The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-31
HARRY HILLS TRIAL BEGUN
Mrs. ]. II. Porter the First Witness
for the Prosecution.

5he Oharges the Accused With SPEND
ing Small Fortune Of Her Money.
He Enstigates a Line of Questions
Intended to Besmiroh Her Fair
Name-A Crowd in the Court Room.
Atlanta, Ca, Jan. s0.-Harry Hill in
dicted for forging the name of Mrs.
Fanny Lowry Porter, wife of President
j. II. Porter, Of the Merchants Bank,
was put on trial in the superior court to-
day, Judge Richard II. Clark presiding.
The case is one of the most sensational in
the criminal annals of the state. Hill,
himself, is of one of the best families in
Georgia, and always had the entree 70
the best society. He denies the forging,
and his defense jeopardizes the good
name Of Mrs. Porter, whose family is
also Of high standing and wealth.
She is sister of r. j.
Lowry, president of the Lowry Banking
Company, and the clearing house associa-
tion, a financier of great influence and
man Of wide popularity. Since Hill's in
dictment, nearly year ago, 1t has been
freely predicted that there would never
be a trial, because of the many sensa.
tional disclosures that would then neces-
sarily be made, and outspoken charges of
Official connivance have been made on ac-
count OF the seeming tardiness OF tho
court. Public sentiment has been strongly
aroused over the case, however, and the
trial which is now on Is taken as victory
for those who demanded the equal admins
istration of justice.
THE COURT HOUSE PACKED.
The court house was packed during the
proceedings to-day, and nothing else
is discussed in public places but the
evidence already advanced and what may
be expected TO be brought out. Public
sympathy Is all on the side of Mrs. Por-
ter, while Hill is denounced on all sides,
regardless of the opinion as TO his techni-
cal guilt. Mrs. Porter occupied the
stand for nearly two hours to-day and her
testimony showed that Hill had spent a
small fortune of her money and that
he was considered an intimate friend ofthe
family But despite the frank admission
of the witness on the stand that she had
time and again given him large sums,
Hill sat beside his lawyer and suggested
a line of questions that were plainly
meant to besmirch her fair name. While
as whole the days proceedings were
damaging TO the prosecution, tangible
ground upon which Hill hopes to show
the genuineness of the notes in question
was very scarce, and il is freely predicted
tion means vindication Of woman's fair
name, II not the dishonor of a proud FAM
lily. Intense interest is felt in the trial.
MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE.
When the case was called motion for
continuance was made by the defense.
The motion was made in writing in order
to keep the grounds from the public.
Judge Clark declared that the press
should not have the contents Of the docu-
~. fsa1 kxr tfe.et
instructing the clerk TO destroy copy OF
il which had been made for publication,
which he did. The defense will try TO
show that Mrs. Porter was partner
with Harry Hill in the whisky business,
and that he had authority to use her name.
The affidavit for a continuance bore on this
line. II further recited that w. E. HILL,
an absent witness would testify that
Harry Hill was approached previous to
his fight in May last by Col. J. w. 'Echols
and requested urgently TO leave the city.
As an inducement Hill was offered 500 at
the time, with promise Of 500 month
thereafter. the money TO be taken from
the proceeds of the Wilson Whisky Com
pany's business. Mr.. Echols continued
that the petition stated that he was au-
thorized TO make these offers, but Harry
Hill would not give his consent until
a promise was made that the paper
alleged To have been forged, for which
the defendant is now being tried. would
be paid. W. r.. Hills further connection
with the case was brought about, 1t was
claimed, through his being urged by Col.
Echols to lend his influence in obtaining
Harry Hill's departure. The indictment
upon which Hill is being tried is based on
a note negotiated by John M. Robinson.
There are ten other notes alleged to have
been forged.
MRS PORTER TAKgs THE STAND.
Mrs j. II. Porter, whose name appears
on the notes, was the first witness
put upon the stand. Mrs. Porter is
very handsome woman of about 40
When she came into the court room she
was attended by her husband, who is
president of the Merchants Bank her
brother, President X. j. Lowry, of the
Lowry Banking Company; her 1S-year-
old son, a lady friend and r. ID. Meador,
her brotherin-law Capt. Lowry handed
her up to the witness stand and she was
sworn there. Col Rucker conducted the
examination for the defense, Solicitor @.
ID. Hill acting for the state. Solicitor
Hill is assisted by the Messrs. Arnold,
relatives of Mrs. Porter, and by John w.
Echols, who figures in the famous case in
many ways, and n. j. and T. A. Ham
mOnd. b III. Hill who appears with Mr..
Rucker for the defense, is a brother to
Solicitor G. d. Hill Mrs. Ida II. Casey,
aunt of Harry Hill, who is a close friend
of Mrs. Porter, and who has stood by her
handsome nephew all through, however,
was in the court room, accompanied by
Messrs j. j. and A. w. Hill, uncles of the
prisoner.
GOOD WITNESS.
Mrs. Porter proved herself to be good
witness. She answered all the questions
Of the lawyers plainly and distinctly, and
although Col. Rucker, when he warmed
up TO the case, showed her
no favor on account of her high social and
family standing( she could not be en-
tangled by cross questions. Mrs. Porter
pronounced the note attached TO the in
dictment forgery when it was exhibited
TO her by the solicitor. The defense then
put her upon the rack. A long line of
questions, prepared upon Harry Hills
story of his relations with Mrs. Porter,
were propounded 10 her by Col. Bucher.
Mrs. Porter first met Hill at his aunts
home, where she was frequent visitor.
This was In 1881. In 1888 she gave
him 81 500 in cash TO help
him out OF some financial troubles. Her
husband knew of this favor. In 1891 she
gave Hill another $500, and in 1881 the
witness admitted that she had signed
notes to the amount Of $1,000 for him.
Her explanation OF this favor was thar
Hill had couple OF farms which no
wanted to get cleared up and then he