The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-14
CARTER QUICKLY CONVICTED.
ID. II. MOODY PLEADS GUILTY TO
THE SAME CHARGE.

The Judge Sentences Each to Four
Years ImprisOnment-Cases of
Each to BE Carried to the Supreme
COurt-Dr. j. ID. Moody MOTTO BE
Tried Until Final Settlement of
Those just Finished-Case Against
B. f. Harrington NOIIe Pressed.
Odum, Ga, July 13.-To-day is the third
DAY of the trial of II. B. Carter for the
Esrning of the freight depot at Brentwood.
Court was opened promptly at s o'clock,
and the attorneys proceeded with the ar
gument.
Solicitor John w. Bennett was the first
to speak, and his argument was fun of elo-
quence, and lasted for near two hours.
Col Bennett showed fully that he intended
TO perform his duty to the fun extent of
his ability
Then came the Hon. Thomas Watson to
make the closing argument. His speech
was awaited with great anxiety by the
spectators. But from aid appearances they
have been disappointed to a certain ex-
tent, as many expressed their disappoint-
ment after hearing it.
He moved the whole audience to laugh
ter on several occasions by his wit and
humor. He spoke for about two hours,
after which the court took a recess for a
few minutes
After the recess Judge Sweat delivered
the charge to che jury. which was long
and very clear. He explained what consti-
tuted arson and the different penalties for
the crime. IL was l O'Clock when he con-
cluded, and court then adjourend for din
ner
Immediately on the return of the judge,
at O'Clock, the jury came in with a YER
dict of guilty of the crime of arson
against II. b. Carter
The jury was not out any longer than
1t actually required to examine some writ
ten evidence that was submitted.
The verdict was no surprise.
ID. H. Moody was the next to be put on
trial, and by agreement of the attorneys
on both sides, he was allowed TO plead
guilty to the same charge.
Motions We're made to take each of the
cases to the Supreme Court.
The case against DIR. ]. d. Moody was
laid over until final disposal of the two
just tried.
The case against B. F. Harrington was
nolle pressed.
The sentences of each Of the two con-
victed was four years in the state peni-
Tertiary.
Moody and Carter have both applied for
a new trial, and it is expected that the
They are both men of means and will
use every effort to reverse the judgment.
Moody is about 50 years of age, and one
of the most prominent citizens of the
county. He has always stood well in the
community and it is quite a surprise that
such evidence should come out.
H. b. Carter is about % years of age,
and Is originally from North Carolina, but
came to this county when a mere boy
with his brother, L. Carter. He did not
appear to take much interest in the case
while being tried, and sat with newspa-
per- apparently reading most of the while.
The Morning News correspondent had an
interview with one of the railroads most
prominent attorneys, and he stated he was
not sure whether or moi the cases of
bribery against l.. Carter and Moody and
others would be pushed but thought very
likely they would be.
J. l.. Harrington, the brother of Berry
Harrington, says he had the 5000
worth of notes in hand to collect for his
brother while he was in jail and that L.
Carter paid part of one of the notes.
This affair has created quite a stir in
social circles in this community owing to
the prominence of the parties connected
Leonard Carter is the principal mer-
chant of Odum, in this county and is
worth considerable property and the whole
community was completely surprised when
this evidence came in
b. F. Harrington was released from Jail
as his case was nOll pressed and both
Moody and Carter gave bond in the sum
of $1,000
The court house was crowded all
through the trial and this afternoon when
| the judge was passing sentence, there was
not standing room outside the railing
Court adjourned at 430 o'clock, completing
one of the most important terms that
| Wayne county court has ever held.