The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-25
AN UNKNOWN MAN IN A MASK.
ALLEGED To HAVE BEEN THE
SLAYER OF RICHARD MILLER.

/ Held Miller While the Nan Cut
Him. Tried for Murder-The Jury
Out All Night-Some Talk of False
! Amdavits with Regard to Citizens.
! Judge FaIIigant says when CitI-
zenship Papers Are sworn 10 the
Law Must Be Complied with.
Alfred Knight was tried in the supe-
rior court yesterday on the charge Of
the murder of Richard Miller on Christ
mas day. His case is in the hands Of
the jury. which will be out all night.
it having failed to agree up TO a late
hour.
The unknown man in the mask cuts
quite figure in the case, but knight re-
fused. and still refuses. to reveal the
identity Of that unknown man.
The testimony OF Harry Mack was that
he. Thornton Williams. Knight and Mil
Ter were froliciking in barroom Christ
mas morning. and about o'clock a man
with a false face, a long coat and a
beaver hat. whom knight called Fred,
came into the bar. took a drink and
spoke to Knight. He did not remove the
false face, but a short while afterward
he and Knight went off together.
Mack. Williams and Miller left shortly
afterward. and at Montgomery and Alice
streets again they met Knight and the
unknown Miller went over to the I'M
known man. and a quarrel ensued about
the former having taken the dead mans
tin horn Mack did not hear the row, but
when he looked over. he said. he saw
Knight holding Miller and the unknown
man slashing him with butcher knife.
one cut went into the left lung, and
the other was across the shoulder.
Mack then said he chased knight and
Miller chased the unknown man until he
fell from exhaustion from the loss of
blood. Knight ran around the corner and
was arrested by Policeman Bostick. The
dying mans statement. which was intro
duced in evidence, was practically the
same as is contained in Mack testimony.
Thornton Williams statement differed
from the above in the fact that Mack and
Miller and the unknown man were en-
gagged I'm another scuffie, which separated
Knight from IL, and prevented him from
being concerned in the cutting.
Knight claimed that he had nothing to
do with the fight. He said he was drunk
at the time and he knew nothing of what
was going on until he came upon Miller
who told him he had been cut up. He
stated Miller hit him a lick on the back
of the neck after he had been cut.
Knight was defended by Messrs. Will
liam Pease and w. r. Slater. The trial
was short one and went to the jury be-
fore the dinner hour. The jury was
charged late in the afternoon but did not
reach verdict and will not be heard from
until this morning.
There is likelihood of some cases where
parties have carelessly or improperly
made affidavits with regard to those TAX
ing out cltlzenshlp papers, being brought
before the grand jury. 1t is said evidence
is being collected in eases of this kind
where parties have made affidavits with
regard 10 foreigners proposing to become
citizens, and have either perverted the
tacts or sworn carelessy with regard TO
them
Judge Falligant took notice of the mat
ter yesterday. If party resides in this
country three years before reaching his
majority he can take out citizenship pa
pers after five years residence without
having to declare his intentions. Joseph
Steeg and Prof Franz Hubner tried to
get through on this section of the law,
but papers were denied to both, not for
any fault of their own, but because their
witnesses could not make the proper affi-
davits as required. Both are subjects of
Germany. Steeg came here in 1884 and
was II years old at the time. If he can
get two witnesses to substantiate that fact
ne IS entitled to become citizen, but the
witnesses who appeared for him, two
well known citizens of Savannah while
they have known Steeg for FIVE years
did not, as is required in such cases.
know him to have lived in America dur
ing the three years of his minority next
preceding his majority. They were unwit-
ungly, perhaps, about to sign the affida-
Wits required, when some questioning on
the part of the court brought out the true
facts. which they admitted
Judge Falligant took occasion to say
that such carelessness, or whatever It may
be, must not occur and that those who
appeared rs witnesses In behalf of those
who desire to become citizens must COM
ply with the law, or there will be trouble
for somebody.
Prof. Numbers case was somewhat diff
ferent, he having come to America when
he was II years old, but went back again
to Germany and did not return to this
country until he was p years old. which
or i'm 10 do 10, ~,
intentions, before he can secure his cit-
zenship papers.
These cases. however, have no connec-
ton with those which may be brought to
the attention of the grand jury. These lat
ter are cases in which there has been
same false swearing, it is alleged eth
er Intentionally or through carelessness.
In the court of ordinary yesterday Right
Rev. Thomas A. Becker filed his renun-
citation of the devise and legacy made I'M
der the will of Mary j. L. Lama. She left
certain property which was, under her
WILL TO have been used in founding home
to be known as the Lama Home for Wild
ows. The estate was not sufficient
for the purpose in hand, and under the
terms of the will, twelve months having
passed, the estate has been given UP by
the bishop to whom 1t was left as trustee.
and will now go to the Savannah Widows
An order was passed authorizing an in
crease of expenditures by Emily G. Wal
Ter. guardian OF Claudia H. Johnston,
minor.
Isaac Kotzoff former subject of the
Car of Russia, was made citizen of the
United States by Judge Norwood yes
terday.
John A. Staley was reappointed a COM
mercial notary public by Judge Faiiigant.
TO PAVE GWINNETT STREET.
The Council to Authorize the Inn
prOVement Tonight.
An ordinance will probably be introduce
ed in the city council tonight for the i'm
provement of Gwinnett street west from
Whitaker street by paving with crushed
stone and ebert. The ordinance, like the
paving ordinances which have preceded
it, will doubtless be adopted
The purpose of the proposed improve
ment is TO give a drive out 10 the nm. 40