The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-01

ments by stating the law points which the
defense relied upon TO reduce Thorpe's
crime from murder TO voluntary man
slaughter.
Solicitor General Fraser made q short
and eloquent arrangement for the state.
He ridiculed the idea Get up by the defense
that the case could be made out one Of
voluntary granddaughter. 1t was, he said,
the worst case of deliberate and cold
blooded murder ever tried In Chatham's
courts. II there was the least mitigating
or extenuating circumstance connected
with Ihorpes case, the solicitor admitted
il was beyond the range Of his knowledge
he asked the Jury, in conclusion, to mete
out the death penalty to the murderer.
Attorney Cain made an appealing and
quite eloquent speech for his client, and
begged the jury to either let Thorpe off
/ with verdict Of voluntary manslaugter
! or recommendation Of Imprisonment for
! life.
! Judge Falligant's charge was short He
/ covered all the points in fair and impar-
tial way and the jury retired at 2:05
| o'clock. In fifteen minutes it returned with
| a verdict of guilty. Thorpe took the
court room with a staggering air when
Judge Falligant announced he would post
pone the sentence until 4 o'clock.
NO USE TO SAY ANYTHING.
There was a big crowd of spectators pres
eut TO hear the boys condemnation at 4
o'clock. The intervening time between the
rendering of the verdict and passing Of sem
tenoe seemed to have awakened the muir
derer to a full realization of his fate. His
bully" airs we're gone and when he walked
into the court room in charge of the bailiffs
it was with downcast face and tear-glisten-
ing eyes. He dropped into the seat by his
counsel with heavy sigh and began to
nervously twirl his handkerchief while
Judge Falligant was drinking a glass of
water.
"Staud up, Samuel Thorpe" said Judge
Falligaut.
The condemned boy got up slowly and
grasped the table in front of him with his
left hand. while he brushed his eyes with
his handkerchief with the right.
You have been convicted Of murder
without a recommendation to mercy after a
fair trial and an able defense by able couu-
SELL" said Judge FalliganU., "Have you
anything to say why the sentence of the
law shall not be pronounced upon your
Thorpes lips quivered, tears welled up in
his eyes and in a choking voice he answered:
81 am a oolored man, and it's no use for me
to say anything. You have your opinion,
aud my saying anything will not make il
any lighter"
JUDGE FALLIGANT's ADMoNTrIoN
Judge Falligant paused for few seconds,
during which he carefully surveyed the
prisoner who was standing before him with
his eyes covered, attempting to keep from
| breaking down. Then he spoke slowly and
eloquently 81 have listened carefully to
every particle of evidence in the case, said
| the judge, land consider the verdict a sat
| isfactory enc. II proved one OF the most
oold-blooded aud atrOclous murders l ever
| heard Of You were all enga ed In that
| place IN violating the laws of Georgia bv
gambling, AMI simply because one Of the
number won 80 cents from you you walked
out into the yard, turued deliberately,
without moments warning and, shot him
to death.
"Ehe laws of Georgia are not revengeful.
The purpose of trials is nob one of revenge
| against individuals, but for the protection
| of the life, liberty and property of the citi-
zens and as surely as one commits crime
the law will track him like q sleuth hound
t. bis fate. l regret to notice that NOM
bers of your race commit so many atroeious
| crimes, particularly among the younger
class, some of which seem TO be extremely
vicious and hard-hesrted. They have
adopted all OF the vices and none of the
virtues Of the more intelligent race.
I'm passing this sentence which is always
mournful duty to me- do not intend to
reflect upon your race as a whole, because
| know 1t has many noble men and women
who are exemplars in living upright, hon
est lives, respecting the laws and striving
hard TO educate aud rear their children 50
they may become useful citizens, but when
these youths turn their backs upon the
teachings of home aud cast their lot among
the wicked and depraved they must expect
to reap bitter consequences.
HIS DOOM SURELY SETTLED.
Your doom is as surely settled as the
passing OF this sentence of death. 1t is in
evitable. 1t is useless and futile for you to
TO expect or hope to escape the penalty for
you crime. l appeal to you to turn your
thoughts to another world, and endeavor
during the few short days you have yet
left to live TO make your peace with your
God, and pray for forgiveness for your
many crimes, and sincerely trust you will
find consolation"
Judge Falligant then passed the usual
March 10. between O'Clock in the morning
and O'Clock in the afternoon, in private.
Thorpe is a comparative stranger here,
having only visited Savannah twice previ-
GUS to his fatal meeting with Brinson, He
belongs TO Darien, and has been known as a
"sporth who made his living by travelling
around among the turpentine camps play
ing skin. Thorpe has been sort of dime
novel hero, calling himself Sammy de
Kid, "and carrying a big revolver around to
intimidate anybody who might question
his method OF gambling He was captured
by Detective Morgan two nights after the
murder, after long chase and the firing of
several shots. His father and mother ere
living in Darien,