The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-09
BRISTER GRAHAM TO HANG.
CONVICTED OF THE MURDER OF
BENJAMIN WILSON.

The Death Penalty to he Executed
Feb. 10-Grnhnm's Crime IA Cold
BIOOded One-He shot His Victim
Through the window of IA Gam
bling Room After "A Dispute over
~ Ccnts-The Jury's Verdict With
out n Recommendation.
Brister Graham. colored, was convicted
in the Superior court yesterday Of the
murder Of Ben Wilson, colored. and was
sentenced to be hanged Friday, Feb. 1e.
According to all accounts Graham's
crime was a cold-blooded murder, with
malice aforethought. Graham, Wilson
and several other negroes, were playing a
game Of skin in a house at No. S4ls Lun-
Der street the afternoon Of Sept. b. during
the progress of which the two had dis
pute of words which finally ended in Will
sons death.
There were In the room during the pro-
gress of the skin game besides Graham and
Wilson, John Elzey, Willie Eady and
Mike Small alias Joker" all OF whom
were witnesses for the state. According
to the testimony Graham beat Wilson out
Of forty-two chips equal to AZ cents, on
one deal, and on the next deal Wilson be-
gan TO buldoZe Graham, at the same time
shaking his fist In his face.
Graham had been out shooting during
the day, and it appears an idea occurred
to him. He threw down his chips and left
the room. He returned shortly with his
muzzle-loading gun, and going through
the narrow alleyway to the window of the
rear room, where the game was still in
progress, he thrust his gun through the
window
One of the players shouted TO Wilson
that Graham was about to shoot him. and
he Jumped for cover. Graham could not
get a fair view of his victim then, and he
ran around the corner of the house TO the
other window that opened on the rear.
Again he showed his gun in and again
Wilson lodged out of the way.
Graham then ran through the hall to
the front of the house and again entered
the narrow alleyway. When he got near
~ to the window through which he had
first attempted to shoot Wilson, the latter
jumped out, it is said, with a short club
in his hand. He was attempting to make
his escape from the room and had seized
the first opportunity when Graham was
no longer in sight.
Those remaining in the room saw VIII
son leap through the window with the
club in his hand and then, before he had
time to reach the ground from the win
dows hight of five feet, they heard the
report of the gun and saw his cap knocked
back into the room.
Elzey ran to the window and looked out.
There in the narrow passage between the
two houses, lay Wilson at full length with
his brain and blood oozing from horrible
wound in his head. on the wall of the
other house, to a hight of six or seven
feet, particles of brain had been scattered
by the force of the shot.
This was practically the effect of the
i'll 49, .lsaV
There was no testimony to the effect that
Wilson attempted TO shoot Graham, in
fact, the witnesses all stated that Wilson
had no pistol or weapon of that nature
Graham in his statement however, claim
ed Wilson had tried to shoot him through
the window, but this story did not seem
exactly right, considering that Graham,
piqued over the turn of the game, had
gone off for his gun for the purpose of
shooting Wilson.
The jury evidently took the view of the
case that Graham left the room with the
intention Of getting his gun and venting
his malice and resentment of Wilson's
words and actions by making short work
of him. The jury got the
case about o'clock, and had
it under consideration until about
4:30 o'clock, when it came down and asked
to be recharged. Judge Falligant asked
what point or points it desired especially
to be recharged upon. Inc foreman Stat-
ed the Jury wanted to be charged general
" on the case, and would like to hear the
courts entire charge again. Judge Falli-
giant delivered mis- entire charge second
time and about five minutes afterwards
the jury came down with verdict of gull
ty and without a recommendation.
Graham heard the sentence of the court,
that he be hanged bv the neck until dead
in the same stolid and unconcerned
manner that he appeared to have during
the progress of the whole trial. The
truth was he did not seem to realize at all
the seriousness of his position.
The defendant was ably represented in
the trial by Messrs. T. l.. Hill and w. F.
Morrison, Solicitor General w. W. Os-
borne conducting the trial on the part OF
the state. Friday Feb. 10, was fixed as
the day for the execution. 1t is not known
yet whether or not Graham's attorneys
viii carry the case to the supreme court.