The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-28
HAD COMMITTED NO oFFENSE.
THE WARRANT CHARGED No
CRIME AGAINST SATCHER.

or Sentenced 10 Six Months for
stabbIng r. :. Wayne-A big Days
work for Judge Norwood.
J. Wright satcher was made a free man
again yesterday by an order from the
court Of Judge Robert Falligant.
Through hts attorneys. Messrs. Slater
& Boyd. satcher presented a petition for
habeas corpus TO the superior court,
stating that he was illegally confined In
the barracks Of Savannah by direction OF
Chief Of Police Frank McDermOtt. The
cause Of his confinement. he stated, was
d warrant purported to have been is
sued by J. G. Mobley. magistrate Of Edge
field county. South Carolina, a copy or
which was attached TO the petition.
Satoher claimed his confinement in the
barracks was clearly Illegal as the war
rant showed upon its face that he hai
committed no crime, and that he was
not fugitive from justice. He asked,
therefore. that a writ Of habeas corpus
be directed TO the chief OF police that he
might be brought before the superior court
to be dealt with according TO law.
The writ was issued. and Satcher ap-
peared in court yesterday morning wi.h
his attorneys. Judge Falligant appointed
Solicitor General W. W. Fraser to repre-
sent the state of South Carolina, and In
that connection the chief of police. The
warrant a copy of which was attached
to the petition, simply stated that COM
plant had been made on oath by b. W.
Wright at Edgefeld court house that J.
Wright Satcher did wilfully and MALI
ciously marry Miss Eula Wright on July
20, 1891, and deserted her the same day
without cause; that Anna Wrightmdn
Griftths and Amelia Wrightman Watson
are witnesses to prove the facts. The war
rant, therefore, commanded any laWfui
constable to arrest the said j. Wright
Satchnr to be brought before Justice
J. G.. Medley TO he dealt with accord
ing to law.
Mr.. w. f. Slater cited several South
Carolina authorities to show that under
the facts presented Satcher had commit
ted no offense against the laws of South
Carolina, and that the warrant charged
no offense. Some decisions and laws were
also cited on the other side, and Judge
Falligant had two or three authorities on
the subject himself. After examining into
the authorities Judge Falligant said he
did not care to hear from the attorneys
of either side in the matter, as it APP
peared, upon investigation into the cause
Of Satchers Imprisonment, that he is
charged with no crime, and that his re-
straint and Imprisonment is illegal. An
custody of the chief Of police and grant
ing him his full liberty and freedom.
Chief McDermott telegraphed Sheriff |
Quiz at Edgeheld of Satcher's release The
probability is however, that Sheriff Outz
had left for Atlanta with his requisition,
and that he will arrive here to-day to md
his man gone Satcher was delighted at
his release, but not more so than his wife,
who has attended upon him so faithfully
since his arrest He is understood to have
left town yesterday. as he desired TO
avoid the possibility of arrest by Sheriff
Outz on a warrant which would hold good
in Georgia. Several attorneys, however
who have been spoken TO about the mat
ter have stated their opinion to be that
Satcher could not be prosecuted in South
Carolina for bigamy, even If IL were true
that he had been legally married there as
charged. The offense of bigamy, if any,
they said. was committed when the second |
marriage was entered into in Texas, ard
this being the case, Texas is the only
state in which Satcher can be prosecuted
for bigamy.
S. E. Gerken. better known as Ed. Ger
ken, who was tried day before yesterday
on a charge of assault with intent to muir
der Thomas S. Wayne, and found guilty
of stabbing not in his own defense, with
recommendation to the extreme mercy of
the court, was sentenced yesterday morn
ing when court convened, to pay a fine of
$3.50 and costs, or spend six months on the
chain-gang.
l.
attorneys that the fine would be paid next
week, and in the meantime Gerken has
gone back to jail. He Will be given rea-
sonable time in which to pay the fine be-
fore the enforcement of the alternative
sentence. 1t is believed that the fine will
be paid. Gerken was ably defended by
Messrs. w. =. Slater and William Pease,
and in the prosecution Mr.. A, c. Wright
took the principal part, assisting the so
licitor general. The case seemed rather a
bad one for Gerl1en from the start, though
in the evidence some mitigating crcum-
stances in his favor were brought out. The
general opinion, however, was that the
verdict would be sta bbing not in his own
defense, and by many the strong recon-
mendation to mercy was not hooked for.
The grand jury OF the city court held
brief session yesterday at l o'clock. That
body was to have heard from its differ
ent committees, so as TO make arrange
ments to prepare its general presentments
which are to be returned to the court on
Monday. There was not a quorum pres
ent, however, so the time was spent in in
formally discussing the business of the
different committees. The grand jury viii
hold its final meeting Monday afternoon
at o clock, at which time it will return
its general presentments and adjourn for
The term.
The usual criminal busin ess of the city
court was attended to vest srday, and the
general run Of the sentenc IS was twelve
AuQ SIX AHDulllS- mere WtI more Twelve
month sentences, however, than there
We're for six months, there being eight of
the former and only six of ne latter.
George Williams was given twelve
months for the larceny of spme clothing
from the residence of Dr. w II. Elliott
Anna Thomas was senten ced to spend
twelve months on the chain gang for the
larceny of Sl9 in money FROM Philla Half
ford.
on another charge of the larceny of
clothing from the residence cd DR. W. H
Elliott, George Will Jams was given
SECOND sentence of $50 and costs, or twelve
months on the chain-E1ang.
James O'Nen was gwen twelve months
on the chain-gang for the larceny of one
gold ring, valued at $40 from the resi-
dence of John S. Ha1nes.
George Montgomery, Edward Lewis
Sam Scott and VILLA II Henry We're each
fined $50 and costs or Twelve months on
the chain-gaEg for entering one of the
warehouses Of the Ocein Steamship Com
pany,. and stealing the refrom vest con
tanning a gold watch belonging to b. D.
SouthcOtt.
Charles Berry was f. 0ed $25 and costs
or sentenced TO spend Twelve months on
the chain-gang, for car rying a concealed
Tat to hp