The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-17
GIVEN SIX MONTHS EACH.
THE GIRLS VINO TRIED TO BURN
TIE ST. FRANCIS HOME SENT
TO JAIL.

TO JAIL.
Their Onense Reduced From Arson
10 Charge of Malicious Mischief.
II Plea Made for Judicial Glenn
ency-ISebecea Caver Gets six
Months for Cruel Treatment 20 n
Child That Was Thought 10 Have
Died As a Result of It-Prince
O'NeiI Gets Two Years for Thefts
of CIotheS-Some Crap shooters
Sentenced.
Rita Douglass and Georgia Ann Frizzell
were tried for malicious mischief in the
city court yesterday. These two girls were
charged with arson. they having attempt
ed 10 burn St. Francis Home. Of which
they were inmates. Through an agree
ment between the solicitor general and
Joseph N. Drcyer ESD who represented
the defendants. the charge against them
was reduced from arson, which is punish
able by death or life Imprisonment, 10
that Of malicious mischief which is
misdemeanor.
Mother Superior Beasly testified that
several fires occurred at the home. but
that she did not know. Of her own knowl-
edge, who had set them. and that she
knew nothing about who were the guilty
parties. other than the confession made
by the FrizzeI girl.
Chief OF Police McDermott testified that
both Of the girls had confessed 10 him. in
the presence Of others. that they had set
the fires, and that they gave as their rea-
sons that they wanted TO go home
Mr.. Dreyer offered no evidence, except
the statement Of the defendant, which
was, that she had not set either OF the
fires, but that she had been told by the
mother superior 10 acknowledge her guilt
and that nothing would be done with her,
and that she was under the impression
at the time she made her confession. that
nothing would be done 10 her and she
would be allowed TO go homo.
Mr.. Dreyers argument was brief but to
the point. He argued that the state had
failed TO corroborate the confessions OF
the defendants I'm order to make them
admissible, and that the alleged confess
sion Of the defendant was not admissible
as the mother superior had offered to al
low the defendants TO go home If they
would confess, and that IL was reasonable
20 suppose that they would be laboring
under the same impression Of hope of re
ward when confronted by the officers Of
the law. Mr.. DFeyer appealed to the
court to take into consideration the age
of the defendants, and made strong APP
peal for mercy
The solicitor general stated that he
was troubled to know what should be
done with the girls on account OF their
age but had no doubt as to their guilt.
which, he thought. had been proven be-
yond a doubt. both By their confessions
and the TESTIMONY, and thought some
thing should be done to them.
At the conclusion of the arguments
Judge MacDonell sentenced both Of them
TO six months in jail. The charges of
malicious mischief We're based on the
fact that the girls had destroyed prop
erty belonging 10 the home.
Rebecca Caver was found guilty OF
the charge Of cruelty to childreA ana
sentenced to spend six months on the
chain-gang. This is the woman who was
charged with cruelty treating Susie Ca
yer. the 5-year-old daughter Of George
Caver and Eva TUFTS. which died about
three weeks ago. It was supposed at the
time that the child's death resulted from
the treatment which it received at the
hands of this woman, but a different re-
suit was reached at the coroners in
quest.
II was discovered at the inquest. how
ever that there were marks on the childs
body, showing that it had been cruelty
treated and beaten. Some of the wit
nesses stated that the woman had at one
time put the child into a barrel OF ice
cold water and had at various times
struck 1t and beat it. Judge MacDoneu
found her guilty Of the charge and gave
her six months. Her attorney, w. E.
Morrison, Esq, gave notice that he would
ask for a new trial. and bond was fixed
in the sum of s., 900, but the woman did
not give II, and went to jail.
II is rare thing that a criminal gets a
sentence of two years on the chain-gang
from the city court, but that was the SEN
tence given Prince O'Neil however, who
was convicted on two charges of larceny
from the house. He was found guilty of
stealing a coat and an overcoat from
George Edwards, and two suits OF clothes
from William Lucas. He was given
twelve months for each omense making
two years on the gang.
Judge MacDonell has little sympathy for
the crappers. Bill Graham, Joshua Mills
Dock Simmons and Hudson Huger four
gamblers of the colored persuasion were
before him yesterday on the charge of
playing craps, the warrants having been
sworn out by DR.. A. Oemer. Their little
social game cost them each SIS and costs,
or three months on the chain-gang, and
as they were not over-burdened with the
stuff" they took the latter alternative.
Stephen Lee. who stole the two lap
robes from Alderman Tiedeman's stable
on March IA, was sent out to the gang for
twelve months, and Richard Adams and
David Lewis, who stole two
shirts from ]. Carmisky, were
also given year each in
which to repent. Henry Davis, who was
found guilty of carrying a concealed
weapon, mad his sentence suspended until
the further order OF the court.
Out of sixteen cases tried, twelve Of the
defendants were found guilty and SEN
fenced.
sERGHANT HUTFON SERENADED