The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-28
COBB WILL PAY HIS FINE.
Found GUILTY OF ASSAULT AND
BATTERY N THE CITY COURT.

Judge II. ID. ID. TwiEgs Appears for
the Defendant, and Bases His Case
Largely ON the Testimony as to
CObb's Previous Good Character
Sentenced TO Pay Fine of $50 and
Costs or Spend -Four Months in the
County Jail.
Frank E. Cobb, the negro school teacher
of the Georgia State Industrial College
who assaulted Judge Hampton L. Ferrill
and Mr.. A. d'Antignac on a Thunderbolt
car about three weeks ago, was convicted
in the city court yesterday and sentenced
TO pay a fine of $50 and costs or spend
four months in the county Jail. Cobb will
pay the fine to-day.
No proceedings in the city court in
years has attracted to the court room as
large a crowd as appeared there yester-
day. The gallery was crowded with ne
groes, and during the greater part of the
trial there was scarcely standing room
down stairs outside the railing Many
friends of Judge Ferrin were present, and
watched the proceeding closely from be-
ginning to end.
Cobb was defended by Judge II. D. d.
Twigss of Swainsboro. Judge Twiggs
wanted to know at the outset whether it
was optional with the defendant to be
tried by the court or by a jury. Judge
MacDonell said that it was left to him
and he would prefer that the trial be by
a jury. The jury as then chosen was
composed Of John j. Stafford, Thomas
II. Henderson, Thomas S. Howard.
George G. Schwarz, Wylly w. Doty. Frank
Al CorIn1weIi n. J. Frzzell, George w
l.
Z. Powers and Solomon d. Horton.
Judge FerriH, Mr.. d'Antfgnac and Com
dtuctof X. }. Crosby of the car on which
the affair took place were the witnesses
Tor the state. The details of the matter
We're given in the Morning News at the
tlIne II occurred; The main points in the
Iestlnony Tor the state were that after
Judge Ferrill had closed the door the
second time Cobb jerked it open saving.
you've got the cheek of a brass mon
Key, and quickly striking him in the eve
while he was sitting down. AS Judge
terrllI rel ne was. caught by AIR. dan
ugnac, who was also struck by Cobb as
the latter rushed out of the car.
The witnesses for the defense we're w
II, A: Howard. student at the college,
". Wilson Cook, one of the teachers, Rev
Morgan Galloway of Oxford Mai. p w
own statement.
Cobb's story was that Judge Ferrill
struck at him and cursed him, before he
struck the blow that inflicted the serious
INJURY on his eye. Both Judge Ferrill and
Mr.. d Antignac stated in their testimony
that TINS was not true. Prof. Morgan
Galloway and Maj. Meldrim were put ON
the stand to testify as to Cobb's previous
good character. and his general peaceful
and and quiet manner prior to the assault.
Prof Galloway knew Cobb some years
ago. but Maj. Meldrims knowledge Of him
mas been since he became connected with
the college. of which Mai. Meldrim is
chairman of the board of trustees
Judge Twiggs made the argument for
the defendant, basing it largely on the
testimony relative to his former good
character and deferential manner to white
people: His idea seemed to make it APP
pear that Cobb had been all right uD to
TINS time, and therefore it could hardly
have been possible that he would COM
NIT such an unjustifable assault as that
charged against him. He did not attempt
TO reconcile the conflict in the testi-
mony, but put it rather on the ground
as to some of the details in the case. He
o'clock.
Solicitor General w. w. Fraser had
Mr.. J. r. Saussy associated with him i'm
the case, but he made the argument for
the state. He commended that Cobb's pre-
vious good character, as testified to while
competent as evidence, could by no means
be taken to disprove the fact that he had
committed the assault. The violent prin-
ciple was in him, and no matter if it
had been suppressed, it came out when
the occasion presented itself. Cobb. he
said, had always been of a peaceable ma
Iufe since became connected with the
school because he knew he had to be so
to retain his position. He eontended that
abe evidence showed clearly that the
blow was struck while Judge Ferrill was
in his seat, and before he had used any
improper or opprobious words towards
him.
The jury was out about an hour and a
half, arguing on some points that had
been brought out in the case and came
down about z, o'clock with a verdict of
guilty. Solicitor General Fraser asked
the court to consider the other indictment
for assaulting and beating Mr. d'Antignac
as part of the same case in passing SEN
tence, it having grown out of the same
transaction
Judge MacDonell then fixed the sentence
of so and costs, or four months in jaiI
Judge Twiggs said the defendant had the
whereupon the court gave him one day
in which to pay his fine. The trial took up
the entire day, from 10 O'Clock, when the
court opened.