The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-18
MAY BE HEARD FROM MONDAY
THE GRAND JURY WEARY WITH
ITS WORK ON REGISTRATION.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Evidence Pre-
scented by the other side
in the shape of Receipts From
Parties Who Paid Their Taxes
Twice in the Same Year-Mr. J. $.
Harrison Brings Libel suit.
Happenings Around the Courts.
The grand jury Of the superior court
met yesterday afternoon to continue the
investigation of alleged cases Of illegal
registration. A large number of witnesses
was examined, but no presentments were
returned.
The grand jury adjourned to meet again
Monday afternoon. and will take
up the work again at tina;
time. II was stated that at its
next session that body will probably
reach some conclusion as to what it win
do with regard TO these cases.
Some new evidence was introduced be-
fore the grand jury. In view of the in
vestigations OF supposed cases Of illegal
registration which have been carried be-
fore than body by members of the anti
administration faction. prominent men,
Der of the Citizens Club carried in some
evidence looking to the other side of the
question. This evidence was in effect
some tax receipts showing that certain
parties had paid their taxes twice in the
same year. this being made necessary, II
was claimed, owing to the fact that they
had lost their receipts, and there was no
record Of the former payment.
one OF these cases presented to the
grand jury was that OF Richard Robin
son, who had two tax receipts for 1892.
one was OF Nov. 49, when he paid poll
tax OF 81, and another of Dec. IS the
same year for 81 he having been double
taxed, making a total of s. poll tax paid
IN one year, because he had lost his re-
ceipt.
Another case was that Of D. B. Rustin,
whose receipts showed he paid 81 tax in
1894 and later = in the same year, having
been double taxed afterwards Mr. Rustin
also produced receipts TO show that the
same thing happened TO him in 1895. He had
lost his first receipts, or misplaced them,
and said he stated so at the time, but was
compelled TO pay the second time. He has
since found the receipts, and they have
been presented before the grand jury. The
same member of the Citizens Club who
produced this evidence, says he has several
other cases of a similar nature in view in
which he will collect the evidence.
Capt. ]. ]. MCGOWAN, the tax collector,
was asked about these cases. In the pay
ment of these taxes ne said there was
never any trouble when parties are able
to produce their receipts. If by any acci-
dent they pay twice, the second payment
will always be refunded to them. 1t some
times happens very peculiarly that taxes
are paid twice. For instance. party will
pay his poll tax. and then some one else
Will come in to pay ii for him. If his name
appears on the books as having paid, 1t
may be suggested that such was another
party Of the same name, and the tax be
paid for him in this manner.
In some cases poll taxes are combined
with property taxes while there is sepa-
rate list of those who pay nothing but
polls. 1t Is the case sometimes that re-
torns are made for persons owning prop
erty both on the property list and on the
poll list In other cases there are two or
three parties OF the same name, and some
times party's name is given incorrectly
in the first or second instance:
The party who presented the receipts
to the grand jury, however, only wishes
to make the point that in cases of such
parties as come here from other counties,
who insist they have paid all their taxes
in those counties, it is often possible thai
these taxes have been paid, even though
the books of the tax collector of the coun-
try county may not show it. In the coun-
try counties the tax collector will some
times meet party on the road and COZ
lect his taxes. promising to send him
receipt, which he may forget to do, ana
the amount may never be properly Ell
tered. The majority of the alleged illegal
| registration cases are of this class. and IL
| is held for these reasons there can be
| little certainty about it either one way or
another.
There are some other cases before the
| grand jury, however, such as those OF
! parties who lived in Savannah several
! years before the time they swore they
came to Georgia, parties who were regis
| and others who have been swearing they
| were only q years old for the last two or
| three years. The point made, of course,
| does not touch these cases.
| The grand jury has not investigated so
| far more than twenty cases, and it is
| possible that not more than three out of
| the lot have resulted in indictments. That
| body appears to be getting somewhat
| weary of a long drawn out investiga ton,
| and may come TO some sort of a conclu-
sion as TO what Will be done at its next
| meeting. At any rate, some interesting
developments are looked for at that time.
The grand jury found only one bill OF
! Indictment 1t was against Sharper
Broken, Pempey Way. Maria Way and
| James Washington, charsed with steai-
| ing one hog from ]. A. Perry on Jan. 10
| Some of the grand jurors We're joked over
| the fact that they have been in session
for month or more, and have returned
| only one indictment. Quite number were
returned, however, at their early sessions
in March.
Mr.. ]. S. Harrison, the we'll known ste
nographer, filed a suit for 5000 damages
against the Evening Herald in the city
court yesterday Mr.. Harrison alleges
that an article published in that paper
April 49, is q false and malicious defama-
ton of himself The article was headed
'Condoning Felony" and describes a
well known Stenographer. who has an Of
fee on an upper floor in a brick building
and who is a well known figure around
the courts. This description. Mr. Harri-
SteUO-
grapher who has an Office on an upper
floor in a brick building and who Is
a familiar figure around the courts, He
states in his petition that he went to the
editor of the paper in question and asked
that ii be corrected, or that the statement
be made that he was not the man referred
to. This, he says, the editor refused 10
do. For this reason he asks damages in
the sum named.
In the case of Fleming & Edmundston
against a. H. Lea & Co, the Bank of
Corsicana claimants, the jury rendered a
verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The suit
involved the value of two carloads of
oats.
Judge Norwood sentenced Ishmael
Bryan TO pay a fine of SIS or spend Two
months on the chain-gang for simple lar
ceny Tom Simmons was found moi guilty.
OF the charge of assault. but was sentenced
to pay a fine OF 81 and costs or to serve SIX
months on the chain-gang for wife beat
ing. sam Robinson was sentenced 10 pav
a fine of S25 and costs eor spend twelve.
months on the gang for larceny from the
house. HH 81
In the matter OF the petition Of b F
Timer for partition OF land Judge Falif-
giant appointed five appraisers and uarfi