The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-17
MUST co TO THE GALLONS.
The Jury Says Eddie Davis Murdered
Willis Brown.

W AAAA- NV '--'
The Murderer Slipped Up Behind His
Victim, Picked Up Browns Gun and
Said I'm Going to XIII YOu''-Shot
Kim Down Before He Could Defend
Himself Claimed He Did it in Self
Defense-Davis Said Brown Was
Coming at Him With an Axe-Fri-
day, April 81, the Day Set For the
Execution.
Eddie Davis, who killed Willis Brown
a. the-Five Mile Hill on the Central rail
road Jan. 16 was found guilty of murder
yesterday, and unless the supreme court
interveues he will be hanged Friday,
April 81, between the hours of 10 o'clock
in the morning and o'clock in the after
noon.
The trail of Davis case began at the
opening of court yesterday morning at 10
o'clock. and the verdict of guilty was re-
turned shortly after clock in the after
noon. The jury in the case was soon
selected as follows. H. W Readick
Marcus S. Baker, John Decker, Michael
Deegan. Richard Webb, Jr., John NJ
Schley, H. A. Ernst John H. Cell. G. c.
Miscally John A. DOrney, b. p Winters
Walter j. Nell
SOUGHT BROWN TO KILL HIM.
The witnesses introduced by the state
were five in number, being Davis Solo
mons, who saw the crime committed,
Nancy Brown, Tom Clark, Allen StinsOn
and Coroner w. ID. Dixon. The defense
put up no witnesses at all. The prisoner
was represented by Z. r. Mcclellan,
Esq, and Solicitor General Fraser con-
dnCted the prosecution alone.
Davis SolomOns being an eye witness
to the crime, was the most important
witness for the state. The murder, he
said, occurred near Browns house
Brown, SOlomons and Lee Davis, the
father of the murderer, had gone little
way into the woods Brown intended to
cut some wood and then 90 hunting with
the party.
While they were standing there talk
ing, and Brown was ChOpping wood, Ed
die Davis came up behind Brown, and
picked up Browns gun, which was
loaded, saying as he did So Oh you,
I'm going TO kill YOU
TURNED TOWARD HIM WITH UPR AfsED ARM.
Davis, according to Solomons' testi-
mony, raised the gun as he made the
threat, pointing it at Brown. AS
Brown turned to face his as
sailant the gun snapped. Brown then
raised has arm TO protect his head
and with head downward started
towards Davis with his AK in his hand.
He had scarcely taken step when the
gun was fired by Davis, and Brown sank
TO the ground, dying few minutes after
ward. The load from the gun went
through the victims skull penetrating
the brain and coming out behind his
head
The witness further testified that an
attempt was then made by Lee Davis,
the father OF the murderer, to have him
held while he went for a rope with which
TO tie him While the father was gone
Davis threatened TO use a razor on Solo
mons, who was holding him, and in this
way made his escape.
Clarke and Stinson were introduced to
give an account OF the prisoners escape
and his final capture in South Carolina.
HAD THREATENED TO KILL HIS WIFE.
1t was shown through the testimony
that Eddie Davis had said something
about getting gun with which TO shoot
his wife. This is what led to the quarrel
between him and Brown Brown told
his father something about his designs on
his wife, and Davis meeting him sometime
afterward said
What kind OF a d lie is it that you
have been telling on NEE"
Brown considered this an insult and
struck Davis twice, which Davis did not
resent. Davis then went away and it is
alleged that he armed himself with
razor before meeting Brown in the woods
on the fatal day. The evidence showed
that he walked up behind Browns back.
picked up the dead mans gun, and shot
him down before he could protect himself
THE TWO SIDES OF THE CASE.
Solicitor General Fraser opened the ar
gument, claiming that the evidence
made ont a clear of
the accused Davis had gone to meet
Brown prepared for any emergency He
went up behind his back and told him he
was going to kill him right
then and there, and at the
same time grasping Browns gun
with which to DO the work He spoke
about thirty minutes, reviewing the evil
dence carefully but briefly. showing that
there was malice in the murderer's
heart, and that his deed was the outcome
OF a little quarrel, which had taken place
some time before.
Mr.. Mcclellan had the conclusion, as
the defense put upuo witnesses. He held
that there had been no malice whatever
IN the prisoners heart. The shooting was
not denied, but it was held that Davis
shot only TO defend himself when he saw
Brown coming toward him with the ak.
In support of his claim that Davis had
not gone TO the spot with murderous in
TENT or mallce IN his heart, he stated that
the prisoner had gone there uuarmed
when he knew that Brown had with him
both gun and an AK. This, he claimed.
TO be sufficient evidence of the fact that
Davis had not sought Brown out for the
express purpose Of killing him.
TEE SENTENCE PRONOUNCED.
The case was given to the jury about 3
O'Clock in the afternoon. Judge FalH-
CANT carefully reviewed the law and the
facts in giving his charge The jury in
formed the court that an agreement had
been reached about o'clock The court
room was crowded when the Jury came
In. The clerk read the verdict as follows:
I'VE, the jury, find the defendant
guilty. NJ. S. Baker, foreman"
The prisoner was ordered to stand up
to receive his sentence. The spectators
listened to every word that came from
the bench Judge Falligant said THE
court had listened to the evidence care
fully and thought the verdict an emf
nently Just and proper one.
without any reason, 80 he said, "you
slipped up on him, took his own gun, and
without warning, sent his soul into eter-
nifty The evidence discloses a sad condi-
tlon Of affairs on your part IL charges
you with bloody purpose against your
own wife. Your own father disclaimed YOU.
You had almost become an outlaw 4 tro in