The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04
TREASURER DECLARED GUILTY
KNIGHTS OF ARCHERY AFTER
THEIR ERsTWHILE OFFICIAL.

THEIR ERSTM1ILE OFFICIAL.
Said He Appropriated to His own Use
Money That Was TO Have Been
Paid AttOrneys-An Amusing Case
That Took Up the Day in the SUI
periOr Court To-morrOw's Case
Postponed Until Jan. Is How
About $4,000 Recently Found Its
Way Into the Registry of the City
Court.
The entire day in the superior court
yesterday was taken up with the trial of
Sam Fields, colored. formerly treasurer
of the Grand United Order of the knights
of Archery, upon a charge of larceny after
trust, for that the said Sam Fields did
get away with $41.O5 belonging to the grand
united order. which he should have paid
to Messrs. O'Connor & O'Byrne.
The case was an interesting and anus
ing one, and many witnesses were intro
duced, pretty near all of the officers OF
the society. 1t developed that the society
had more officers than anything else.
There was the noble grand, the assistant
noble grand, long line of noble grands.
secretaries of all denominations, ali
brands of deputies, but only one treasurer,
Sam Fields.
The question before the jury was wheth-
er or not Sam had diverted that money to
his own use. Sam claimed he had noe.
He admitted that he had had charge OF
the funds of the knights, but that he had
ever made any improper use of them ne
nYl1TO f1pt ifl lxr faA ha 0.a1 20
ceipts to show how he had paid out money
for the order. 1t was difficult, not TO say
impossible, to show from the books just
what financial transactions Fields had
had. The books were not kept like those
of bank or an important commercial
concern.
During the progress of the trial one of
the jurors called the attention of the
court to the fact that Fields was making
signs toward one of the witnesses on the
stand. This Fields denied, but another
juror said he also had noticed the defend-
ant making signs. MIR. w. +. Slater then
moved for a mistrial upon the ground that
the action of the jurors showed they were
prejudiced in the case Judge Falligans
refused to allow the motion and the trial
proceeded, Mr.. Slater entering an eXcep-
ton 20 the decision
James Dorsey, a well-known negro, a
member of the society who sits way UP
in the "house of pope" was the main
prosecutor in the case, though il looked
as If there were several other officers of
the order who had it in for Fields. The
jury evidently thought he had been using
some of the funds improperly as they re-
| turned a verdict of guilty about $3.50 O'Clock
last night. Fields was taken to Jail and
will be sentenced this morning. His at
torney, Mr.. Slater, will doubtless make a
motion for a new trial.
The trial of DR.. j. D. Prosser upon
charges involving improper practice will
! not take place tomorrow on account of
the sickness Of Mr.. r. r. Richards, who,
with Maj. z. w. Meldrim will appear for
the defense. When the matter was
brought up Solicitor General Osborne said
the state was ready, but at Mr.. Richards
request a continuance was allowed until
Jan. 1S. DR.. Prosser expresses himself as
anxious that the trial take place, as he
is confident of winning.
Within the last few days something like
$500 has found its way into the regis
try Of the city court for distribution among
the officials of that court pro rata upon
their insolvent costs
For several days the matter was kept
very quiet, but it is now being talked Of
quite freely. 1t seems that j. Hlrsch, e.
A. Marcus and Charles Goldman were be-
fore Judge Norwood on charges of keep
ing policy lotteries. The cases did not go
before the grand jury of the court. but the
parties were brought before Judge Nor
wood on accusa lions, such as are usually
made out in misdemeanor cases, and en-
tered peas of guilty. Judge Norwood as
sessed each of them 81 900 and costs, and
in each case the fine and costs were paid
II is said none of these parties has been
before Judge Norwood before this time
1t is reported, however, that there was
some trepidation on their part, on account
of Judge Norwoods having told certain
other parties who were up for the same
offense that the next time they appeared
before him he would not fine them, but
would send them to the chain-gang.
An indictment against William Jones, on
the charge of larceny after trust, over
the value of $50, was nolle pressed in the
superior court yesterday.
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