The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-24
HELD ON CHARGE OF MURDER.
TATTNALL COUNTY TRAGEDY MAY
BE UNFOLDED.

Edward TaIbert, Supposed Negro
Murderer of Seburn Mercer at
ReIdsviIIe, Arrested and Taken
Back by Sheriff Connolly to he
nall County JaiI-Accused Almost
Fills Description of the Man Want
ed.
Edward Talbert, colored, held at the po-
| lice barracks as a suspicious character
was taken to Reidsville, Tattnan county
last night, charged with the murder of
Seburn Mercer, a young business man of
Cobbtown. 1t is stated Talbert fills the
description of the murderer in most every
respect, and 1t is for the purpose of iden-
tification he was taken to Reidsville.
Deputy Sheriff G. N. Henry of Hines
vile, Liberty county, made the arrest
Wednesday, near the Central Railroad de-
pot, with the assistance Of the policeman
| there. The murder created such wide
spread talk throughout the county on ac-
count of the prominence of Mercer that
| a general effort is being made to locate
his slayer. if possible. 1t was, therefore,
that Deputy Henry had a complete de.
scription of the negro, so that on seeing
Talbert on West Broad street at once saw
that he answered remarkably TO the de-
scription. The closer the negro was OBJ
served, however, the more he began to
show uneasiness, until he started away
The attention of a policeman was called
by Deputy Henry to Taibert's suspicious
actions, and the two decided to arrest him.
Talbert walked briskly, when they started
for him, it is stated, did
not run, and was overtaken
near the canal, where he got by a
circuitous route. When arrested he was
not told the charge, but was questioned
with view to ascertaining if he was the
right party. He first said he was born in
Savannah and had always lived here, but
when further asked, said he had Travelled
al over the country among the places be-
ing CobbtOwn, where the crime in ques-
ton was committed. He fills the descrip-
ton of the accused in every detail, except
he has full teeth, while the description
has one missing. In point of weight, color,
night and general appearance, it is stat
ed, he corresponds precisely.
The killing of young Mercer was under
circumstances which will apparently
make it difficult to get point-blank proof
on the guilty party Some days previous
to the murder store was robbed at Cost
ca, small town on the Stilmore Air Line
and as the work was done at night, the
thieves easily escaped. A few nights af-
ter news of the robbery spread it was
reported that a negro was in Cobbtown
who was implicated in the robbery. Mer-
Ger al once started on hunt, when the
information reached him, being guided by
a party who stated he saw the negro The
two searched around in the dark some
tame, finally going to the rail-
road warehouse. Mercer threw the
lantern down, and on looking
under the building, saw negro hiding,
supposed to be the thief. He was told to
crawl out, but instead, Unexpectedly open
ed fire with pistol, one of the shots TAX
ing effect in MERGERS body and killing him
almost instantly. The negro got out I'M
noticed under the excitement of the mo-
ment, thereby succeeding in getting away.
1t seems there were two implicated in
the Cosica robbery and that one has been
arrested, confessed his guilt and has
since been confined in the Reidsville Jail
This one, it said, can easily identify his
accomplce, who Is supposed to have done
the killing. Whether Talbert is the right
man viii, therefore, be known as soon as
he appears before this prisoner.
A warrant charging Talbert with the
murder was issued by Justice Naughtin.
Sheriff G. F. Connolly of Tattnal county
took the prisoner and will probably know
to-day whether the right man has been
captured. Talbert stoutly denies his guilt,
however, and while he gives no
satisfactory account of his movements
since the murder, yet claims the authori-
ties have made a mistake