The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-31
DAILY $40 A YEAR
CENTS A COPY.
WEEKLY 2-TIM SS-A- WEEK 81 A YEAR
MORRIS ON TRIAL AT MIDVILLE.
A STRONG PROBABILITY THAT HE
WILL HE ACQUITTED.


Two Witnesses Swear That They Saw
the Accused Near SPRINGS store on
the Night of the Murder - Another
Witness Testiiies That Morris said
the Day Before the Murder That
sprinx's Store Would He In MOurn-
ing Before Morning.
Midwife, Ga. July 90.-To-day Frank
Morris was again arraigned before JUS
tices sandford and McCullars for a pre-
liminary hearing to be bound over until
the superior court meets to answer for
the murder of Joe Sprinz, or be made a
free man.
II seems very likely now that he will
be proven innocent.
His wife met him at the train last night
and accompanied him to the hotel. where
he was guarded until o'clock this morn
ing, and then taken TO court. The court
was detained about an hour by witnesses
being absent. During this time Morris
smoked cigarettes, talked and laughed
with his attorneys, and seemed not at all
uneasy.
d. l.. Coleman was the first witness
placed on the stand He testified that
Norris and Sprinz had had a difficulty
about six weeks prior to the killing, but
had made friends
The testimony of the ten next witnesses
was about the same.
Andrew Peyton, colored, testified that
he heard Morris say on Thursday, May 8.
the day before the crime was committed.
that the store would be in mourning be-
fore the following day.
The next witness OF Importance was
Enoch Sapp. colored. He swore he saw
Morris enter SPRINGS backyard on the
night of the murder. Col. Saffold, lawyer
for the defense. tangled him up consldera-
bly, upon the cross examination. He tried
to make him confess that some one had
given him standing order at j. ]. MUIR
phree's store for his groceries. He would
not admit this, but did say Detective
Cummings had at one time given him ten
cents and at another a peck OF meal
Thomas Tbigpen was next on the stand.
His testimony was that he passed Springs
house about o'clock on the night Of the
murder. The back door was open, through
which he saw Morris standing near the
center OF the room In which Sprinz was
killed. He did not see any one else In the
room He went to Mr.. Drews store to pur-
| ehdse u uhllnB pOle. After leaving Drew 3
| he passed Davis a Marks store, and saw
a man standing by the store CThis is the
door in which the keys were found.) He
| did not recognize him at first, as he was I'm
| the shadow of the store The man walked
away ahead OF him. When he came in the
| moonlight, he saw that IL was Morris
They We're both going in the direction OF
Morris house. Thigpen turned of at the
first corner and went home.
DIR. Fitzpatrick was next sworn. He tes-
titled that Sprinz had 600 In gold be-
longing to him. Upon cross-examinatlon
he stated that he did not have a scratch
of a pen showing that Sprnz had tho
money, that he and Morris once went to a
Masonic meeting together and on that
occasion he mentioned to Morris that
Sprlnz had this money
Court then adjourned until tomorrow
morning at 7:30 o'clock.
None Of the witnesses for the defense
testified.
II is claimed that the testimony Of all
the important witnesses for the state will
be rebutted tomorrow.
Morris Is at the hotel under guard for
the night.