The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-08
DAILY, SO A YEAR.
CENTS A COPY.
WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-W WEEK 81 A YEAR
MYSTERY SHROUDS A MURDER.
A NEGRO CONVICTED OF THE
CRIME MAY PROVE INNOCENT.

The Lawyers for the Defense Inter-
view "A Man Confined in the state
Lunntic AsyIum-He Lived Near
the Scene of the Killing and he
came Insane shortly After the
Butchery.
Augusta Ca, Nov. LA telegram
sent to Gov. Atkinson this evening signed
by Judge Galloway, Solicitor General Da-
Wis, Hon. William Fleming and Herk
Johnson will probably result in a new
lease on life for Ed Parks, who is under
sentence to hang next Friday, and may
possibly result in his final complete vim
dcation
AT the September term OF Columbia su.
perlor court Parks was convicted Of the
murder of G. NJ Verdery at Harlem in
July. AT the time the killing created a
great sensation. Mr.. Verdery had gone
to spend the night with sick friend,
Charles Edmunds, whose wife was on q
visit In Waynesboro, and was killed whila
lying in the same bed with his sick friend.
Mr.. Edmunds, the sick man, was also
beaten to unconsciousness, but after
weeks of critical illness. he recovered, but
declared that he remembered nothing
whatever Of the assault. Prior to the
coming Of Verdery other neighbors OF
Mr.. Edmunds, Mr.. and Mrs. Phillips, had
come to Mr.. Bdmunds' assistance, he hav-
ing been taken suddenly and seriously In.
Mr.. Phillips returned home and left his
wife to remain with the sick man and
mol "a
departure of Mr.. Phillips that Mr.. ver-
derry arrived. He occupied the room with
the sick man, and Mrs. Phillips a room
across the hall. Mrs. Phillips saws she
was awakened about II o'clock by loud
breathing and thought Edmunds was hav.
ing hemorrhage and ran into his room
She was horrined to see Mr.. Verderv with
his head all crushed In, dead, and Mr.
Edmunds with his face beaten In the same
manner but still alive.
The killing was wrapped in mystery. but
soon Ed Parks, negro employed on the
place. was arrested and a negro detective
from Augusta, Josh Johnson, was innris-
oned with him, and claimed to have seour-
ed a confession from Parks. on his sriaI
Parks was defended by counsel appointed
Dy the court on the day before his trial
lie denied making confession and assert
ed his entire Ignorance Of the crime. His
presence at church mile and half dis
tant at 10 O'Clock and at u O'Clock on tha
nlght OF the murder was established but
the prosecution claimed he could have
committed the murder between these
hours. Parks was convicted, and sentenced
to hang Nov. 49,
Meantime Fleming e. Alexander and
Herk johnson of McDunle were emploved
TO move for new trial. Soon after the
kllllng Mr. Gibson, another neighbor of
Mr.. Isdmunds' went crazy and was sent
TO the asylum. Mr.. Fleming learned of a
gentleman who had had a conversation
with Gibson about the killing before he
went to Milledgeville. Two DAYS ago
Messrs. Fleming and Johnson took this
gentleman to Milledgeville, placed him In
q private room with Mr.. Gibson and sta
toned themselves where they could over
near the conversation. Their former con-
Versation was rehearsed Gibson recalling
u entirely and showing an accurate recol-
lectlon. The counsel refused to give the
conversation to the public, further than to
say that Mr.. Gibson has no idea Parks
committed the murder. To-day counsel for
the defense introduced afiidavits of newly
discovered evidence, before Judge
Callaway, and moved for a new
trial. The prosecution asked for
time to reply to the affidavits and Judge
Galloway continued the hearing until
Monday But as Parks has but a week
longer to live under the sentence the tel
egram referred to above was sent to the
governor asking four weeks reprieve. Mr..
Fleming said to the Morning News corres-
pondent: Every day is bringing new
facts to light and next week will bring
some revelations and sensation that will
completely exonerate Ed Parks unless
am badly mistaken" He says there are
at least two living witnesses who can tell
the true stroy Of the murder, and they
mean to go to the bottom of the mystery.