The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-12
CARTER ON TRIAL FOR ARSON.
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE DE-
PENDED ON FOR CONVICTION.

Prisoner Charged with Setting Fire
to the Southern Railway Depot at
DrentwOOd-Imm tiiateIy Put in II
Claim Against the Road for $4,000
for Goods Alleged to Have Been
Lost-GOOds Afterward Found at
His Place of Business in Florida.
Jesup, Ga, July n.-One of the most
remarkable cases in the criminal history
of Georgia came on for trial here to-day
at a special term of Wayne Superior
Court, called by Judge Sweat
The crime charged is that of arson in
burning the Southern Railway depot at
Brentwood Station in Wayne county on
the night of Aug. g. 1897. and the de
PENDANTS are II. 3. Carter who claimed
to have had in the depot at the time of
the fire over 5000 worth of goods, received
by him at Brentwood and turned over to
the railroad company to be shipped to him
at a point in South Florida.
The circumstances surrounding the burn
ing of the warehouse and the immediate
claim made by Garter for $1,000 aroused
the suspicion of the railroad people and
they put detectives at work. who found
the bulk of the goods on Carriers premises
in South Florida, and they We're reclaim
ed and turned over to the houses that
had sold the goods on credit to Garter.
The case is one in which the state relies
for conviction upon a strong chain of
circumstantial evidence with informa-
ton that direct proof will yet be introduce
ed before the case closes, of the actual
completely of these parties in the burn
ing of the station.
The counsel in the case are numerous
and noted. Solicitor General John w.
Bennett of Waycross and w. E. Kay of
Goodyear & Kay of Brunswick, the latter
firm representing the Southern Railroad
Company in this territory, are conducting
the prosecution, assisted by d. NJ. Clark
and 5. r. Harris, local counsel for Wayne
county of the Southern Railway Company
The counsel for the defense are Hon.
Thomas e. Watson the noted Populist
and criminal lawyer, Brantley & Bennett
Ct Brunswick, Thomas & Thomas of Jes-
up, eX-Judge w. L. Mershon, now of
Florida, f. d. Graham of McRae, G. J.
Holton & Son of Baxley, and Z. P. Padg-
EFT & Son of Baxley.
The entire forenoon was consumed in Sc
curing a jury in the case against II. B.
Carter as the defense served and Carter
was put on trial first
This afternoon was taken up with the
examination of some sixteen witnesses on
the part of the state, each of whom gave
clear and strong evidence as to the vital
links making up the chain of circumstan-
tial evidence.
AT the hour of closing the circumstantial
evidence had not all been presented by the
state. The Introduction of testimony is
marked by frequent objections and inter
ruptons, and every point is being bit
terly contended by the counsel who are
handling the introduction of the evidence,
Mr.. Kay, for the state, and Mr.. Graham,
on the part of the defendant. Mr.. Kay
is one of the ablest lawyers in the state,
and has left nothing undone in preparing
the case for trial
The evidence thus far makes out a very
damaging case of circumstantial evidence
against the defendants, and the general
expectation is that the state will make out
an rrefutable case. Judge Sweat is pre-
siding with his usual ability and impair
tiality, and his rulings are models of
promptness and clearness. 1t is expected
that the trial of the four defendants will
consume the entire week.