Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-10-17
PIE JUDGE TALKS.

DAYS 1huO % rEiuuy, INV iurt VI
the last day of court, in the pres.
ents OF B. j. Howard Attorney
General and, % he thinks 6. A.
Devils, the sheriff stated that the
night before he had slept, that he
had lost sleep several nights guar
ding the prisoners and that last
night he had given each one pis-
toll and told them to defend them.
selves; that he lost sleep enough
and could not afford TO do so any
longer. Mr.. Howard remarked;
well that will bluff tbe'mob II
they find it out". remarked that
was = new way Of keeping prison
ers and asked il II Was not danger |
Gus. Mr.. Azbill said he made them |
put them out that morning before
he went in.
The arming OF the prisoners was
without my knowledge, consent or
advice or that of the attorney gen.
eral. I said to the sheriff that II !
was in his place, although the
grand jury had declared Jail safe,
that thought no Jail safe from
mob; that il l thought any attempt
to lynch the prisoners would be
made, that before / would risk be.
, ing hurt or have a guard hurt any.
one, or have my family scared, 1
would carry the prisoners off to
If an other Jail in the circuit. He
said that he did not believe the
o mob would return.
The attorney general Howard said
g Il have heard enough to make me
l. believe they will". / then said to
d Hr. Azbsll that he knew his duty
d and that he was the jailor and
i was not; that was the Judge and
a only had to try them, but that
would not risk myself and family
: nor have any trouble over it.
NJ l never thought or dreamed OIL
he jailor arming the prisoners un
til he informed ~ Of what he had
done.
This was before he had armed
them, as he said, the night befor.
~ court adjourned that day. I an
. satisfied that Mr.. Azbill and clerh
Il will state substantially the same.
u l made no order of record t
o. arm the prisoners-made non,
ID publicly or privately-for thu
> sheriff alone was responsible fol
them and ! presumed would us'
such means As he thought best
q l made every effort that . cour
~ could do to have the pris
N oners tried; had . pnanel sum
lie moned and thought they woult
"a be. Motions were made by thei
y attorneys TO quash the indictmen
10 and pleas in abatemcn were flleI
an all Of which | over.ruled and di
10 rected the selection of = jury
C. when their attorney asked fc,
q time to prepare sffidavits an,
d. made them so strong that undo
the law a continuance could no
be averted. The attorney gener
IT. al and myself both hrged trial an
70. he offered to send foktwo of tn
ed defendent's Witnesses, the onl
pp ones absent; to 60 and take tn
ur position Of a sick lady, and attol
he ney Of defendent declined.
in then told them thought 1t bes
ar to try the case-said 80 publicly
on and that / granted - continuanc
re because it could not be helpe
er and case Of Soc against the Stat,
Id Furthermore, | told their alto
IN neys that if the case was not trie
Nh then the consequences might b
worse and they were responsible,
that delay in such cases was whs
10, provoked violence. / unde
zee stand that two OF the attorney
he conceded with me as to a speed
to. trial and thought trial ought
re- be had. l have no sympath
no with rapist, and when a case
to-. made ont the death penalty
I'D too light; and they ought to /
of quickly and severely dealt wit
ok and that no brute who commit
es' rape ought to be allowed to live
ri Attorney General y. J. Howar
ers states in regard to the arming {
Ike prisoners that he was present @
be Friday morning, the day cou
Ike adjourned, when the sheriff ,pok
- of armihg them the night befoI
and remembers the astonishe
look on Judge Taylor's face
Is. the time; thai the foregoing is
true and substantial statement