The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-01
HARRY HILL ON THE STAND.
He Tells His Story Of the Alleged
Forged Notes.

Mrs. Porter's Name Without Her
Consent-Ee Tells of Her Alleged
Numerous Gifts of Money to Help
Him Out When He Was in Financial
| Straits.
Atlanta, Ga, Jan 8l.--No criminal trial
in the recollection Of the oldest inhabi-
tant ever created the intensity of public
interest that characterizes the Harry
Hill case. To-day it has absolutely mo-
nopolized discussion everywhere and as
the investigation proceeds, the probable
| climax assumes a more and more dramatic
aspect. People were crowding the coure
| house steps this morning before the jani-
tor arrived to open the doors, and many
| remained dfnnerless In their places
| throughout the two hours recess at noon,
rather than take chances on getting
within earshot again once they left the
| building
The two particular points Of the days
| proceedings were the evidence of Mrs.
Ida Hill Casey, aunt of the defendant, and
Harry Hills statement to the jury. Mrs.
Casey contradicted Mrs. j. II. Porter's
evidence on several material points, and
also controverted the evidence of
other strong witnesses for the prosecu-
! tion. Other witnesses also contradicted
the evidence of the prosecution in mate-
rial points, and the case has assumed q
most extraordinary condition.
LAWYERS MAKE THE FUR FLY.
Aside from the contradictory evidence,
the day has been prolific Of the display Of
feeling between the opposing lawyers.
B. II. Hill for the defense and G. ID. Hill,
his brother, the prosecuting attorney,
struck fire until the court interfered, and
Col. L. W. Rucker for the defense also
created several sensational scenes by his
plan of action All the evidence is now
In with the exception of an alleged oon-
fession made by Hill just after he left the
city last May. This will be rendered in
the morning, and then the speeches,
which promise to be remarkable in many
respects, will begin.
Harry Hills statement was lengthy,
but was listened TO with intense
interest 10 the last word. He be-
gan reading sitting in the witness
chair, but at the suggestion Of his attor-
neys arose and delivered it in a standing
posture. He did not give any signs Of
nervousness, but gave his voice ring
that in any other than man of his past
record would have been taken as true sim
cerity. In 1881, he said, he came from his
Wilkes county farm to Atlanta, meeting
Mrs. Porter soon after his arrival here.
He had some inheritance from
his grandfather, and was introduced
into society by Mrs. Porter From the
first meeting, he said, there had always
been strong friendship between Mrs.
Porter and himself, and she always ex-
pressed the deepest interest In him. He
was not only a frequent visitor at her
house In town, but her guest at her sum-
mer home in Habersham county. In 1883
he became conductor on the Georgia
railroad, running from Atlanta 20 Au-
gusta. On every trip TO Atlanta he
visited Mrs. Porter's home. She raised
objection to his railroading and offered to
get him a position better suited to his
social position, but he refused TO give up
his bell line and ticket punch. In 1886,
however, with his inheritance he began
the construction of the Union Point and
White Plains railroad, aud lost all ha
had.
MRS. PORTER HELPS HIM OUT.
Mrs. Porter then offered to assist him.
"T'he first time Mrs. Porter offered me
assistance" he said, twas in 1885, when
| / met her in New York and she gave me
800 at the Dairy Kitchen. The following
Christmas she gave me 500 more, and in
April, 1887, at her home in Atlanta gave
during a carriage drive she gave me $3.50.
In 1889 she went to Macon and
at her invitation / went part OF the
way with her In parting with me sho
handed me an envelope, upon opening
which found three 800 bills. In 1890
| secured position on the West Point rail-
| road. On my first trip back to Atlanta
Alfred Reynolds, husband of Mrs.
Porter's maid, brought me letter from
| Mrs. Porter containing $3.50. The same
year Mrs. Porter expressed S400 to Mr..
Crosby, of Atlanta, to pay debt Of mine,
at my request. The next year she madd
| a 81 200 note to aid me financially, which
discounted to Henry r.. Powers"
In 1891, Hill put 81, 900 Of Mrs. Porter's
money, he claims, into the Union mills,
which money she handed to him at the
postofiice.
THE WHISKY COMPANY.
This brings Hills story down TO the
famous Wilson Whisky Company, and he
said: II talked it over with Mrs. Porter
and urged that she put money into it.
She refused at first, on account Of the
character of the business, but finally con-
sented when l showed her what the prof
its would be. ! had no money myself but
| Mrs. Porter agreed that could
| use her name TO raise
money, stating that she had
a private estate of her own" Hill then
|
Mrs Porter's name, claiming that he had
her authority to sign all of them. The
| first of these notes, he said, he signed in
her bedroom, she being indisposed at the
time. ~ state that all these notes were
signed by me under Mrs. Porter's direc-
tion with her knowledge and that the
money was TO be used in the Wilson
| Whisky Company. She cautioned me
always 10 sign her name Fanny Lowry
! Porter"
THE NOTE BOUGHT By CLARK.
Hill referred to the visit Of
Peter Clark TO the residence
Of Mrs. Porter TO see if the note Mr..
Casey had bought was all right. and said
Clark had gone there by agreement with
Mrs. Porter. He described in detail
every transaction on the famous notes,
aggregating $4,000 His statement about
them tailed with what has already boon
published. 'In December, 1892, needing
s., 900, L made note for 81 900, payable
10 Joe +. Gatins, and took 1t to Mrs. Por-
ter's house, telling her that expected to
negotiate it to John Ryan, who knew her
signature and she had better sign 10 her.
self TO avoid suspicion. We took in
John w Echols, who said he could get
$4,000 on notes discounted in New York