The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-06
KAVANAUGH GOES FREE.
A VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL IN
TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES.

Washington Square Last December
Found Justifable-The Story of the
Tragedy as Told From the Witness
stand-Kavanaugh's Statement.
Scenes in the Court House During
the Trial and at Its Conclusion.
Mayor McDouough's Advice TO Rsv-
aneugh.
Policeman John Kavanaugh, who shot
and killed Dennis Garrigan at Washington
square Dec. 20 last, has been declared guilt
less.
At O'Clock this morning the jury. after
celebrating twenty-five minutes, returned
q verdict of mot guilty. and Kavanaugh
stepped from the court house free man.
The trial attracted an immense gathering
to the court room during the day, the great
est crush being In the afternoon. Chief
Green, Assistant Chief Killourhy and
many Of the policemen of duty were
among the audience. There were as many
negroes in the gallery as attended the Meyer
murderers' trials.
When court convened Policeman Kavan-
augh entered from the sheriff's office neatly
dressed in a dark suit, looking pale
and thin from his long confinement in jail.
He was cool and collected, however, and
didn't appear to fear the outcome of the
trial
SURROUNDED BY RELATIVES.
Kavanaugh took his seat IN the
prisoners chair with his sister on his
right and his wife on the left. Another sis
ter and three brothers sat behind him, and
his uncle, Mr.. Martin Cooley and Mayor
McDonough occupied seats near by. At
the table directly in front OF the prisoner
sat his three attorneys, City Attorney
Adams, Maj. T. w. Meldrim and Thomas
s. Morgan, Jr.
On the left Of Solicitor General Fraser sat
Garrigan's widow dressed In somber black,
with a countenance bearing traces Of deep
anguish and holding her baby In her arms.
On the right was Walter 8, Chisholm,
Esq the assistant prosecutor, and William
A. Folliard, brother-in-law OF Gsrrigan.
During the array Kavanaugh stood erect
and faced Solicitor General Fraser. When
asked for plea TO the indictment he an
swered mot guilty" in clear and distinct
voice. He closely watched the selection OF
the jury which was to stand between him
and the state, and consulted with his attor-
neys several times.
THE JURY.
A little more than half an hour was oon-
suned in getting the jury. The prisoner
struck II, the state 8 and went of for
case we're:
G. Marion Besselieu, Henry s. Turner,
Patrick Barrett. r. d. Cunningham,
Walter P. OFT, Edward N. Perry,
Henry NJ. Fraser, John A. Hutton,
j. S. Wilmington, Charles II. Sipple
James q. Roberts, K. A. Blackwell.
THE STORY OF AN EYEWITNESS.
james K. Brown, who was mixed up In
the trouble which resulted in Garrigan's
killing, was the first witness for the state.
He said that Garrigan, Harrison aud himself
were at Houston and Bay street lane talk
ing about a proposed dog fight when Kava-
naugh came along and asked them how
they managed to get whisky on Sunday
when he couldn't.
Garrigan answered that he bought his
whisky Saturday nights. Kavanaugh said
1t was a lie, and struck Garrigan with an
umbrella and tried to arrest him. A scuf1e
ensued, and as the policeman and his pris-
oner got over to the horse rack Brown said
he saw Kavanaugh draw pistol from his
belt holster and shoot. Garrigan called out
that he was shot, and then a crowd went
for Ravanaugh.
The cross-sxamlnation of the witness by
Maj. Meldrim was severe, and lasted over
an hour. The attorney had a stsnographio
report Of Browns evidence before the
mayor, and, referring to IL, he demanded OF
Brown whether he had sworn to certain
things which were contained therein. Brown
denied a great many of the statements
WA4A|h AAhJ- IhblAA ALL A5hQt duu LQduc SVh-
slve answers to many OF the questions pros
pounded. The attorney kept him CONTRA
dieting and recontradicting himself steadily.
THE START OF THE TROUBLE.
William Harrison said that himself, Gar
rgan and Brown were standing at Houston
street and Bay lane when Policeman Kav-
ansugh came up and asked: How in the
- can you fellows get liquor on Sun
day and l can't" Garrigan replied that he
CT. Il.
anaugh at once said; You're
liar" and at the same time struck GarriKan
over the head with his umbrella, breaking
it. Garrigan struck ar KavanauRh and the
two men clincbed. Kavanaugh called for
assistance and when Jim sullivan responded
the policeman said: hold him, Jim, while
go for help"
Harrison said Kevanaugh walked of a
few steps toward Bryan street, returned
and struck Garrigan In the face. Again
the two men cllnched and struggled over TO
the horse rack. When they reached that
point he saw Kavanaugh pull his pistol
from his hip pocket, above it under his coat
and fire. Garrigan called out, Il am shot"
and Aavansugh said, "pve got him." Har-
Tison then took the wounded man around
the lane and opened his clothes. He didn't
Zee what became OF Kavsnaugh.
THE PLACE TO GET FIGHT.
Maj. Meldrim went into a searching
REORGANIZATION Of Harrison, The
attorney and the witness had several little
titfs. The opinion Of the witness was that
kavanaugh came down there the day he
killed Garrigan looking for fight. Mai.
Meldrim wanted to know il the locality
isn't an easy place TO be accommodated under
these circumstances, and Harrison promptly
replied that the boys Of that section were as
good as in any other part of the city, and
IL man looking for a fight ran against the
right parties he wouldn't have any difficulty
about being accommodated.
Again, as in the examination of Brown
Maj. Meldrim read to Harrison his testis
mony before Mayor McDonough and sue
ceeded IN getting him 10 contradict 1t.
THE STORY OF PAssxR BY.
Benjamin Barbour, an employe of
Rourke's novelty iron works, testified that
he was on his way down Houston street
toward Bay street the Sunday afternoon
Garrigan was killed. when his attention was
attracted by crowd OF people around the
express company's stable. He hurried
across Washington square to see what was
the trouble, and when he got to Bryan
street he saw Policeman Kavanauoh and
Garrigan struggling.
The polceman's arm was appraised aud
he had a pistol In his hand. Garrigau
forced Kavanaugh's arm down and then
he heard the shot fired. The next moment