The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-14
BEAUFORT's MULE CASE.
Particulars of the Case Which Re-
suited in w. ID. Fnrris' AcquittaI.

suited IN w. ID. EnFrts' AcqufttaI.
Port Royal. s. c., Sept 13.-The testi-
mony in the case of the state against w.
d. Farrs, in which verdict of not guilty
was found yesterday as reported in to-
days Morning News, was about as fol-
lows:
On June 20, 1885, a mule was killed at
ArtweN Crossing, near Coosawhatche, on
the Charleston and Savannah railroad. AS
many animals for years back, had been
killed at that particular spot and the
railroad company had paid out thousands
of dollars to claimants, the railroad COM
pany had placed the matter In the hands
OF detectives, and in a short while several
negroes were arrested, charged with the
crime.
Two of the negroes, Richard Duncan and
Tony Bailey, turned states evidence, and
charged the principal of the crime on w.
d. Faris, a resident of Coosawhatchie,
and also engaged in the wood and other
business in Savannah. Farris was also to
considerable extent horse trader, had a
pasture at Artwells Crossing, and had had
number Of mules and horses killed at this
particular Place, and had been paid for the
same. Farris was arrested, and on the trial
held year ago, was convicted, and SEN
fenced TO a term of ten years, and one
month at hard labor in the state peniten-
iary After the conviction, upon affidavits
declaring the discovery of new and impor-
tant evidence, the Supreme Court granted
stay, and upon a hearing before Circuit
Judge r. c. Watts, new trial was
granted The case was begun Friday norm
ing last, before Judge James Aldrich.
Evidence was introduced to show that on
the night in question Farris had taken
worthless mule and had tied 1t on the
railroad track, and that the fast train
from Charleston had killed the animal.
Richard Duncan testified that he had been
| with Farris and had assisted in placing
| the animal on the track, and saw it kill
| ed, and that Farrls had given him IS for
his assistance. Tony Bailey testified that
| he had been keeping the mule for some
| time, and had delivered 1t to Duncan on
| that night, on the order of Farris; two ne
! groes testified that they had watched the
| proceedings, and, while hidden in the
bushes near the track, had seen Farris
| and Duncan tie the mule, saw the mule
| killed, afterwards saw Farris go to the
| track and take the rope off the dead mule,
| and he and Duncan drive off in a buggy
| they had close at hand. II was shown in
| the testimony that claim was made ON the
| road for $l75, the alleged value Of the mule,
| by Tony Bailey, and that Farris had writ
| ten several letters to Supt. Gadsden for
| Tony Bailey, claiming damages for the
! mule, and had finally commenced suit in
the name of Bailey for the mule 1t was
also claimed that the mule was only worth
| $50. 1t was shown in the trial that after
the railroad company had paid Farris con-
siderable money for stock killed, made a
treaty with him, 1t being arranged that
| IL the railroad company would build a wire
| fence along the roadway by the pasture
farmers would never bring any claims for
damages from this killing of cattle Rnt
since the fence had been so built Farris
had never brought a claim in his own
name, but had brought claims In the name
of other parties. The states witness, the
section master said he did not examine the
mule particularly, but that the only
wound he observed was on the side of The
head and could have been made with an
axe The defense put up a number of wit.
nesses. The main evidence of the defense
was in proving an alibi for defendant, and
went to show defendant was In Savannah
on the day or night of April 90 1896 The
witnesses for the defense were the de.
PENDANT, w. ID. Farris, and Mrs. Farris
and Messrs. Thomas l.. Hill, H. l.. Lude.
man, ]. II. Oppenheim, W. w. Simon, j
T. Morrel, w. G. Farris, H w. DAILY and
J. S. GOWN of Savannah, James r. Jack
son, Beaufort county; w. II. jackson, w
C. Rowell, Hampton county; p. o. Rey
nolds Bluffton, Sarah ]. Pope, colored, o
Button, and Sarah j. Pope, colored o.
Coosawhatchie, Mr.. Hill as an attorney
testified that w. d. Farris and w. c
Farris were In his office In Savannah OF
the day mentioned and signed a dissolution
of copartnership. Mrs Farris testified tha
defendant went with her to Savannah q
the day before and Charleston on the da,
after the alleged killing. That she knew
! this because she was on her way to Sum
merville where her sister was married tn,
following week Mr.. Airnar testified tina
! he sold defendant a horse on June 20, 1896
and Mr.. Morrell testified ne sold him
dump cart that night. All the way through
the evidence OF the witnesses for the de
Tense went TO show an alioi. AS stated il
the Beaufort dispatch to the Mornlnj
Newe yesterday, the jury. returned a yer
| dict of not guilty.