The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-26
WILL BE IN SESSION A MONTH.
JUDGE SPEER TO OPEN THE
UNITED STATES COURT MONDAY.

A Good Many Cases ON Both DOckets.
The Days Criminal Business in
the City COurt-Over Twenty-sIx
Years of Sentences Imposed by
Judge Norwood Within "A Month.
Thomas Geary Given Two Years
and n Half for Several oGenses.
Judge Emory Speer of the United States
court will be in Savannah next Monday,
to hold sessions of the circuit and district
courts for this division of the eastern dis
trict of Georgia. He has written a letter,
stating that he would probably be here
for the entire month Of March, and it will
probably require that much time to dis
pose of the numerous cases on the
dockets
There will be a good many cases on the
criminal side of the court, some of them
old cases, which have remained on the
docket for some time. Among others is
the famous case of Hugh K. Salter and
others, who is charged with counterfeit
ing and conspiracy, who were arrested in
1898 and whose case for one reason and
another has gone over from term to term
Most of the criminal cases. however, are
of a petty nature, though there is no tell
ing what may be developed until they
are brought up in court.
On the civil side of the court the suit
of Charlotte b. Carson, against William
Roberts, Sr., of Lowndes county, for
breach of promise, will be perhaps one of
the most interesting. The Savannah street
railroad cases are still on the docket and
some action may be taken with regard to
them. The admiralty cases are very few,
brought by p. Sanford Ross, being, per-
haps, the only one of any great Importance
There are several cases brought by the
government against property owners, for
the purpose of condemning lands for
lighthouse purposes. There is a large
number of unimportant cases on hand, be-
sides great many interventions in the
Central railroad litigation, which will no
doubt come up for determination.
The city court had a full days business
yesterday in the criminal line. The
complaints against Thomas Geary, color
ed, constituted perhaps the most interest
ing feature. He got into row Monday
in which he brought into play both
knife and a pistol, and yesterday he found
himself on the way to the chain-gang to
spend two years and six months. Geary
was sentenced to pay a fine of $50 or
spend twelve months on the gang for stab
bling Lulu Daily. He was given the same
sentence for pointing a pistol at Jim Por-
ter in the same scrap, and was sentenced
| to pay fine of S25 or spend six months on
the gang for carrying concealed weap-
on. Geary had all the appearances of be-
ing hard case, and he was disposed of
| accordingly.
Isaac Pinckney, who stole a. blue cap
from the house of Walter Jones was SEN
/ fenced to pay a fine of $50 or to spend
| twelve months on the chain-gang. Dan
Bresbane charged with stealing a pair of
| pantaloons from d. kohler was sem
| fenced to pay fine of $50 or
| serve six months on the chain-gang. Sam
| Wilson, for carrying a concealed weapon,
| the gang. Gertrude Reilly, charged with
the larceny of 80 from the person of Ste
| of $25 or serve six months. Solomon Irv-
| ing, charged with Vagrancy, can get his
| liberty by paying a 50 fine, otherwise he
| will have to work three months. Patrick
Marone, also charged with vagrancy will
| have to pay $40 for his liberty, or work
! for the same length of time. Ca
! leb Stanley, who was found
guilty of keeping gaming house.
was sentenced to pay a fine of $50 or serve
! six months. Sol Carter, for the simple
| larceny of one sack of hogfeed from j. F.
! Guilmartin, was sentenced to pay $50 into
the registry of the court or spend twelve
months on the chain-gang. Claudius
! the Morning News was sentenced to pay
fine of $40 and costs or spend six months
on the chain-gang. Moses Smith, found
guilty Of larceny from the house, was
! given the usual $50 or II months, which
| penalty is becoming quite frequent in
cases of petty theft. Rad Fisher and
Robert Stapleton, charged with simple lar
| ceny demanded indictment by the grand
jury.
A curious computation made in the CITY
court yesterday shows that during the
one month he has been on the bench Judge
| Norwood has imposed sentences on petty
| criminals amounting to 20 years and one
| month. This is quite record for the
court to have made within SO short a
| time. Judge Norwood has no liking for
| sneak thieves, as is apparent and when
| they come before him and are convicted,
| they always get somewhere near the limit
of the law.
A motion for new trial was filed in the
| superior court yesterday in the matter
| of the application of Benjamin J. Ed
| wards for letters of guardianship on the
person and property of James Edwards,
child to Louisa Swinton, who, at the re-
| quest of the father on his deathbed has
been caring for him for long, time, but
the decision was changed by the verdict
of a superior court jury, which granted
the child to Edwards his uncle Mr..
George w. Owens, who represents Louisa
Swinton, has filed a motion for new trial
on the usual grounds and on the addi-
tional ground that the court did not
| request of the parent. The applicant
Benjamin Edwards, was represented by
Mr.. A. l.. Alexander.
The superior court has adjourned for
the term. The case of Gleason and Nc
bolt and Isle of Hope railroad for dana
ges in the sum of $1,000 was settled and
dismissed from the docket. The case of
! EuMdiu OuiAy dS dilhSt GdJ1ck Duffy for
partition of land was settled and dis
| missed.
In the city court on the civil side a
| judgment was rendered in the case of the
| Homeseekers Mutual Loan Association
against E. L. Thornley,, executor for p,
| p. Thornley,, and against E. L. Thornley,
individually, for 2.19690 principal, and
$219.69 attorneys fees.
MAY WEEK PLAN MADE UP.
To Be Reported to the Board of
Directors To-day.
The committee on plan and scope for
the May military celebration practically