The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-18
DIsPosING OF MURDER CASES.
FIVE DEFENDANTS TO BE PUT ON
TRIAL THIS WEEK.

Sullivan and O'NeiII to BE Tried To-
day For the killing of Prentiss
BrOOks-Pat Kearney's Case TO
Come Up on Wednesday-Patric
Corners VIII Be Tried Thursday
and Abe Small Friday-A. L. Pitts
Case Assigned For Another Trial
Tuesday, Jan. 2G-POnder's Case
May Come Up Next Week.
Solicitor General W. w. Osborne, 1t APP
pears, has determined to clear the criminal
docket of the superior court in the most
expeditions manner possible. and with that
end in view, four of the principal cases.
in each of which murder is charged, have
been assigned for trial this week.
The first case will be that of Maurice F.
Sullivan and Simon O'NeiI, the former
indicted for the murder and the latter
charged with being an accessory to the
murder of negro named Prentiss Brooks.
The difficulty, which ended in the killing,
took place at free-and-easy or dance hall
down in the Old Fort district, an attempt
having been made by some officer to arrest
Brooks. The defendants, it is understood,
will claim the shooting was done in self
defense, Brooks having first attacked
them. They will be represented by
Messrs. T. s. Morgan. Jr., and F. NJ. Oil
yer.
Patrick Kearney will be tried on Wednes-
day under an indictment charging him
with the murder of j. W. Wyness. The
homicide occurred on the night of Nov.
80, at the corner of South Broad and Price
streets, and was the result of drinking,
though the shooting itself is claimed to
have been an accident. 1t was on account
of the statements of Wyness to one or two
parties to whom he talked at st. Joseph's
Infrmary before his death, to the effect
that the shooting was accidental, that
Kearney was released on bond in the sum
of 5000. The accidental theory will prob
ably be the line of the defense, and Wy
ness statements to certain witnesses will
no doubt be introduced in support of it,
Kearney will be defended by Mr.. T. S.
Morgan, Jr.
The next trial assigned for Thursday is
that of Patrick Connors, charged with
the killing of negro at an Old Fort bar
room Christmas day two years ago. The
night started in the bar and was continued
outside where the negro was shot by
Connors. Self-defense is the defense in
this case, it being claimed that the negro
was coming at COnnors with a big stick
Connors has been tried once but the Jury
could not agree in the case, and a mis-
trial was ordered. He is represented by
Messrs. OConnor and OByrne and 7. S.
Morgan, Jr
On Friday Abe Small will have his sec
ond trial on the charge of numbering Po-
hceman Jansen Neve about three years
9On oil Il
and sentenced to be hanged but his attor-
neys, Messrs. Charles N. West and T. P
Ravenel took the case to the supreme
court and got new trial on the ground
that the court failed to charge fully the
law as to the right of a criminal to defend
himself when officers went to arrest him
This was about the only ground on which
the supreme court granted a new trial
but his attorneys believe they will make
out stronger case on this trial in behalf
of the defendant
These are all of the murder trials assign
ed to take place this week, but an effort
is being made to get the case against
Thomas V. Ponder, charged with the muir
der OF Frank Keenan,, assigned for some
day next week In this case Mr. w. W.
Fraser will represent the state, having
been appointed solicitor general pro tenn
by Judge Falligant. on account of the dis
qualification of Solicitor General w. w
OsboTAet whose partner, Hon. Pope Bar
row, is of counsel for Ponder Mr. r s
Morgan. Jr, will also appear for the pros
ecuton. This will be Ponder's second
trial, he having been convicted on the first
trial, with recommendation to the mercy
of the court and sentenced to life i'm
prisonment Ponder was granted a new
trial by Judge Falligant, practically on
the ground that the evidence did not ius-
tify the verdict, in that it did not make
OUT more than a case of voluntary man
slaughter.
Judge Falligant has assigned the case
against A. L. Pitts charged with the muir
der of Adam A. Thornburg, for trial again
next Tuesday,Jan. 26.It was brought upfor
another assignment right after the mis-
trial was declared on Saturday. Tuesday.
however, is the day of the city election.
and as some of the lawyers are interested
in that event. an effort will no doubt be
made to have the trial postponed