The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-28
SAMSoN'S STORY DIScREDITED
HIS CHARGES AGAINST CITY ply
sICIAN MORRISON DISMISSED.

No Evidence of Their Truth Brought
Before the Sanitary Board-Sam-
son Declined to Offer as a witness.
His Reply to DIR. Brunncr's Letter.
The City Council Unanimously
Agrees to the Report Acquitting
DIR. MOFrisOn-The Case to Be TAX
en- Up by the Grand Jury Ehis
Week.
City Physician DR.. A. A. Morrison was
acquitted of the charges Of criminal as
sault preferred against him by Samuel
Samson, and they were dismissed at
special meeting of council held yesterday
to receive the report of the sanitary board,
to which body the matter was referred for
investigation.
The council met at noon and was in ses-
sion as committee of the whole for an
hour before going into open meeting. This
time was spent in reading and discussing
the evidence before the sanitary board.
The report of the board was submitted
in open session of council and was unani'
mously agreed to without discussion The
motion to adopt was made by Alderman
Hull, and seconded by Alderman O'Don-
nell. Those present were Alderman Ham
ilton, acting chairman; Aldermen Owens,
Hull. O'DonnelL Charlton, Reid and
Davis.
The report recites that on Feb %, notice
was given to the prosecutor and the accus-
ers of DR.. Morrison of the fact that the
board would hold meeting at the mayors
OF 4 ~ he nxrf Of
the purpose of hearing the evidence in the
charges, that notice was served personally
on Samson and that on it he made the
following memorandum:
In answer to the above beg to inform
you that my principal witness (my daugh-
teri is sick in bed and cannot appear. The
case Is in the hands of the state and l
have nothing more to do with 1t.
Samuel Samson"
In reply to this, the report states, the
secretary of the board, DR.. Drummer,
wrote to Samson, by direction of the
mayor, and the letter was delivered to
him in person. 1t stated that the charges
against DR.. Morrison had been set for
a hearing that afternoon, and Mr.. SAM
son was directed to be present. If there
should appear any satisfactory reason
why the investigation cannot take place
at that time" quoting from DIR. Brun-
ners letter. 1.-The board will adopt such
a course as may be proper l am direct
ed by the mayor to say that he does
not understand what you mean by say-
ing that your principal witness is sick,
and that as the case is In the hands OF
the state you have nothing more to co
with it. Charges of this kind are seri-
Gus, and you will either appear and press
them or you will explain to the board in
unmistakaDle terms what you wish done"
The report states further that the board
convened at the time and place appoint
ed, and, Samson being absent, 1t was re-
solved that the chief sanitary inspector
go for him with a vehicle, and say that
he was directed and requested to appear
with his witnesses before the board,
which was then in session, awaiting his
presence. 1t also states that the sanitary
inspector went to Samson, and on his re-
turn reported that he found lady friend,
other than the daughter of Samson, at
the house. She asked Mr.. Samson if he
wanted to go, and he replied that he did
not. The inspector further reported that
he had been unable to get Samson, where
upon the board proceeded to hear the
evidence of DIR. Morrison and the wit
nesses summoned in his behalf. The re-
port concludes with the following recon-
mendation:
Whereas, we have found no evidence
to sustain the charges brought against
DR.. A. A. Morrison, that Che said DR.. A.
a. Morrison be acquitted from such
charges, and that such charges be dis
missed, and that this board be relieved
from further action in this connection
The report was signed by the mayor as
chairman of the sanitary board. Mr. A.
E. Way, who has acted as DR.. Morrison's
attorney, said that a Mr.. Maddox, whose
testimony he considered important, came
up to the council chamber twice while the
investigation was being held by the SAM
tary board, but finding the door locked
each time, went away. The investigation
was being conducted In the mayors Of
flee and not in the council room. Mr.. Mad
dox is the friend who was called in by
Samson to assist him in undergoing treat
ment prescribed by Dr. Morrison, and was
present in the house when the alleged as
sault occurred. Mr. Way expected to
prove by Mr.. Maddox that he was in an
adjoining room, the door of which was
open. and that he neither heard nor saw
anything unusual, and further, that after
DIR. Morrisons departure Miss Samson
came into the room where he was and
chatted pleasantly with him and her ia
Their
The case now awaits the investigation OF
the grand jury, which will doubtless take
Mace early this week