The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-11
ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.
An Interesting Case Now Before
Early Superior Court.

Blakely, Ga, Jan. 10.-In the superior
court for this (Early) county the mur-
derer of Seaborn Shepperd is being tried.
The crime was committed in 1886 One
night in September Of that year while sit
ting at his table writing at his home near
Arlington, Seaborn Shepperd was shot in
the side OF the head and neck with a
charge of slugs and buckshot. Suspicion
pointed to Rufus Lawrence and Ben Talia-
ferro, sons-in-law oflthe deceased, as the
parties guilty of the assassination. True
bills were found against them at the Oc-
tober term following but owing to lack of
sufficient evidence were mol pressed by
the state. 1t leaked out later on that n
negro, Jim Foster by name, had confessed
the killing TO woman with whom hewas
living at the time. Upon her evidence
before the grand Jury a true bill was
found against Jim Foster, who had in the
meantime left the neighborhood of the
crime for parts unknown. 1t was not un-
I'll August of last year that the authori-
ties succeeded in locating him in Camilla
jail, from which place he was removed to
the Jail here few days before October
term of superior court. He was brought
before the grand jury during that term,
and for the first time made a full con-
fesslon OF the above matter, having pre-
vious to that time denied any knowledge,
in the confession duplicating Rufus
Lawrence, Ben Taliaferro. Charlie 1'alia-
ferro and Will Taliaforro, who he said
hired him to do the killing and a negro
Lewis Conner, who went with him,
at the request of the above parties
to see the act well done, he having gone
twice before alone TO commit the crime,
but his heart failed him and he came away
without doing it. He himself was first
ninRnn a Iva thn
evidence of his own confession, and some
corroborating circumstances. The Jury
have not yet agreed upon verdict. sup
position among the people being that they
are dlsagreeing upon the question of
death or life imprisonment Louis
Conner, the negro who he says went with
him and kept watch on the fatal night,
was next put upon trial. The first wit
ness put up by the state in this case was
Jim Foster. He carried good face aud
presented first rate appearance for a
negro. When he went upon the stand,
Judge Guerry the leading attorney for
the defense, arose and requested the court
toinstruct the witness that IL was his right
If he chose to exercise 1t, to refuse to
answer any question that would tend to
implicate himself in any crime or bring
public opprobrium upon himself or family
The court instructed him as to his rights
90 AbiubbbCds - llB oullClbpE HGuSEhl bu6l,
after asking him few questions prelimi-
nary in theirnature, propounded the ques-
tion If he knew who killed Seaborn Shelf
field. His reply came calm, clear and
distinct, that he did. He was then asked
II he was willing TO tell who did it. He
again replied in the affirmative. Then
came the chief question, upon the answer
to which the whole court room hung in
breathless suspense. The question was
who killed Seaborn Sheffield2 and when
the answer came, in an audible and uu-
hesitating voice, 'I did" wave of ex-
citement swept over the large court room
The witness then went on under the direct
and cross examination to relate wonder
fully vivid story, connecting all the above
parties in the manner mentioned. II was
the opinion of all who heard il that they
had never heard witness tell straighte ter
story under the fire of rigid cross exam
inatiOn.
On the trial Of the son-iu-law of the de-
ceased the state experts expect to show
that the motive that actuated them was
to get possession of the property of the
deceased as he was possessed Of consider
able wealth, and had no other heirs ex-
cept their wives.
His honor Judge Gober presides, and
Solicitor General Howard, of Lexington,
represents the state, assisted by Col.
Jesse Waters, Of Albany, and II. G..
Powell for the prosecution. The defend
ants are represented by Judge Guerry, Of
Dawson. and Col Wilson, of Fort Gaines,
and Messrs. Powell ami Oliver of the
local bar.