The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-19
THE TRIAL OF THE zEIGLERS.
STATE RESTS AFTER MAKING OUT
AVERY STRONG CASE.

BrOOLeF Was Shot Down Nihh""'
warning as lie walked Away
From GOIoid Church-Mrs. Brook or
and the Mother of the ZeiEler
Rows in the Court RoOm-Mr. Wat
son on Hand and in Good Voice.
SyIvania, Ca, Nov. 1S.-The case Of the
state against Solomon and Corrie Aeigler
was called at O'Clock this morning. The
court house was packed with lawyers
witnesses and jurors, besides number
of spectators. In addition to the regular
panel of thirty-six jurors, forty-eight eX-
ira talesmen were subpoenaed to be on
hand this morning. The defendants were
brought into court Immediately after its
opening. Mrs. BROKER. wife of Sherih
Brooker. is also here, by the side of her
LAWYERS. For the state there appear 30
licitor General Beverly Evans, Judge H.
d D. Twiggs and E. K. Overstreet of
the local bar. For the defense, Thomas
Il watson. G. W. w. Williams, and of
the local bar. Oliver & Overstreet, II. >.
White and w. L. Mathews. About one
hundred witnesses have been summoned
on the case, being about equally divided
between the state and defense. Most OF
.hese are witnesses as to the old difficult
~ between BROKER and George Zeigler,
when the latter was killed. 1t is proba-
BILE that only few of these will be used
and that in regard to the killing Of
BROKER by the zeiglers.
The case was delayed for short while
on account of the absence of two wit
nesses. H. B. Mills and Charles Lafatte.
The prosecution stated that they could
not proceed without these witnesses, and
a rule was issued and a special bailiff
sent after them.
The case is exciting great interest, and
the presence of Mr.. Watson and Judge
Twiggs on opposing sides gives promise
of a hard-fought and entertaining battle,
and a rare treat in the way of oratory and
eloquence when they get before the jury.
Both are splendid advocates, and have
tested each others mettle in the arena
before. when human life was at stake.
Mr.. Watson is looking well, and Judge
Twiggs seems to be in good trim. Mr..
watson spent last night with Col. T. w.
oliver. who is associated with him in the
case. and this morning he has been meet
ing many old friends who knew him years
ago. when he was a poor, young school
teacher in Screven The disting uished
populist has forgotten none of those who
knew him in those days when he was
struggling pedagogue, and he always in
ouires particularly after the men who
were his friends and patrons then.
There is, perhaps, the largest crowd Of
people in Sylvania to-day ever known
here on a court day before Besides the
Ze,gler trial, which has drawn nearly
the whole of the male population to town,
a circus came in this morning and spread
its tents.
Solomon and Corrie Zeigler are looking
we'll and show only in their fairer COM
plexion the effect of their six months
confinement in Jail They are both quite
young, Sol being Is and Corrie %. Willie
Walker, who is jointly indicted with Sol
Zeigler for the killing of George Bellin-
ger, the negro. is also very youthful, being
about e.
1t is generally thought that only two or
three witnesses will be put up by the
state and none by the defense.
At IL o'clock the state announced ready
for trial; Mr.. Watson also announced
ready for the defense. Solicitor General
Evans announced that the state elected
10 seven, and would put Solomon Zeigler
on trial first.
An objection was made by the defense
TO severance, but the court overruled the
objection, and Solomon Zeigler was put on
trial.
The selection of jurors began and drag
ged slowly along. A lively tilt occurred
between Judge Twiggs and Mr.. Watson
an regard to the competency of one of
the Jurors. Mr. James Parker. After sew
eral speeches the court decided that he
should be stricken.
At $3.50 O'Clock the following jury had
been impaneled: Adolph Burk, H. N.
Vickery b. M. Reddick, William Oliver.
r. +. farrell, e. C. McLelland, d. L.
Mincey, c. II. Branan, Jr., John NJ. Mob
ley, William d. Anderson, d. L. Sowell,
w. H. Hawkins.
When the jury had been drawn Mrs.
Brooker came into the court room, ac-
companied by her cousin, Mrs. Klnard
and her young son, Lucius. Solomon
Zeigler's mother and sisters also came il
and took seats near the defendants, his
mother sitting close by his side.
Mr.. j. \. Harrington was the first wit.
ness called to the stand. He stated that
he was al Goloid church the second Sun.
day in October. 1896 Mr.. BROKER was
there. They were attending the Baptist
association.
The witnesses on both sides were Sc
uuestered.
Mr.. Harrington, continuing, said he saw
Mr.. BROKER about 10 o'clock on tn,
morning BROKER was killed. He and
Henry Mills were walking toward the
buggy with BROKER. He heard two shots
Brooker fell, and looking round, he saw
two men running up, reloading thei
rifles as they came. They then ran III
and shot again. They were going to tn,
buggy for the purpose of going home
They had walked $50 or 200 yards whel
Brooker was shot Brooker fell on hi
face. He never got up. Sol zeigler wa
within about three feet of BROKER
body when he shot the second time
BroOker was walking along when shot
Brooker was in the middle when walking
.''Brooker was dead when we gotEto hin
and turned him over" Did not hea
either of the defendants call to Brooke
before they shot. Brooker had a pistol II
his nip pocket. The witness saw it afte
he fell. Did not see it before. Did no
think BROKER had been drinking tina
day. He ran away after the Zeiglers ha,
come up and shot the second time
Henry b. Mills was the next witness
He was At Goliod on Oct. Is, 1895. Wen
there with Mr.. Harrington. Brooker wa
killed there that day. Saw the zeigler