The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-28
DEFENDANTS THEIR OWN LAW.
YERS.
L. B. TOomer Convicted of Violating
the Pension Laws.


There was an interesting session Of the
United States circuit court yesterday.
Bennett Fort of Emanuel county was
tried on an Indictment charging him with
Illicit distilling and working in still. He
had no attorney, and after some little
coloquy Judge Boarman asked If ne would
not Ike to have the court act as his law
yer.
Il wish you would. Judge. and do as
much as you can for me-" Fort said.
Judge Boarman questioned some of the
witnesses, and Fort put some questions
to them himself After asking a wit
ness two or three questions he would turn
to the court and say as he had heard said
by some of the lawyers in court.
THE witness is with you, sir
Fort showed pretty clearly that he was
not guilty Of the charges and the jury
acquitted him.
George F. and John A. Monkey of Eman-
uel county, charged also with Illicit dis
filling and working in a still, were In
practically the same position as Fort.
They had no Attorney and under the
circumstances none was appointed for
them. They asked some questions of their
own witnesses and made out such good
case in their own favor that they were
also acquitted by the Jury.
The trial of l.. 3. Toomer on the charge
of a violation of the pension laws was
one of the most interesting matters of
the day. TONERS offense, the one on
IS, 1898. He was indicted on the charge
of forging the name of Reuben Gibbons
TO pension check for SIS, thereby de-
frauding Gibbons of the pension money
coming to him. Toomer was indicted in
four separate cases of the same kind,
but was tried only on one, as indicated
above. The jury found him guilty on
all of the counts of the Indictment but
the court deferred sentence. Toomer will
no doubt be sentenced in a day or two.
and IN the meantime will remain in jail.
II has not yet been decided what will
Toomer.
In the case of Lawson Warren, charged
with counterfeiting, 1t was found the prn-
cipal witness for the government was
unable to be present, on account of re-
cent accident, and the case was contin-
ued.
Lawson Wigg, charged with retailing
liquor without a government license, was
not present when his case was called,
and a bench warrant was issued for him,
his bond being declared forfeited. Prac-
tically the same course was taken in the
case of Mary Brown, charged with send
ing obscene letters through the mails.
The other cases assigned for trial went
over until to-day, owing TO the absence
of witnesses.
Michael O'ConnelI and Others filed an in
PREVENTION in the United States circuit
court yesterday in the case of Andrew
DAILY against the steam tug Maud. The
intervenors appear by their attorneys,
Messrs. Mercer & Mercer. They were ali
in Days skin when it was upset in
the collision with the Maud, and all Of
them were dumped into the river. Their
claims are as follows: Michael OConnell,
$2OS; Richardson, Sll1.5O; Ann
Shields, Sl1025; Lizzie Barnett,
$l1190; and Tara Knight, $107 As. In ali
these claims there is put down to mental
suffering account" $iOO, and the balance
is claimed for lost and damaged property.
The intervenors subscribe to all of the
allegations in the original petition.
The superior court held a session Of
about an hour and half yesterday morn
ing, disposing of two small cases.
In the suit of Z. A. Fulton against
Tyra Taylor for the value Of one $25 bull
the jury found in favor of the plaintiff,
and assessed all costs of the suit against
| the defendant.
In the case of w. F. McCauley against
| Henry Robinson the jury found that GER
! tain property in the southern portion OF
| the city belonging to the defendant was
| subject to levy and judgment for the
| amount claimed, S6S = was entered in
| IF T,1a -