The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-02
y -------------------
HILI'> dILIGED LETTER.
The Prisoner Dramatically Denies the Au
thorship Of 1.-THE Testimony.

ATLANTA. Feb. 1.-The prosecution In
the Harry Hill forgery case introduced
to-day a letter, which, it is claimed was
In the nature Of confession. This let
ter purported to have been written from
ChcOga, last May, 70 John W. Echols,
who was Hill's lawyer and a partner In
the whisky company Echols furnished
the letter TO the State.
In the opening OF the letter. Hill is
represented as saying that he will give
a detailed statement of his financial
transactions, with a list Of notes, in
Guiding those said to be forged The lady
referred TO In the letter Is Mrs. Fanny
Porter. whose name Hill is now being
tried for forging. An extract from the
letter reads thus
Il do this as a matter OF Justification TO
| yourself, to Mr.. Hl. the lady I'm question,
| and 20 myself / have no ability to ex-
press my deep concern for her and the
anxiety through which | know she is
| passing yet with me she will always
| meintain the same exalted station of
| which she has been the occupant for
many years. To express the error of my
course would be useless story; l can
! only say ! regret IL
II was prompted by the desire and am
1
rected success for me how different would
be the attitude to-day.
"Of course, you are aware that this
lady had. on many occasions done for ms
| acts Of kindness. both beautiful and era
| ci0us i'm my extreme anxiety TO redeem
| that which might have heen lost q
| avoid her from aspersiOns which the world
| IS so willing u cast at the unfortunate
and especially II that be a lady Is it pos
| sible therefore. that / could have beer
so ungratefui as 10 abandon this desir,
for her protection? I'm all this doing
was prompted more through the concerr
| which i entertain for her than for my
| self.
After the first circumstances which re-
lates 10 the matter of Mr. Casey. I recog
nized that she was dspleased but SIT
granted forgiveness. joining me In thu
! hope OF it's beneficial redunding II there
was a wrong committed on my part, th'
initial act was the stigma: all subsequen
ones was prompted by reason Of pallia
tion. with the hope that the business II
| which ] subsequently engaged. and whlcl
knew was certainly OF far more than th'
usual profit Of ordinary vocations. stand:
! as my only excuse to all except the frs
| event"
che Prisonsr Drnies authorship.
The letter ended with poetic quotation
| Hill sprang 20 his feet pale and trembling
exclaiming: THAT is the first time | ever
| heard Of that letter.
This caused Il tumult in the court
! room.
Lawyers on both sides shouted 20 the
| defendant 10 sit down. lie had the at
! tltude Of a man wanting TO do violence
| His counsel pacifed him and he sat
| dom.
This incident was soon followed by q
! move on the part Of the defense 10 I'M
peach EchOls who claims 20 have rc
ceived the letter Bank President Thorn
ton and other prominent business mel
testified they would believe Echois undo
oath
Mr.. Thornton. tesiifying in regard to
visit paid TO him by Echols, said: III
claimed that ro mad discovered NV
or six thousand dollors worth of forgeries
that he was instructed to raise $4,000
nav the notes off so that no pnbiicit
would be- given to the matter. He sal
that Mrs. Porter was at the kimba
and would sign the proper papers
What did you say?
"f said | would have nothing further I
do with the matter and nay Inward re
Election was that the lady was standln
on a powder magazine-in hnahc's
wov said ia be- -- ID was going I
strike a match under that powder maga
zine
"He wanted 10 pay the notes. you say
Did ne say he wanted TO pay them
they were genuine
mo. that question did not enter into II.
The case viii be resumed in the morning