The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-12
LANIER QUICKLY ACQUITTED.
AFTER ONE BALLOT THE JURY Az
NOUSCED THE VERDICT BE-
FORE RETI RNING.

Druggist }. 4. Won VnIzah Claimed
Lanier sold Him CoIored water
for Drugs and Empty Patent Med
feline BottIes-Suid He bought the
stock without Taking an Inven-
tory on Lanfer's word as "A Mason
Lanfcr said He knew Nothing
About the Drug business and Alb
soIutcly Denied Having Made Any
MisreprcscntationS.
J. y. Lanicr was acquitted in the city
court yesterday Of the charge OF cheating
and swindling preferred against him by j.
a NonNalzah who purchased a stock OF
drugs from him a month or two ago. and
afterwards made the claim that they were
not what Lanier represented them to be.
The trial lasted from 10 o'clock in the
morning until o'clock Iast night. and was
in many respects interesting. There was
quite a number OF spectators in the court
room during tho day and all listened in
tently to everything that came from the
witness stand.
Mr.. Lanier sat near his attor-
neys, Messrs. 5. 3. Adams and
T. L. Rockwell throughout tho
proceeding. and manifested close in
terest in everything that transpired. Solic-
itor General Fraser was assisted 10y Mr..
II. E. Wilson in the prosecution. II did
not take long to secure the following jury:
Moses c. Kreegar. J. G.. Puder, +. W. john
son. John J. Stafford. r. N. Beytegh. II.
W. Readick. George r. Bradley. Thomas
Z. Jenkins, +. Il. Herman, r. r. Booz,
"A. II. Lane and Michael Deegan.
The prosecutor was the first witness put
up by the state Mr.. NonValzah began with
an account Of his meeting with the defend
ant He said Lanier handed him a card of
his law firm upon which were such refer
ences as the Lowry Banking Company CT
Atlanta. and also the name Of his law
partner Etheridge, whom he said was ex-
Gov Northen's nephew.
Mr.. VonValzah stated that he had been
sought out by Lanier, who told him he
wanted TO sell out his stock of drugs in
the Red Star drug store at Montgomery
and Liberty streets. This led him TO look
into the stock and he made several visits
10 the store. he said Lanier spoke OF
being from one of the oldest families in
the state. and made other such statements
which led him 70 believe he was dealing
with an honorable man. He asked Lanier
what was the least he would take for the
stock and was told Sl,2O0 cash. Ihls ne
could not pay, but an arrangement was
finally agreed upon by which he was 70
give him Sl,6lO in notes TO be paid at the
from parties in Pennsylvania as collat-
eral and besides a mortgage on the stock.
He said Lanier had represented to him
that he had just put $500 worth OF stock
into the store, and that it had already
cost him about 81 $50 for drugs, fixtures
and repairs. Lanier also represented, he
said, that the stock was in good condi-
ton.
In his visits to the store, however. Won
Nalzah had been accompanied by a friend
named Tinsman, who told him that the
was IT he he
agreed to pay for il by about $500. It was
upon this that VonValzah complained to
Lanier, and he agreed 10 give the former
a due bill by which he could secure $2OO
worth of stock from Lippman Bros.
NonNalzah says that he wanted to take
an inventory of the stock before purchas-
ing II, but that Lanier would not hear TO
this, saying there was no use in so doing
as they were both Masons, and that Won
Valzah might rely upon whatever he told
him and besides this, that he had to go to
Maycross to meet his wife Won
Nalzah stated that il was upon
Lanier's words as a gentleman and
Mason when he told him there was no
use in making an inventory, that he
agreed 10 the trade under the arrange
ment made and the notes were signed.
The first transaction or agreement made
was on Feb. and Lanier, he said, repre-
sented that the rent had been paid up to
that time. He afterward stated however.
that it was to Feb that Lanier told him
he had paid the rent.
VonVazah tookl charge of the store, he
said, on Feb. IL, but kept II open only two
days. He said he found that many of the
prescription bottles did not contain what
the labels represented them to hold that
in the stationery case a sheet OF paper
would be placed over package 10 repre-
sent a full package and that there was
nothing but waste paper under II, and
that the boxes and packages supposed 10
contain patent medicines We're some of
them empty, and others nothing more
nor less than cartoons, which had never
contained anything at all. After making
these discoveries he was obliged to close
up the place, he says as it was danger
Gus to attempt to fill prescriptions. 1t
was shortly afterwards sold at sheriff s
sale for $3.50 to pay taxes and rent
In the course of the examination Mr..
VonValzah was asked by Mr.. Rockwell Il
he had not told DR.. Lanier that his father
was worth SEQ, 600, that he was i'll with
Bright's disease and would not live long
and that he would get about $4,000 out OF
the estate. Mr.. NonNalzah replied that
he did not remember to have done so,
though it was a fact that his father was
worth $4,000 and that he was i'll with
Bright's disease.
told before" Mr.. NonNalzah said. "He
told me there were four boxes of cigar.
in there and he would give them to me.
with the store ! found. however, that
there were only three boxes and that
there were only fifty cigars in them all.
What did he tell you about the trans
fer of the lease?" Mr.. Fraser asked.
He said be had seen Mr.. Walsh and
ndu the lease transferred. lpui ne AFTER
ward came and told me that as the stock
belonged to him practically until the pur-
chase money was paid, he had decided tc
keep the lease in his name
1t was here that NonValzah told aboul
what he understood was in the store al
the time of the purchase.
'Lanier gave me his word these things
were there he said, and said the stock
was full. Besides the S750 stock, there ne
told me he had recently put in $500 worth
more. l was deceived by everything be
ing put up in a nice way. He huncoed mC
right straight through. He didn't know
anything about the drug business and
knew nothing about the swindling bust
ness. If I had taken an inventory
would have been swindled, as there wer,
empty patent medicine bottles and boxe!
on the shelves, which | would have taker
for granted were all right
Dangerous to rum / should think /
was. 1t was dangerous to fill any kint
of a prescription there. One man called
for hnseed oil and limewater, but good
neses knows what kind of stuff there wa,
in the linseed oil bottle.
why didn't you look into the SHOW
cases and examine the stock % Mr.. Rock
we'll asked.
"Wel he stood right before the show
cases and in the way"
Did that prevent you looking at III,
stock? Did he have you hypnotized .