The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-31
GOES OUT WITH THE OLD YEAR,
MIR. FRASER AND MIR. OSBORNE TO
CHANGE PLACES.

Mr.. Fraser TO Take Up the Practice
of Law With an Ofice over the
Southern Bank-Fhe Daily VS.. DAILY
AIImOny Case stilI on Trial-Trim-
BILE Gets Verdict i'm His suit
Against the Florida Central and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. business In
the City Court.
One side of the superior and city courts
will change hands tomorrow. Solicitor
General w. W. Frasers term of office
expires at u o'clock tonight, and from
that hour, for the next four years. the
incumbent of that Office is Mr.. w. W. Os-
borne,
Solicitor General Fraser has served this
county and judicial circuit for eight years,
two terms, in that capacity, and from the
time of his election has made an able
prosecuting officer He was a candidate
before the last general assembly for re-
election, but the tide of affairs is some
times turned, and that body named Mr..
Osborne as his successor.
MIR. Fraser retires from office after to-
day with the good wishes of many who
have known him, and who have approved
his course as the public prosecutor. There
has been nothing to mar his administra-
ton OF the Office, and there are none ex-
cept, perhaps, a few who have received
their just deserts because of his earnest
prosecution of the charges against them,
who will say aught against that admin
istration. Mr.. Fraser will open a law Of
fee In Savannah over the Southern Bank
His business will be his own, as he has
made arrangements to enter into partner
ship with no one.
Mr.. Osborne was sworn in as solicitor
general before Judge Falligant some time
ago, he having brought his commission
from Atlanta with him when he returned
from Atlanta on his last trip. When he
takes up the duties of the Office to-mor-
row, Solicitor General Osborne will find
practically a clear docket in so far as it
was possible to make it so. The cases
which he will have to try are, with one
or two exceptions, cases in all of which
indictments have been found at the pres
ent term of the superior court, and all of
those practically iu which indictments
were found BEFORE have been tried once
and are now waiting new trials. There
is not a murder case left on the circuit,
and the three murder cases left on the
docket in Chatham have each been tried
once. In the Corners case there was a
mistrial. in the Smalls case a new trial
was granted by the supreme court, and
the Ponder case had to DE postponed At
the request of the defendants attorneys.
nevertheless this latter case will be tried
for the state by Mr.. Fraser.
Mr.. Osborne begins his term of Office
with the good wishes of everyone. He
has the talent the ability and the knowl-
edge of the law torequip him for the work
which is before him, and those who know
him believe he will make an able solicitor
general. What his policy will be remains
to be seen. That is a thing about which
solicitors general talk very little; it is
developed in their actions. Mr.. Osborne
has selected as his detective Mr.. Henry
Wetherhorn, who is at present on the city
detective force. Detective Wetherhorn
has made an excellent official in ferreting
out criminals. and in his new position lie
will, no doubt, meet with equal success.
The superior court was occupied yester-
day with the trial of the alimony case of
DAILY against DAILY, which is being very
warmly contested on both sides. The
case is being heard in chambers, which is
practically the same as open court, and
owing to the fact that there were fifteen
or twenty witnesses in the case, it was
considered desirable to have them outside
during the proceedings, to prevent the
crowding of the court room. None of the
officers of the court have been excluded
from the hearing nor have others, who
have business around the court room. The
hearing is on precisely the same basis as
any other case of its kind, and those who
have been present and heard all the testi-
mony say there has been nothing whatever
about 1t that could be considered vulgar or
salaeious as has been stated. The plaintiff
in the case is represented by Messrs. Gig
nilliat g. Stubbs, and the defendant by
Mr. r. r. Richards. The hearing is a
long one owing TO the large number of
witnesses to be examined, and will prob
ably not be concluded before this after
noon.
Mr. o. H. Lufburrow was admitted to
he bar by Judge Falligant yesterday after
noon, after passing a very able examina-
tion. The examination was conducted by
a committee composed of Messrs. j. r.
Saussy, w. p. LaRoche, w. w Osborne
andsSolicitor General w. w. Fraser.
They all certified to the fact that he Mad
passed an able examination, and the or
der admitting him to practice in all the
state courts was signed Mr.. Lufburrow
has been studying law for some months
in the office of Messrs. McAlpin and La
Roche, where he will have his office.
The sealed verdict in the case of J. j.
Trimble against the Florida Central and
Peninsular railroad was opened in the
city court yesterday and found to be for
500 in favor of the plaintiff Trimble.
who was injured in the wreck between
Savannah and Jacksonville during last
May week, sued for $4,000 damages. He
was represented by Messrs. MacDonell &
Gordon. and the defendant was represent
ed by Messrs. Denmark, Adams g. Free
man.
The usual city court criminal business
was disposed of yesterday. John Solomon
was sentenced to pay a fine Of S25 or serve
twelve months on the gang for carrying a
concealed weapon. Charles Warning was
given a sentence of $40 and costs or three
months for assault and battery. Katie
Miller Elsie Green and Theresa jenkins
were each sentenced TO pay a fine of $2C