The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-22
HARRISGOES UP FOR LIFE
THE JURY MERCIFUL TO ROGER
BROUGHTON's MURDERER.

BROUGHTON's MURDERER.
Ten Wanted to Send Harris to the Gal
lows, But the Minority Stood Firm
and secured a Compromise Verdict.
Judge FaIligant Tells the Prisoner
He Deserved the Rope and Ought to
Be Thankful TO the Jury-A Motion
to Be Made for New Trial.
Ambrose Harris will spend the balance OF
his natural life In the coal mines orns-
mented with convict stripes and chains as a
penalty for killing Rogers Broughton. The
iury returned a verdict of murder against
Harris yesterday morning at 10 O'Clock,
but added q recommendation to mercy,
which saved the prisoner from the gallows.
The jury announced an agreement at 9
O'Clock, and Harris was sent for. he came
into court with the same apparent indiffer-
ence which he had displayed during the
trial. While the roll was being called he
slightly smiled at the jurymen, showing by
all his movements that he expected either
conviction Of one Of the lower grades of
homicide or acquittal. The first real inter
est shoWn BY Harris was whsn Clerk Carr
took the indictment from Foreman Downs
TO read his fate.
1--WE, the Jury, find the prisoner at the
bar, Ambrose Harris, guilty of murder,
with q recommendation to the mercy of
the court were the words which startled
the prisoner and made him realize that his
freedom was gone forever. He Rat up
straight for u moment as il dazed, and then
sank back In a detected way aud drew his
hand across his forehead. The verdict
seemed to be a disappointing surprise to
Harris, but many of his friends expressed
themselves that he was lucky TO have es-
capped the death penalty.
HARRIS FRIGHTENED BY AN INQUIRY.
After the verdict had been read Judge
Falligant asked the jury if the intention Of
the tmercy recommendation" was to con-
fine Harris in the penitentiary for life.
Under the wording OF the verdict he would
not be compelled TO ignore the death PEN
atty unless the jury stated specifically their
desire to send the prisoner 70 the peniten-
tiary.
Harris began to show signs Of excitement
at this point ia the proceedings, aud when
the jurymen replied to the judges inquiry
that the recommendation TO mercy was
meant for life sentence, the prisoner gave
q sigh Of relief He evidently had begun to
fear that after all hanging was TO be his
fate.
Judge Falllgant, in passing sentence upon
Harris, expressed his feelings forcibly
about the prisoners crime He
said the evidence had proved the
killing of Rogers by Broughton
a deliberate and cold-blo ded muir der,
without the slightest extenuation. Harris
had premeditatsd his crime, armed himself
for its commission, hunted up his victim,
picked quaIrel as q ruse and then shot him
TO death with 1endish delight. Judge Fall
hgant told Harris that he really deserved
death on the gallows and he ought to feel ex-
tremely grateful to the jurymen for extend
ing TO him that mercy which he had denied
Broughton.
TEN WANTED TO HANG HIM.
During the passing of sentence Harris
showed a little feeling and kept his eyes
turned to the floor during the delivery Of
the judges remarks.
Judge O'Byrne, the only one of the pris-
oner's counsel present, at the reception Of
the verdict, gave notice that a motion for a
new trial would be made.
the verdict was a compromise one. The
first ballot 1t is said showed eight for the
death penalty, two for imprisonment for
life and two for acquittaL After few bal
lots the two for life imprisonment went over
to tue death peualty contingent, and the
vote stood ten TO two for conviction I'M
Til about o'clock. Then the minority Of
fered to agree to a conviction with lite i'm
prisonment and the majority compromised
rather than have a mistrial.
Harris Is quite an intelligent negro, and
up to his fatal row with broughton bore a
first-class reputation among the white peo-
pie. He is practical engineer and worked
at that business IN many of the larger cities
OF the north and west. from all OF which
places he has testimonials OF good character
and excellent workmanship. Harris read
these to the jury night before last, i'll order,
he said, to show what kind of a man he was.
GAMBLING HIS RUIN.
But gambling is responsible for bringing
Harris to a convicts life. When he came
to Savannah his good education and pleas
ant address impressed a white policy shop
owner, and Harris became his confidential
agent to ''gull" the colored people into los
ing their small change.
Rogers Broughton was a great policy
player, and one day his ticket drew a prize
at branch office The amount was large
for the institution, and if paid would break
the s'bank" for a few days. Broughton
was told there was mistake about his
ticket being a pr re winner, and he went
after Harris and demanded the money he
claimed
Harris treated him like the small dealer,
and then Broughton. with a desire TO get
even, swore out a warrant against Harris
for running gambling house. Harris saw
at once that his easy livelihood would 20 if
Broughton pressed the charge, and while
he was giving bond IN Justice Naughtin's
office accidentally gave away his intention
by remarking, "Broughton will never ap-
pear against me In court Of Justice"
From the Justices Office Harris went
home, armed himself and started out on his
hunt for Broughton. He visited Bush's
barroom in Yamacraw and inquired for
Broughton. He was asked why
he was seeking the man and
replied, ~ have arranged the warrant
business with Judge Nsughtin and the next
thing / intend to do is to arrange matters
with Broughton." Half an hour later he
met his victim, row followed, matters
were soon arranged by putting two bullets
into his stomach and, true to his word. Har~
ris had sent Broughton beyond appearance
In an earthly court.
He thought, however, that his influence
as politician would save him, but with his
fixing of BrouRhton, Harris at the same time
fixed himself forever,
AN OLD VETERAN GONE.