The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-07
HILL COMPROMISE
His Sentence Reduced to Five Years
10 End the Case.

The Agreement to Abandon the Mo-
tion for a New Trial Made by the
Advice Of His Friends-TolIeson
Stood Ready to Supply Him With
Counsel to Continue the Fight to
Prove the Notes Genuine.
Atlanta SEA, Feb. 6.-TO-day's devel.
opments in the Hill case were exceedingly
interesting and surprising to the public.
HIPS application for new trial, which
wastled yesterday just in the nick of time,
was taken to indicate another long and
scandalous scene in tho court room, and
the announcement that Lawyer Black
burn, OF Chicago, would be imported to
Gift the lid" appeared significant.
This morning, however, Ben Hill and
Tinsley w. Rucker, HIPS attorneys, who
stood up to him until he was convicted
and then washed their hands Of him, got
together with the prosecuting attor-
neys and the prisoners relatives
and struck compromise that
means good deal more than appears on
its face. Mrs. Ida H. Casey, Harry Hills
aunt and Welburn Hill, his uncle, were
present at the conference, which was
held at the court house, and used their
influence to end the case where 1t now
stands. Under their influence, and the
mutual promises of all the lawyers, Hill
agreed TO withdraw his motion for a new
trial and begin his term in the peniten-
tiary at once. In consideration of this
agreement by Hill the prosecution Joined
in an appeal for reduction of the seven
year sentence, and also agreed TO have all
the other ten indictments nolle pressed.
cur DOWN TO F1vB YEARS.
Judge Clark was then applied to and
showed his approval Of the compromise
by reducing the sentence TO five years,
and also promptly cancelling all the
other indictments, So the trade was
perfected the papers signed, sealed and
delivered, and there is to be no more of the
famous case in court. The prosecution is
overioyed az the result. Mrs. Porter Is
held to be absolutely vindicated, and il IL
is true, as reported, that there is another
condition TO the compromise, Hill will not
fare 80 badly for his villainy after all. 1t is
understood that he is TO DO sent either to
Col. Smiths plantation, down in Ogle-
thorpe county, his old home, or to the
Gress camp, and that after q short time
the prosecution will join in petition for
pardon. Hill will also be given "snap"
at the camp, Hill will not see anybody,
especially newspaper reporters. He
claims that the reporters got him into the
nine mole at the outset and he Will be shy
Of them in the future. He will probably
be taken TO the penitentiary on the quiet.
LONG TALK WITH ToLLEsoN.
Last night Hill and j. II. Tolleson, who
is really the cause OF his prosecution held
a three hour confab at the jail, tho result
being not only truce between them, but
an alliance for the purpose of fighting
the case to a finish Tolleson was to fur
nish the legal talent and Hill was TO give
up everything in the way Of facts to meet
the indictment. The lawyers and rela-
tives, who have had enough of the case,
however, succeeded in bringing Hill down
TO their plans, and in order TO insure no
more Interference from Tolleson, an order
was issued at the jail not to let him and
Hill communicate with each other under
any circumstances. Tolleson spent a good
deal OF time and money in bringing Hill
back TO Atlanta. He holds some S4 800 Of
the Hill-Porter notes and wanted to get a
verdict of mot guilty" which would sup
port his claim, but as IL now stands Tolle-
son carries the bag, and would go any
length TO get the case back into court
again. Talleson is an unrelenting and de-
termined man, and he now declares that
he will "lay'' for Hill until he gets out Of
the stripes, and then prosecute him on
every note that he holds.