The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-16
OFFICER GILFoYLE INDICTED.
CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF
LEVI RUTLEDGE.

The Killing TOOK Place In 1ama-
craw Christmas Day-GiIfOyIe and
Policeman Jernigan Were Trying
to Arrcst RutIedge-HaIf a Dozen
other Indictments FOund-CiviI
Cases in the state Courts.
The grand jury of the superior court
yesterday found true bill against Po-
liceman Joseph ], Gilfoyle on the charge
Of murder. Gilfoyle shot negro named
Levi Rutledge in Yamacraw on Christmas
day when he and another policeman went
to arrest him. Rutledge resisted and it is
said drew pistol, pointing it from I'M
der a bed, where he had taken refuge
when Policeman Gilfoyle shot him with
unerring aim between the eyes.
Gilfoyle was released from custody af-
ter the verdict of the coroner's jury,
which declared the killing to be justifla-
bic homicide, but a warrant charging
him with murder was sworn out by some
of Rutedges friends and the case taken
before the grand jury with the result that
a true bill was found.
The finding of a true bill by the grand
jury will be a surprise, not only to Gill
foyle's friends, but by many who have
heard the circumstances of the case Just
what evidence the grand jury may have
had is not known, but Policeman Jerni-
gan, who was with GiIfoyle at the time
the shooting was done, was one of the
witnesses, though it is thought his testi-
mony was in Gilfoyle's favor. Gilfoyle is
now out on bond, having been released
just after he was arrested under the war
rant.
Norton r. Fletcher, alias S. w. Smith,
was indicted on charge of forgery, it
being charged that he presented a forged
order to the Savannah Naval Stores Com
pany for $14.4O to which the name of r.
w. Hammond was signed
Louis Williams and Robert Williams
were indicted on the charge of assault
with intent to murder j. A. Chaves on
Dec. "a
James Bacon was indicted on the charge
of burglary of the house of Sam Bryan
on Oct. 10.
Sing Hop, one of the Savannah Chinese
colony, was indicted on a charge of as
sault with intent to murder George Kill
roy, the offense having been committed
June 10, 1896. Kilroy charges Hop with
feloniously attacking him with a Ratchet,
with intent to kill him.
Wesley Hall was indicted on a charge
OF assault with intent to murder Peter
Solomon on Dec. q, 1885,
Forty-eight hours had produced no
change in the jury in the Pitts murder
case, and it looks as if it will be the
same way at o'clock this morning. when
sixty hours will have passed.
Judge Falligant left the court house
last night with instructions that he was
to be sent for il the jury wanted him
The jury probably wants him badly by
this time, but not because a verdict has
been reached. Frequent inquiries have
been made as to the result but there
has been none. Another report with re-
gard to the jury last night was that it
stood eleven to one for murder the one
juror standing alone for voluntary man.
slaughter. The jury may be let out in
time to go to church Sunday. 1t does
not seem likely now that there will be
any other result than a mistrial.
On petition filed by Mr.. L. ]. Brown.
representing the Phillips and Buttorff
Manufacturing Company of Tennessee,
and the Williams and Martin Chair Com
pany of New York. Judge Failigant grant
ed an order yesterday appointing Sher-
iff John I. Roman temporary receiver of
the stock and fixtures or u. J. Thomas
son, in the store at No. 1877 Broughton
street.
The first of the plaintiffs alleges an
indebtedness of 1851 on an open account
and two notes, and the latter an indebt-
edness of $26.75. The claim is made that
Thomasson is insolvent. and that the
mortgage for $3.50 upon his stock which
he gave his wife, Feb. IA, 1896 is not
bona fide, but was made to hinder and
delay and defraud the creditors. The pc
titioners being unsecured, creditors made
the claim that unless a receiver was APP
pointed to take charge of the stock, they
would suffer irreparable loss and dam
age. The temporary receiver was di-
rected to take charge of the stock, and
other assets of the defendant, and to
take an inventory of the same, and make
a report to the court Jan. %
There was some criminal business and
one or two other matters attended to
in the city court yesterday, but when it
was asked for at the clerks office it was
stated that Clerk Collins had given In
structions that the papers could not be
seen. 1t was stated, however, by outside
parties, that a sealed verdict had been
returned in the case of Miss Eleanor OPP
penheim against the Electric Railway
Company and it would not be opened until
Monday morning, as the judge has gone
to Liberty county for day or two.
In the court of ordinary yesterday Mary
A. Ponder, widow of Richard Ponder, filed
a petition for a widows years support.
S. l.. Baker, recently elected justice OF
the peace in the Eighth militia district,
qualified as such and received his COM
mission for the ensuing four years.