The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-09
WRIGHT GOES UP FOR LIFE.
WILLIAM WILLCOX's SLAYER GULL
TY OF MURDER,

According to the States Evidence
He Told Wilcox He Was Going to
XIII Him Then and There-Defense
Proceeded on the Theory of Self
Defense and Accident-One VIE
ness stated That the wound Pro-
duced Death-Wright Glad to Get
on with His Life-Was Afraid He
would Go to the GnlIOws.
William Wright. the slayer of William
Wilcox, was found guilty of murder by
the jury in the Superior Court, before
which his case was heard yesterday. and
on a recommendation to the mercy of the
court. he was sentenced by Judge Falli-
cant to spend the balance of his life in
the pentitentiary
The opinion of those who have given
some attention to the case is that Wright
should be satisfied to get off with his life.
As d matter of fact, it is said that he is
satisfied, and that he was very uneasy
as to his future until he heard that he has
been recommended to the mercy of the
court. and knew that his neck was no
longer in jeopardy.
Before the conclusion of the trial
Wright expressed some fear as to the re-
sult He was afraid of the worst He
said to his counsel at one time:
BOSS, see if you can't get a jury that
will Just send me up for life, and not
hang me"
He was assured that the best possible
would be done for him, and he was quite
gratided when he learned that the YER
dnl spared his life. He took occasion to
express his satisfaction over the result.
and it is hardly likely that he will want
new trial, so far as he himself is con-
cerned.
He was defended by Messrs. Shelby My
rick and Fred Saussy. Mr. Myrick is in
clned to think that the verdict was rath-
er a severe one, and he is thinking strong
ly of appealing for a new trial. He has
expressed his intention to do so. He is
cognizant of the fact, however, that his
client is satisfied with the result.
Wrights murderous act was considered
most brutal one. He and Wilcox had
quarrel at the Gordon wharf on the
morning of Aug. q, when he took a short
crowbar that he was carrying over his
shoulder and jabbed it into Wilcox neck
cutting large cash about one and a half
inches long and about two inches deep.
The quarrel took place over a banjo
which, it appears, Wright had borrowed
from Wilcox, and also the sum of 10 cents
which the former owed the latter Will
COX approached Wright about the matter
the quarrel followed and the fatal blow
was given.
o1xy fvx-a
both produced by the state, Joe Waters
and MIR. Jack Kinzie. They were the only
eye Witnesses of the killing. Mr. Kinzis
was some distance away at the time and
saw the blow struck with the crowbar, but
could not tell just what was said by the
parties in the quarrel
Waters said that Wilcox asked Wright
for the 10 cents due him and his banjo.
Some more words followed. when Wright
said, &C d you, I'm going to kill you
now With that he said Wright tabled
Wilcox in the neck with the pointed end
OF the croWbar, and as the wounded man
ran from his assailant, Wright chased
him. Willcox went between two planlSs
down under the wharf and fell into the
river.
One point raised by the defense was as
10 whether Wilcox had been killed by
the blow from the crowbar or had been
drowned. Coroner Goette examined the
wound and testified that in his opinion
the wound had undoubtedly produced the
mans DEATH
In his statement Wright asserted posi-
lively that he had no intention of killing
Wilcox He said Wilcox came down to
the wharf early in the morning and De
gan to worry him about the banjo and 10
cents. After the men knocked off when
he was leaving his work, Wilcox again
pestered him about these things and ours
ed him, saying, I'm fix you.' Wright
construed this into a threat against his
life and he said as Wilcox was then
coming toward him, he simply threw TIE
croWbar over his shoulder to ward off
the expected attack. He stated that he did
not know at the time that he had wound
ed Wilcox
Self defense and accident was the theory
upon which the defense proceeded. The
case was ably argued by Messrs. SauSsy
ana Myric1 for the defendant, and by So
hc'tor General Osborne for the state. The
jury was out about fifteen minutes after
receiving the charge of the court, and re
turned the verdict of guilty, with a recon-
mendation to the mercy of the court, rs
stated