The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-31
MANY INDICTMENTS EXPECTED
GRAND JURY AGAIN ON TRACK OF
THE GAMBLERS.

Fourth District to Take Place al
the Next SessiOn-Messrs. Ravenel
and West Ask to he Relieved From
the Abe Small Case and That New
Counsel he Appointed.
When the grand jury Of Chatham coun-
ty meets Monday there will be busy
session. 1t is thought by those in posi-
ton to know that there is a probability
that some sensational indictments may
result
The grand jury has not held a session
for nearly a month. The meetings nave
been postponed from time to time. There
was to have been a meeting two weeks
ago. but the absence of the solicitor gem
eral at that time necessltated a post
ponement until yesterday. For some rea-
son the meeting was not held yesterday,
but was postponed again until Monday
Aside from the regular work of investI-
CATION of criminal cases there will be an
election for a justice Of the peace for the
Fourth district in place of John F1tzger-
aid, resigned. Justice Fitzgerald is one
of the magistrates charged by the last
grand jury with malpractice in Office and
after his ease was tried, resulting in
mistrial, he resigned, sending his resigna-
ton to the governor.
II devolves upon the present grand jury
to fill his place and there are several can
didate before the Jurors.
The election has aroused considerable in
terest among the people around the court
house. and there will be a strong fight
made by the friends Of each candidate. The
jurors viii decide the matter at the meet
ing Monday and the place which has been
vacant so long will probably, be filed
without delay.
The grand jury, it is believed, will have
several criminal cases to investigate which
will prove of interest. 1t is understood
that the jury has been giving considerable
attention recently to the alleged prevalence
of gambling in the city. 1t will be re-
membered that when the jury was impan-
elled, Judge Falligant laid particular
stress upon the rumors that gambling is
being carried on in the city TO a great ex-
tent. The jury has not up to date brought
in any indictments along this line, but it
is believed that the matter has received
considerable attention at its hands.
There will be a number of cases before
the jurors Monday for a hearing, and It
is said that there will be an unusually
large crop of indictments.
Before Judge Fanigant the case of the
Mobile Fruit and Trading Com
pany against Collins, Grayson & Co. held
the attention Of the superior court most
Of the day. This is a suit for the recovery
of money claimed to be due on a shipment
Of bananas. The claim was for $272 The
.,r,3
bananas were not the same goods that had
been ordered by the firm. The verdict was
for S21O.
The petition for alimony and the order
OF the court in the case of V. Bruce
against T. Bruce We're dismissed yester-
day for the want Of prosecution in the
superior court.
An order was Issued by Judge Fallgant
in the superior court Diminishing part of
the bin in the case Of Francis j. Cham
pion against John o. Smith.
Mr. John T. Rowland, newly appointed
receiver of the Catherine Prenty properly
in place of Mr.. Edward McCabe who ask
ed to be relieved from further service
in such capacity. filed his bond for $500
and assumed charge of the affairs of the
estate. 1t will be remembered that Mrs.
recently an inmate Of the st. Joseph's In
Urinary without means of self support,
Notwithstanding the fact that she had an
estate which was held in trust by a miss
ing daughter, whose whereabouts at that
time could not be ascertained. Later the
daughter was found to be in a hospital
in New York. where her husband, il was
said had placed her. She claimed to be
anxious to get back to her mother, but
subsequently declared that she would re-
main with her husband. Much sympathy
is felt for Mrs. Prenty.
The latest turn in the Abe Small case,
which has been a case of many turns, is
that Messrs. Ravenel and West, attorneys
for the accused murderer, after taking
his case twice to the supreme court and
twice gaining a new trial for him, now
wish to be relieved from further service
in the case and have asked Judge Falli-
giant to let them out and appoint other
counsel.
The lawyers claim that at this turn in
the case they can appeal for release with
out any prejudice in the case at all one
way or the other They have done the
best they could for their client which Is
saying great deal. since upon technicali-
ties they have succeeded twice in getting
the supreme court to grant a new trial
for the prisoner. The last decision of
the supreme court was based upon the
fact that there was a colloquy between a
juror and witness during the progress
OF the case In which the juror practically
called the witness a liar The case was
argued before the supreme court by Mr..
West IL was a great surprise in Savan-
nah when the new trial was granted,
there having been one granted already and
the prisoner having been twice convicted.
But MIR. West made the case so strong by
his argument of the law and showed up
the technicality so clearly that the su-
preme court rendered its desision without.
much delay.
It is not known who Judge Falligant viii
appoint TO succeed Messrs Ravene, and
West. If there is to be a change made at
this late day In the trial Of the case. The
Small case has grown 20 be quite famed
piece of litigation by this time and Is
watched with a great deal Of interest
The city courts attention will be held
next week by several big damages suits
against railroad companies and other in
corporations There will be one or two
cases Of this kind involving large sums OF
money.