The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-25
THE JURY CALLED 1T MURDER.
FOUR SEGROEs AND TWO WHITE
MEN PASSED ON THE KILLING.

Negroes Held That HinsOn Murdered
Robert JeRersOn-The White Mep
Thought 1t Was AccidentaI-The
Only Witnesses We're Three Ne
ErOes-The Shooting Generally Be
Iieved to Have Been Accidental.
\ verdict Of murder was brought in early
yesterday morning by the coroners jury
that heard the evidence in the killing of
Robert jefferson, an old colored man, by
W. II. Hinson. There were four negroes
among the six men comprising the jury
and the division was four to two. the ne
groes standing solidly for verdict Of
murder while the white jurymen were
fully persuaded the shooting had been ac-
cidental There were only three witnesses
examined. These were all young negroes
who had seen the shooting The testi-
mony OF all of them was almost Identical,
giving the story of Hinson coming to his
door with his pistol in his hand and pres
emily opening fire across the road and in
the direction of the field beyond, in which
Jefferson was engaged in picking peas.
They said that Hinson had fired three
shots when, their attention being attrac-
ted, they looked towards the man doing
the shooting and then in the direction in
which he was firing. From their position
on door step a few yards from Hnsons
house they could see the old negro in
the field, but they could not say whether
he could have been seen by Hinson. as
weeds interviewed between the marksman
and the old man. Just after the third
shot was fired they called to Hinson and
told him to look out or he would shoot
the old man in the field. Again Hinson
fired, and at that time the old negro was
running toward the road He threw a
hand up, as if to prevent another shot
being fired, as he ran, and fell just as
HinsOn fired the fifth and last shot from
its chamber. They said he then turned
and walked back into his house, while
the witnesses spread the report OF the
shooting.
The coroner arrived at the scene three
or four hours after the occurrence, and
examined the corpse. He found that only
one bullet had taken effect This had
struck Jefferson fun in the throat and had
broken his neck. Which bullet il was
that had killed him could not be ascer-
tanned. From the fact Of the negroes ac-
cording to their testimony. having seen
him running as the fourth shot was fired
~ - ihFig A4ldt " was one OF Inc uFSE
three bullets that sped on its erraud Of
death. The body was taken from the scene
or the shooting 10 a point on the White
Bluff road inside the city, where the in
quest was held.
The evidence was not sufficient. in the
minds of some who heard il. 20 warrant
the return OF the verdict given. There
was nothing shown 70 indicate that bad
blood had existed between the two or that
they had in any way been unfriendly
Great difficulty was had IN the securing
Of two white men on the jury. Despite
the coroner's reluctance considering he
excited cOnd. lion Of the negroes in the
locality. 20 form his jury with 20 many
Of them upon il. ne was compelled to DO
so. Il is thought that the grand jury,
when il considers the evidence in the case.
will fail 10 indict Hinson. Everything
points towards the shooting having been
accidental, and Hinson has many sympa-
thizers.
The unfortunate victim was a well
thought Of Old man Of about
81 years Of age. He leaves
a wife and several grown chill
dren. His home was 10 Louisville a settle
went short distance away from the
place where he was shot.
No arrests have as yet been male OF
any Of the negroes implicated ~ the riot
Gus conduct and the assault on HinsOn
and his wife that followed the shooting.
The ring leaders are keeping low. evident
ly fearing that the officers are on the look
out for them. Mrs. Hins0n was complain
ing yesterday Of tne pain she felt from
the bruises she had received "a the hands
Of the brute- who had beaten her. She
said that she wanted 70 get her things
from her husbands shop and home. but
was afraid 20 80 ouf on account 0f the
negroes = constable VIII probably go out
with her today 10 afford her protection IL
any should be- needed Apart from sae
personal injury done her and her husband
by the mot. the house ana shop were
looted and the stock % goods 5n the latter
broken %. eaten Of thrown about tae
place.