The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-04
INDICTED HER FOR MURDER.
BRYAN's GRAND JURY ACTS IN THE
TILLMAN GIRLS CASE.


Several of the Grand Jurors Stated
They Had Evidence which Showed
the Case Was Not One of SeIf-De-
fense-YOung's Bloody Clothes said
TO Have Been Found In a swamp
Near the Place Where He Was
KiIIed-A warrant Sworn Out,
Charging Her with Lunacy-WiII-
lam CASTOR Sent Up for Life From
Bryan County for Murder.
The grand jury of Bryan county re-
turned a special presentment day before
yesterday, charging Georgia Ann Tillman
with murder. She is the young girl who
came here from Bryan county, presum-
ably on account of her killing her hus-
band, Alonzo Young, and who made a
statement to the police that the killing
was in self-defense.
Judge Robert Falligant, Solicitor Cen
eral w. w. Fraser and the lawyers who
went out to attend Bryan county superior
court returned yesterday 1t was learned
that the grand jury found the indictment
by special presentment, as the case was
not brought to its attention by the So
licitor general.
Very little was known Of the testimony
presented to the grand jury, which re-
suited in the special presentment, but it
was stated by some of the members of
that body that they had sufficient evil
dence to lead them to believe that the
killing was not one of self-defense. One
Of the witnesses who testified before the
grand jury stated that the bloody clothes.
Of the dead man were found hidden in
swamp near the place where the crime
was committed. and it was supposed that
she had hidden them there.
So far as could be learned this was the
strongest evidence on which the indlct-
ment was based. Several of the grand
jurors stated that for this and other rea-
sons they had cause to believe her state
ment untrue, and they directed that a
special presentment be drawn by the So
lictor general.
AS soon as the presentment was found
a bench warrant for the girls arrest was
issued by the court and placed in the
hands of the sheriff of Bryan county. The
sheriff did not know just what to do in
the case. He knew that the girl was in a
mother within a short time, on account
Of which he did not think, nor did others
who talked the matter over, that she
should be put in Bryan county Jail. Con-
sequently when court adjourned the mat
ter was left in rather an uncertain state
1t appears, however, that several people
in Savannah have taken an interest in the
case. The matron of the Louisa Porter
Home swore out warrant in the court
Of ordinary yesterday, charging her with
lunacy The warrant was placed in the
hands Of Deputy Sheriff Higgins and she
was arrested, though she was left where
she could be properly taken care of. AS
she is a citizen of Bryan county, she can
not, of course, be tried for lunacy in Chat
ham. The county commissioners, 1t APP
pears, have also taken a hand in the mat
ter and she will no doubt be sent back to
Bryan county under a charge of lunacy.
She may be tried there before a jury in
the court of ordinary on that charge and
sent to the asylum from that county.
The case is a very peculiar one. One of
the principal witnesses before the Bryan
county grand jury was man named Long,
the father of her husband, whom she kill
ed. He testified as to the finding of Longs
Clothes and held it was not an act of self
defense. 1t is said the girls name is
RoXie Ann Young, and that she is but II
years Old, instead of IA, as she claims to
be. She is represented by Mr.. T. S. Nor
gan. Jr., of Savannah, and it was he who
represented her before the justice who
discharged her at the preliminary hearing.
The case is a peculiarly pathetic one, and
one which will no doubt attract considera-
BILE attention before it is disposed Of
The only other matter of any particular
interest in Bryan county court was the
trial of William Castor for the murder of
George Lotion, both colored. The killing
occurred near Pembroke last October, Gas
wi a "a
ton was defended by w. F. Slater, Esq
He was found guilty with a recommended
ton to mercy, and was sentenced to life
imprisonment in the penitentiary.