The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-28

had voluntarily come down to the trial
from another county, in order to give him
the benefit of his presence should he want
to use him-and that he was then sitting
by the side of his lawyer in the court room.
AS he said this, all eyes were turned to
the little man with the brown moustache,
who sat at the table. The stranger was
looking straight at the prisoner, and the
open, honest look on his face seemed to
give complete Endorsement to what Griffin
was saying.
Several weeks before the picnic, the pris-
oner continued, Mr.. Gray had come to him
and told him that Banks was getting In
a fiercer and more dangerous mood ali the
time; that he found it impossible to pacify
him, and that as he went armed and
swore to kill Griffin on sight. Gray pleaded
with him to keep out of his way until some
means could be found to settle the matter
without bloodshed.
Again the jury turned their eyes search
ingly upon Gray, and again he did not
finch before their gaze, and the whole ex-
preston of his face gave approval to the
words that the prisoner was uttering.
on the fatal day, continued
Griffin, he did not know
that Banks was at the picnic
until Gray came to him hUrriedly and told
him that Banks had just caught sight of
him and had started to his buggy to get
he saw Banks waking hurriedly away in
the direction of buggy, and it was then
believing his own life to be in danger, and
afraid to let his enemy reach the buggy
it was then he walked up behind him and
shot him down.
AS the prisoner concluded, every eye
was turned toward Gray-and the whole
truth Of Grifiins statement found sanction
and Endorsement in his honest face.
The case was argued at length by the
counsel for the state They made sport
of the threat theory, and tried hard to de-
molish Mr.. Gray. IL Gray knew all these
things, they said, why wasn't he put on
the stand to swear to il?
The lawyer for the defense made al elo-
quent and ingenious argument. He built
his whole speech upon the defendant s
statement and wove fair and plausible
theory Of self-defense. In answer to tie
states query as to why Gray was not
put on the stand, he said they had pointed
him out to the state, and If the state
doubted what Griffin had sad then they
should have put Gray up TO refute Ii.
Gray was there in the court room ready
to go on the stand and the very foct,
argued the shrewd counsel, that the state
would not call Gray up to swear, proved
that they knew he would testify 70 the
same things stated by Griffin; and thus
the prisoners statement was virtually adj
mllteu 10 De true by Nue state.
After a short charge by the judge, the
Jury retired to their room and soon came
down with a verdict Of not guilty. IL was
not such a great surprise to those who
had heard the speech of the defendant
counsel. and yet there were many, too
who declared that IL was an outrage upon
justice. Gray, OF course, was the man
most talked Of but as the case ended al
night and he went Off early the next
morning, accompanied by Griffin and the
| lawyer, no one had an opportunity TO see
him or talk with him. AS the hotel where
| they stopped was crowded. and Gray
slept in the room with the lawyer and vas
with him nearly all the while, except al
meal times. when he had nothing to say
no one ever heard him express himself
on the case. or on any other subject, as
for that matter. lie had a good, honest
face but seemed 20 be of a most quiel
and retiring disposition.
|
1t was perhaps eight or ten months az
| ter the trial when late one summer after
noon the loungers around the little vii
| lage heard that Mr. Gray. the man VIII,
/ had been the means of clearing John Grlf
/ fin Of murder was al the hotel. Anxious
TO see the man ana talk with him, seyera