.. Gazsu attacked the states wit
nesses who had seen groups of men loiter-
ing around the soda water factory, saying
that the identity of the parties was mere
conjecture, and shouldn'b be considered at all
by the jury. The attorneys peroration
was tlowery. "a thousands suspicious"
said he, "do not form one truth Let thts
be a case that, though the acquittal Of this
defendant arouse public Indignation, It
would ever remain g living monument 10
the calm and unimpassioned administration
OF justice. Save this innocent man from
undeserved and ignominous death"
MR.. KENAN's EFFORT.
Livingston Kenan, Esq, followed Mr..
Gazan in behalf Of Williams. he went
through a resume Of the evidence OF the
state, and tried TO show TO the jury the
weakness of its case. The attorney MAIN
tanned that the blood stains on the prisoners
clothes came from the sores upon his body,
and asked why it was the state hadn't called
for DR.. Comm, who examined Williams to
prove otherwise.
The defense, Mr.. Kennn said, had sub
poenaed the physician, but be was out Of the
city. Mr.. Kenan asked further, what had
become of the blood-besneared and be-
smirched overcoat which It was alleged was
taken from Williams. That overcoat ought
20 be very important feature Of the states
case, but strange to say. it was not produced,
although the garment is in possession Of the
state's authorities.
The attorney ridiculed the idea of there
being any truth in Charley Bacon's
story, in view Of the manner In which
he had oontradicted himself in cross-ex-
animation. He proved himself 20 be
capable OF swearing anything. Mr.. keenan,
denied that the state had made out its case
at all. He appealed to the jury TO shut
their eyes to the public clamor against the
prisoner and do their duty fearlessly and
mete out justice TO Williams by acquiring
him.
THE SUMMING UP.
Solicitor General Fraser summed up for
the state. For halt an hour he arraigned
.
ridiculed the fact of one of the attorneys
going back 200 years to find a French ghost
story about the injustice Of circumstantial
evidence TO attempt to scare the jury that
maybe away Ia the future it might possibly
find that a mistake had been made.
Getting to Bacon's story Solicitor General
Fraser asked the jury how it was Bacon
could have told the same story he related on
the witness stand the day he was arrested
il he hadn't been implicated In the affair.
Every word Of his story was completely
corroboratcd by the circumstances Of the
murder of Mr.. Meyer and If he hadn't been
engaged in the conspiracy he never would
have been able to give such complete details.
Solicitor General Fraser closed by saying
II ever a case had been made out by the
state il was in the trial Of Williams. There
hadn't been an extenuating circumstance
shown and he appealed TO the jury to meet
ner.
Judge Falligant's charge lasted twenty
minutes and was impartial, clear. concise
and eloquent, covering every phase Of the
case.
THE VERDICT.
The jury retired at 7:20 o'clock and re-
turned a verdict Of guilty in twenty min
utes.
AS in the Gay case, the spectators waited
for the verdict The moment it was
announced that an agreement had been
reached a solemn hush fell over the big
audience, in anticipation of the condemna~
into the court room in q cool manner,
smiling in the face of death, as
his predecessor, Gay, had done. When
he took his seat between his attorneys, he
faced around TO the jurymen and scanned
every one closely. AS Clerk Carr read the
verdict consigning him to the gallows,
Williams bit his lip.
Then he walked out Of the room to start
back to the Jail with a collected air. Just
remarked to Mr.. Gazan in the sheritf's Of
fee: 1T matters not to me what the ver-
dict is. l know / am innocent and will not
have to answer for it.n
To-day Joe Blols, the stable boy, who is
alleged to have let the murderers into the
soda water factory, will be put on trial.
Both DAYS and Lewis, whom Bacon yes
terday implicated in the murder, have been
held in jail since that time as witnesses.
Solicitor General Fraser said last night that
as soon as the cases against the conspirators
under indictment have been disposed of he
will investigate the charges made against
Days aud Lewis and II there is any fouuda-
ton for them the two negroes will be iu-
dicted and tried for the crime.