The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-02-06
HARRY HILL GUILTY.
THAT'S THE VERDICT REACHED DY
THE JURY
For Having FORGED tiae Name OF Mrs Porter
Whist tho Testimony Deve;oped-A
Statement from Mrs. Porter.

Harry Hi, charged with having forged
the name of Mrs. Fannie l.. Porter, the
wife of President J. H. Porter, OF the Mer-
chants bank, was convicted Saturday
night, the jury bringing in q verdict Of
guilty. He will be sentenced this week.
The attorneys Of Hill have already an
nounced the intention of making motion
Tor new trial
This case has been one of an interest
bordering the sensa tionai. and from the
tine It was runored that Harry EiN had
skipped town on the 18th Of last May after
forging Mrs. Porter's name, untu the YER
diet was found, the public has watched
with close attention every phase OF the
case.
The parties connected with the affair are
ali Of the highest standing and b6lcng to
the best society OF this city. Mrs. Porter Is
a sister OF Captain Robert Lowry. presi-
dent Of the Lowry Ranking Company; a
sister-in-iaW OF MIR. Z. j.. Meador and re-
LACED by marriage and blood 10 many other
prominent people. Harry Hill OH the other
hand comes from a fine family, originally
from Wilkes county. He is q cousin Of
Mr.. L~J Hill, the eX-pres;dent Of the Gate
City National bank, and nephew OF Mrs.
Ida II. Casey.
When Harry Hill first left town his fight
was surprise to ali who knew him, fol-
lowed Up as it was by a charge OF forgery.
lie was at that time connected with the
Wilson Whisky Company, an establishment
whose stockholders materalizcd only On
oath In the courtroom. Efforts We're made
at once to capture Harry Hill, and this was
an easy matter Ee found in Chicago.
He was brought back, there having in the
meantime been found against him no less
than eleven indictments for forgery. He
was allowed TO give bond. however, il the
amount OF $500 and he left the city again,
going to South Carolina. While there he
learned that seven warrants, charging him
with forgery, had been sworn out by Mr..
j. II. Porter. He returned to Atlanta at
once, but the warrants had disappeared.
Efforts to bring Harry back again were
successful and he was delivered up by his
surety, Mrs. Ida II. Casey. Again Har-
~ Hill secured his release. Then j. r.
Tolleson attempted TO set him back on
reQusiti0n, but this was not granted.
While this effort to bring Hill back was in
progress, and while he was on bond III
Chicago, the bonds in Atlanta were for
feited. Three days later he appeared in
the city and his trial which was COM
menced Tuesday and lasted five days, was
begun Immediately.
What the Testimony Developed.
The testimony of the defense went to
show that Harry Hill first met Mrs. Porter
when ne was a very young man and at that
time she introduced him into society, where
ne learned to become eXtravagant. reck-
less and possibly dissipated. That size
gave him money frequently and upon Vari-
GUS occasions. That she gave him 800 the
first time. At another time $2,003, which
she Slipped into his coat pocket; that she
gave him 500 in New York, $500 on the
train on the way to Macon. pad a debt of
$780, gave note for 5000, for his benefit,
to Joe Gatins; that she save. I@nl 500 as
Christmas present; th1t sne finally went in
to the WHISKY business IN order that he
might have employment from 1t; ana that
in order 70 put it on us feet she signed
three s2.oO0 notes. Qther itel41,s 81 1paa.a;ss
..lss.e.i;; afhotitit Up to %75,100 Tie
testimony OF MIS-. Ida H. Casey, ~. j..
Hill ana l.. J. 1855 went TO Show that Mrs.
Porter had, through her agent, Colonel
EchoIs. offered to give larry 500 cash and
pay him, 500 month il he would leave
town and stay way until the matter b1cW
over. one OF the notes that Harry signed,
but with her authority, accord.ns 70 hire,
was introduced 70 show. CHAT Mrs. Porter
mad said that it was all right aud would be
paid. This Mrs. Porter did not deny when
she vas on thc stand. An effort Yves made
t. iTapeach Colonel EcHols, q witness Ter
the defense. tchOi5 Vds Missed during the
last day. tra-.
Ia;