The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-25
SOUTH GEORGIA GREEN GOODS
AN INTERESTING CASE IN THE
UNITED STATES COURT.

The Evidence Makes IL Appear Tha'
the Defendants Got BIT on ths
scheme in New York. aud Their
Tried the Game IN Their south
Georgia Frfenas-ChRrEed With
COnspfring to Use the Mails Frnud-
uIentIy 90 Further Their scheme
There is a case now on trial in the
United States court in which it appears
that in the latter part Of 1891 and the
frst part Of 1892 an extensive green goods
business was carried on in the southern
part OF the state. OF at least that the de-
PENDANTS in the case attempted 10 carry
on such a business, though thar is not
the charge on which they are now being
tried.
To engage in the green goods business
IS not a violation Of any United State.
law. but the use Of the mails for carry
ing on and furtherng such a swindlins
game is such a violation. and that is the
charge on which Hugh X. Salter, w. S.
johnson and George II. Fletcher are now
being tried There we're two other defend-
ants, }. A. johnson and ]. S. Minton, in
dicted at the same time, but they appear
10 have given the government officers the
slip. as they were not found after indic;-
ment.
There are two indictments against the
parties mentioned. one for conspiracy. the
charge being that they conspired together
TO use the mails for fraudulent purposes.
and she other on the distinct charge that
they did use the mails for such fraudulent
purposes.
These parties were arrested in the lat
ter part Of 1892, and were indicted in
January, 1898 the case is quite an ex-
tensive one, there being about thirty wit
nesses connected with 1t, and for one
reason ana another growing out of this
TACT, Il has gone over from term to term
until the present time. The testimony for
the prosecution was not concluded when
the court adjourned last night about 1880
O'Clock.
Some of the testimony for the United
states was quite interesting. IL consisted
Tor the most part Of conversations which
The defendants had with witnesses about
green goods and the nature of the bust
ness.
It appears that Salter and one or two
others started a correspondence with
some green goods men in the north and
were induced to go to New York to make
a deal They got there, paid over their
good money, saw what they supposed
was excellent counterfeit money counted
out for them, put in box and addressed
10 them. They then left expecting to
find the box of money at home when they
came.
The allegation IN general as made by the
government, Is that they then undertook
TO carry on the same sort OF business
down in Worth. Berrien and other coun-
ties in that section OF the state, for the
purpose of taking in their country friends
ana to that end they are alleged to have
used the mails in furtherance of this
fraudulent scheme.
some Of the testimony I'm the case is
quite strong so far as IL has been brought
out. one witness said Salter tried to in
timidate him by telling him there was
plenty OF powder and lead in the country.
but when he saw that didn't work he says
Salter tried TO buy him off for 500.
Another witness said Salter admitted
That he was guilty to him. but made the
statement that il was all right as the gov
eminent would have to prove it, The
postmaster OF Triton said that during the
time this business is said to have been
going on Salter received an unusually
large amount OF mail. He said Salter
also showed him a 81 and some other pa
per money telling him he could get him
plenty like it If he could use 1t in his
business. The witness thought the bill
was a good one.
DEFENDANTS and witnesses with regard to
the green goods business and counterfeit
money were testified to-
Judge Speer stated that as the case was
very important one, he would have to
confine the. jury for the night. He stated.
however that everything would be made
as comfortable as possible for them He
said he would not deprive them of the
news, but gave Instructions that they
were to read only "expurgated papers
which means that the marshal must first
cut from them all references to the case
on trial. The trial will be continued this
morning at 10 O'Clock. The defendants are
represented by Messrs. W. w. Gordon. Jr
Edward S. Elliott and Alex r. Proudfit OF
Macon.