The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19
TWO MURDER TRIALS ON.
Lawrence Williams and Frank Bar
clay TO Answer The Charge.

Their Cases VIII BE Heard by the Su-
perior Court This Week-W illams'
Crime and His Defense-The Story of
Respess' Death by a Shot from Bar
claws Pistol-The Two Cases to Be
Strongly Defended.
During this week two white men viii
stand at the bar Of the superior court and
answer to the charge of murder They
are Lawrence Williams and Frank Bar
clay
Williams crime is a recent one, and the
details Of il are still familiar to the minds
of the public. According TO the verdict
of the coroner's jury in the case he was
found guilty of numbering Eliza Martin.
The crime was committed some time
during the second week of December.
Williams had been on intimate terms with
the Martin woman, and quarreling with
her one day. he killed her by plunging
large butcher knife into her breast and
side
Williams escaped, and remained at large
about two months, when he was finally
captured in Augusta. Williams admit
ted the killing, and made several conflict
ing statements about the crime. he made
one confession without stating any reason
or cause for the crime, and at another
time he claimed the woman attempted TO
shoot him, and he killed her in self de-
tense
THE LINE OF DEFENSE UNKNOWN.
Mr.. T. s. MORGAN has been engaged by
the prisoner TO conduct his defense. 1t is
not known as yet Just on what line the
defense will be made out. but probably
the claim of self defense will play some
part.
Solicitor General Fraser viii probably
handle the case for the state alone. De
tective Morgan is now engaged in getting
up evidence in the case. Probably some
one to whom Williams made a confession,
will be introduced by the prosecution.
BARCLAYS TRIAL.
Frank Barclays trial will probably be
taken up Wednesday, March p. The de-
tails of this affair are perhaps less
remembered than those in connection
with the Williams case.
Barclay was indicted by the grand Jury
for the murder of j. u. Respess. Both
boarded at the same house They fell
out over some trivial matter at the house
and meetingaSunday, Aug. "a, in the
Central railroad depot and the trouble was
renewed, Respess finally calling Barclay
liar. They clinched and when they
separated Respess drew his pistol and
fired three shots at Barclay wounding
him lightly. Barclay got in between two
cars and as Respess came towards him
presumably to fire again, Barclay then
drew his pistol and shot him dead.
PROGRESS OF THE CASE.
The verdict of the coruuer's Jury called
Immediately afterward was man
slaughter but the grand jury found an in
dictment for murder. Barclay who was
a fireman at the Central railroad depot at
the time, is still in the city and in the
employ of the railroad. He will be de-
Tended by Hon. Fleming G.. duBignon 1t
is said that Respess uncle, who actively
urged the prosecution, will not be in the
city at the time of the trial
There is is number of other murder
cases on the criminal docket. The Morn
ING News has advocated as speedy
trial as possible in all criminal cases.
The lesson and warning are more effec-
tive when prompt disposition is made of
the criminals. 1t is probable that the
docket will be well cleared during this
term of court.