The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-13
WHERE IS JOHN ]. SoMERS?
AN IMPORTANT STATES WITNESS IN
THE LOUD CASE DISAPPEARS.


Col. Loud Is Anxious 40 Have His
Trial Take Place, hut the state l.
Minus Its Most Important witness.
Every Effort VIII BE Made to Sc
cure SOmeFs Before the Trial
SOmers and His Wife Under In
dictment in the City Court For
Keeping an Open Tipping House
on sunday.
The state is in somewhat OF a quandary
with regard to the case against Col
Charles j.. Loud OF Mt Vernon, Mont
gomery county. who is charged with the
murder Of Phil Il. Fitzpatrick The diff
hcult situation has been brought about
by the disappearance Of John J. Somers.
who was the states principal witness
against Loud.
Loud is. or appears, exceedingly anxious
to have the case brought 10 trial as soon
as possible. Why this is can only be sur
missed He has. 20 all appearances, little
doubt that he viii be promptly acquitted
under the evidence in the case as it
stands at present. and then. too. it seems
he is still on good terms with Helene stock
ton. the woman for whom Loud shot Fitz-
patrick down. when he entered the room
where the two were. How any other sit
uation Of affairs might alter the case can
only be guessed at.
Col. Loud has several times visited Sa-
vannah since the unfortunate affair Each
time a carriage has been ordered prior
to his arrival by Miss Stockton. and he has
been met at the depot. lie always stops,
however, at the Pulaski house. Loud
evidently wants to get rid of the charge
against him. He has been several times,
either in person or represented by his at
torney, Mai. p. w. Meldrim, 10 see the
state authorities in order 10 determine
whether the case could not be brought up
at an early date.
The state, however, has been unable to
agree on date for the trial of the case
1t was practically on the evidence Of
SOmers that Loud was indicated on the
charge Of murder, and as Somers is scarce,
the states ground on which to base the
evidence for the prosecution is consequent
ly weakened.
The burden OF Somer's testimony was to
the effect that he was with Fitzpatrick at
the time of the shooting, and that Fitz-
patrick did not break into the room at the
Warsaw hotel at Thunderbolt where the
shoOlluB lOOh pace. he stated Ludl Il luz
patrick went quietly to the door and
knocked and demanded admittance when
the door was opened by the Stockton wo-
man and the shooting began before Fitz-
patrick had entered the room. He also
stated that Fitzpatrick did not have any
uplifted stick, as was stated by some OF
the other witnesses, who will no doubt be
summoned for the defense. This testimony
of course, led to LIQUIDS indictment by the
grand jury, but to be used in the trial Of
the case Somers must be present
On account of the fact that Loud want
ed the case brought up Solicitor General
Fraser has made an effort to find Somers
without success. Somers' wife is in Pitts
burg, Pa. This much was known and she
was telegraphed for information as to the
whereabouts of her husband. A reply was
received shortly afterwards stating that
she did not know where he was. There is
no information here as to where he has
gone, though there are other parties be-
sides the state who would like to know.
Somers and his wife were both indicted
by the grand jury Of the city court on a
charge of keeping an open tipping house
on Sunday. They were never arrested
under those indictments, and had given no
bonds when they left.
The state must in justice to the people
make every effort to get Somers here be-
fore the case goes to trial. The solicitor
general will make every effort to locate
him and have him brought back to Sa-
vannah in order to appear at this trial.
Otherwise the trial might be a sort of a
farce, though there are several other wit
neSses who swore before the grand jury
that Fitzpatrick had no stick when he
went to the room that was occupied by
| Loud and the Stockton woman
If Somers cannot be found the trial win
of course take place without him, after
| waiting a reasonable length of time ana
making every effort to secure him, but
| as to how 1t would affect the result would
| have to be determined, of course, by the
! other evidence introduced.