The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-28
DYER AND BROWN RELEASED.
CORONER's JURY FAILED TO FIND
A VERDICT AGAINST THEM.

The Jury Found That TitcOmb Came
TO His Death by the Hands OF In
known Parties-V crdiet Caused
General surprise-Ben Kennedy
the only Intelligent Witness Be
fore the Jury and His story Not
Credited.
George II. DYER and James Brown. who
were held by the police on the belief that
they were connected with the killing OF
William r. Iitcomb, who was fatally beat
en- on South Broad street early Christmas
morning, were released yesterday by or
der of the coroner
The coroners jury returned a verdict
that wv. Il. Titcomb came to his death
by a compound fracture of the skull. caus-
ed by some blunt instrument in the hands
of parties unknown to this jury
The verdict was received with surprise
as there was a general belief that Dyer
woulu be held for the killing. The only
evidence before the jury that pointed di-
rectly to him as the man who inflicted the
wounds on TitcOmb and other parties was
that of a negro boy, who, when first
brought before the jury, declared that he
was drunk at the time and knew nothing
about the case.
and afraid 10 tell what he knew. When
brought before the jury yesterday morn
ing, however, he told a plain, straight
forward story of the affair. II was the
only intelligent account that has yet been
given. The jury. however. chose TO dis
believe the Negroes statement, on the
ground that he had purjured himself by
swearing, when first brought before the
ta /, limo al
With the number of persons involved
in the row it seemed that none could be
found who could or would give an in
telIigent and reliable account of the af-
fair. All Of the participants who were
brought before the jury testified that they
had been drinking more or less. They had
all been knocked out early in the fight
or were too drunk TO know.what had &C.
CURED. These witnesses also showed a
great disinclination to appear before the
jury and give evidence, being DESTROYS to
avoid having their names connected with
the affair. Some Of them were very dit-
ticult to get at.
The jury reconvened at Il o'clock. The
first witness was one Of the participants
in the affair, but his testimony did not
throw any Light on the case.
He said he was in the party and was
knocked senseless in the early part of the
row. He and several others went up on
Connoily's stoop and rang the door bell.
Another party came up before the door
was opened. He only recognized James
Brown, with whom he exchanged some
friendly remarks While talking with
Brown he was struck from behind When
he recovered from the blow he found him
self at the corner of Houston street in the
hands of friends. He was placed in hack
and sent home. The witness said he was
drinking at the time, and did not know
who struck him and did not see anyone
with an ak handle. He did not know Tit
comb and did not see him that night that
he knew of. Titcomb was not Ia the party
which came out of Kaufmans restaurant
TO go UP on Connolly's stoop. he said
Ben Kennedy. a negro waiter in kauf-
mans restaurant. an account of whose
statement of the affair was given in yes
terday's Morning News, was the only 9TH
the night before and testified then that
he was drunk and knew nothing OF the
affair. Kennedy said that Christmas
night there was a crowd standing at ene
corner of Connolly's stoop by Kaufman's
gate. He recognized Titcomb, Gelss,
James Brown. 'MoguI' Dyer and fell
low called Johnny Hairpin."
They were talking to Cess, he said,
"and Mogu Dyer told them to stop chew
ing the rag. He had new AK handle and
knocked Cess down. Then he knocked
Titcomb, then he knocked that short
man there. pointing to the previous wit
ness. Then he knocked q fellow named
Roseborough down, and as l was coming
by the stoop he struck at me, but did not
hit me. Then the crowd rushed down to-
In answer to questions, the witness said:
Il did not see Brown do anything. i
saw the short man when he was struck
by Dyer He was standing on the side
walk, near the edge. / am sure he was
not on the stoop when he was struck.
Dyer is the only man l saw with an AK
party have a stick They were not all
sober. Titcomb and Cess were drunk.
saw Titcomb in kaGfman's bar about a
quarter to Y. / was sober that night
why did you not make this statement
last nightg' the witness was asked.
Il was scared of my life" he replied. 81
make 1t now because Mr.. Scully and Mr.
Kaufman begged me TO make II. Mr. Scully
came 10 me and said that he was surpris-
ed at the statement made last night
In answer 10 questions by the coroner
ard iurymen the witness said:
Il was not threatened. i don't know how
MIR. Scully knew ] knew anything about
it. / did not have any conversation with
Mr.. Dyer. ] did not see any one on Mrs
Conuolly's stoop. / was not drinking that
day. The statement | make now is the
right one ! am positive that Mr.. -- was
standing on the edge OF the pavement
when he was struck. / was close enough
10 recognize one from the other
In answer 10 question about the evi
dence, he said:
AFTER l testified last night Mr.. Scully
came and took me TO the barracks. / tolt
Mr.. Riley all 1 knew about it. After
made my statement last night | wen
down TO Dyer's house. had a billy II
my pocket last night. After l testified
told BuD Dyer to keep my billy as Mr.
Scully might arrest me. and II he did h,
might find this billy on me. The. way
came to give Mr.. Dyer my billy is that h'
was standing outside, and asked him [,
keep IL awhile. Mr.. Dyer gave IL back L
me at the corner of Price and Broughtoi
streets. ] did not have the billy with M
when ] went to the barracks with Mr.
Scully last night. / left 1t in Mr. Kauf
mans bar
DR.. A. A. Morrison, house physician o
the Savannah hospital, testified that h.
held a post mortem examination upon tn
body of w. r. Titcomb. He found tina
death was due TO a compound fracture o
the skull In his opinion the wound wa
caused by "A club of some description
The Jury delberated about three-quar
tiers OF an hour and returned its verde
at o'clock. The verdict was signed b.
John G. Lynch, foreman; Henry Mcclure
Robert Cassidy, John Prendible, w. j
Hillburn and 3. A. Fay. Two Of the ig
rors were unable 30 write their names an
made their marks.
Dyer and Brown were at once release
from custody. Dyer called at the Mornn
News Office last night and stated that n
and Brown would leave the city on trai
rs for Charleston, where they could b
found when wanted.
All the parties who took part in the ro,
l..