The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-27
The JURY WAS DIVIDED.
A Majority Says CORaOS is Guilty Of
Voluntary ManSIaIshteT.

Connors-Monroe Had Made Himseli
Questionable to the Barkeeper and
Was Put Out. When he Used Some
Vile Epithets and Received His Death
Wound.
The coroner's jury summoned in the
case OF Patrick Connors. who killed
Thomas Monroe. met yesterday morning
at 10 O'Clock at the dwelling of the dead
man at Broughton and Reynolds streets.
and after consideration of the case. it
was decided that the killing was voluntary
manslaughter, and on that COnnors be
held in Jail. unless he is released on bond.
There was considerable diversity OF
opinion at first as to what the case
should be considered. It Is said. though
not positively known, that on the first
ballot the jury stood two for murder. two
for voluntary manslaughter and two for
justifabie homicide. After a further con-
sheraton OF the case, the final ballot was
four for voluntary manslaushter and two
for justinable homicide. the two last re-
fusing to agree to any other verdict.
W. T. Watkins stated before the jury
that he was in the bar of COunihan's place
at the time OF the difficulty. which oc-
Cured between and 4 o'clock. Monroe,
the negro who was shot. was drunk and
was in the bar demanding some drinks.
He grew noisy and was ordered out, but
refused to go. The bartender showed him
TO the door. and he fell in the doorway.
Watkins says Monroe then started back
with club and threatened to break the
bartender's head, all the time cursing
the bartender in the vilest Ian
guage. The bartender then stepped
outside, and he heard the report Of
a pistol and saw the negro lying on the
ground dead. He said he supposed the
bartender. Patrick Connors, shot him,
as he saw the latter with a pistol when
he returned to the bar
Watkins said the negro also had knife
in his hand. He did not know the name
OF the bartender, but he had always heard
him called Slick" There were several
people in the bar drinking, but he knew
none of them but Slick. and did not know
whether the latter was under the infiu-
ence of liquor. Watkins then described
the situation at the bar infinitely and
stated that after being showed out the
negro came at Slick with a pocket knife
and stick. Watkins is a carbuilder and
lives at Al East Boundary street. He
could not say that the negro was raising
the knife to cut Slick, as he was not close
enough at the time. When the barkeeper
was standing in the door. he said. and the
negro outside, they were about five feet
apart, when the negro tried to force his
way in and Slick showed him out, they
both got out on the sidewalk and the
shooting took place at this time.
j. NJ. Anderson saw the scrapping out
side the bar from his stoop. He said the
negro had a big stick in his hand and
was cursing Connors when they were
standing in the door. AS the negro walked
back he said he saw young white man
come out of the bar pistol in hand. which
he raised and fired with the fatal result
The negro only said. "Oh. Lord. I'm shot, ="
as he fell. The white man then went back
in the bar. Anderson then described the
details as he saw them.
DR.. J. NJ. Graham said he was sitting on
his front stoop next door to Counihan's
bar at the time. Hearing a noise, he said.
he went to investigate and found Monroe
holding on to Connors' knee, saying: you
ought not to do me so. as l always pay
Mr.. Joe.' Connors, he says, then kicked
the negro, who, falling outside,
PlNhSA up MS SuCks cursed COn~
nors and told him If he'd come outside
he would whip him. Connors Immediately
walked out, pulled his revolver and shot
the negro. Monroe, he says, held the
stick uplifted but made no attempt to
approach Connors, who was the one to
make the advance.
Martha Hendricks, who lives over Count
hans bar, told a story similar to that of
Dr. Graham, and stated she saw no knife
in Monroe's hand or in anybody else's
hand
George Slocum was in the bar at the
time of the difficulty. having gone in to get
drink. Monroe and some others were in
there at the time. Monroe. he said, asked
Connors: why don't you wait on these
gentlemen"
Are you boss?" Connors replied.
No" Monroe said, but 1 want you to
wait on these gentlemen"
Il am boss here" Connors said, land
you get out"
Il won't get out; you are not boss" said
Monroe
This began the difficulty, and Connors
pushed Monroe out the door When the
negro fell in the door the barkeeper showed
him out in the street, saying: "You
stay out of here" The negro cursed Con
nors and said he would not stay out, and
told Connors if he would come outside he
would lick him. Connors jumped out.
f-N'tNA
ing in Connors hand before he went out,
but he came back holding a pistol. He
did not see the negro with any uplifted
stick, and saw no cause for the shooting
except the cursing by the negro for a
s. of b.
Rebecca Haywood saw the difficulty
from outside. She saw Monroe kicked out
of the door and heard him curse Connors,
who then came out, advanced toward the
negro and fired the fatal shot
Elsie Lewis, the mother of the dead
man, testified that he was not yet q. that
he carried stick because he was Grip
pied in the hip. The stick was a broom
handle.
The trend of the testimony is to the
effect that the negro carried a stick winch
he used regularly and was not coming
toward Connors, nor did he have knife
according to the statement of several wit.
nesses when the fatal shot was fired
Connors' friends say that it is not true
that he was under the influence of liquor
wnen he went to the Jail and gave him
self up and although he may have had one
or two drinks, he was perfectly sober al
the time. They were endeavoring to ar.
range bond for him yesterday, and they
think they will be able to procure his re.
lease.
TO OPEN MnpDNu