The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-05
CLIFF OWNED THE STILL.
nut JOHNSON AND JACK WORKED
THERE and WE'RE FOUND
GUILTY.

The OIiRs Are Both Wanted in BuI-
IOch County ON n Serious Charge.
they said Jim OiR Told Them
Their Fines Would He Paid If They
Pleaded GuiIty-Detective For
syth and Deputy Dayton Hunting
Up Witnesses in a CounterfeitIng
Case.
In the United States court yesterday
George johnson and Jack Little, colored
were found guilty on indictments charg-
ing them with working in Illicit distiIer-
les.
These are the two prisoners who wanted
to plead guilty to the charges against
them a few days ago, but upon a state
ment being made by their attorney, Mr..
G. b. Whatley. to the effect that they were
put forward to shield others who were
the real owners and operators Of the
still. Judge Speer ordered the cases to
trial
on the witness stand it came out that
the still in which the defendants We're
charged with working belonged to John
NJ. Oliff, who lived near Statesboro, in
Bulloch county, and who is now a fugi-
tive from Justice. This statement was
made by Jim OHf, who said his father
owned the still and that he had worked
there with the two negroes. The owner
Of the still. John Oliff, had to leave Bull
loch county some time ago, as it was
charged that he committed violence upon
also wanted on charge of rape, said
to have been committed in Bulloch coun-
ty in the latter part of 1892. Diff was want
ed as a witness in this case in the United
States court and it was learned that he
was in Jacksonville, where he was found
and arrested by a deputy marshal. He
is now in the custody of the United States
court, and is held subject to the warrant
against him in Bulloch county. He will
probably be turned over TO the sheriff of
that county to-day.
The two defendants stated on the wit
ness stand that they were told by this
witness, Jim Off, to plead guilty to the
charges against them and he stated he
would see to it that their fines were paid.
"
sired to enter pleas of guilty. Olif told
a little different story, saying he told the
men to plead guilty, as it would go lighter
with them.
The jury found Jack Little gull
ty of working in and remov-
ing from still, and he was
sentenced to spend two months In
Chatham county jail, one month on each
count on which he was found guilty,
and to pay fine of 800 and costs. George
Johnson, who was found guilty of work
ing in a still only, was given one monh
in jail
The cases of J. Frank Mason and James
j. Morgan, charged with making and pass
ing counterfeit dollars, was taken up
again, and one or two witnesses were
heard. Screven A. Sweat, who was in
Jail at the same time with George john
son, the principal witness in the case, tes-
titled that Johnson told him he had sworn
to lies and would do so again. One or two
other witnesses were put on the stand to
bring out minor points in the case. Mr..
w. II. Forsyth, of the government secret
service, Deputy Marshal w. A. Dayton
and Johnson, the witness, went OFF Sat
urday morning to look up other witnesses
along the line of the Florida Central and
Peninsular railroad, the route which these
men took in walking to the city, but as
as they had not returned with the wit
nesses yesterday the cases went over
again until to-day.
A decree was taken in the case of the
Propeller Towboat Company against tho
British steamship Dalegarth, awarding
the plaintiff $500, as allowed by the court
on the hearing of the case.
The cases against Mamie Oliveira
charged with sending obscene matter
through the malls, and L. B. Toomer
charged with forging the name of Reuben
Gibbons to pension checks have gone
over to the April term.
Mr. Franklin H. Saffold. of SWANS
boro, Emanuel county who was examined
by a committee consisting of Mr. T. S.
Morgan. Jr., and Col. William Garrard
was admitted to practice in the United
States courts.
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