The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-11
MEVOY NOT GUILTY.
Jury Says He Did Not ExtOrt Money
From st, J.. Armand

From st. j. Armand.
Thomas ]. McEvoy was tried in the
Superior Court yesterday on the charge
of extortion, the indictment alleging that
he had required the payment to him of
$3.50 by st. J. Armand, whom he had I'M
der arrest on a warrant charging him
with gambling
Armand stated that McEvoy had pre-
scented warrant charging him with that
offense, and told him if ne would pay s.. 50
he would be released and the case heard
from no more. Armand said he paid the
money and that McEvoy gave him the
warrant which he produced in court, and
which was exhibited to the jury.
McEVoy admitted having arrested Ar
mand on warrant charging gambling,
Issued by Justice A. J. ]. Blois. He said
Justice Blois gave him blank bond'and
told him to get Armands signature to
1t, and to collect 50 from him. McEvoy
said he asked Justice Blois about the
warrant and the justice replied IT III
with the warrant; take the bond and get
the 50. Acting in the capacity of con-
stable, McEvoy said he did as Justice
Blois had instructed him, and that when
ne mad collected the SO he gave it to JUS
tee Blofs, and receipt for it was given
TO Armand This Armand denied. The
other $3.50, it seems, represented the fees
OF the justice and the constable though
McEvoy disclaimed having collected it,
solicitor General w. w. Osborne argued
that even under the defendants statement
he was guilty. Since he had committed
crime which he said he had been instruct
ed by Justice Blois to commit. Ignorance
OF the law, he said, excused no man. Mr.
walter c. Hartridge argued the case in
the defendants behalf. He claimed that
even under the most favorable considera-
tlon OF the evidence for the prosecution,
there was no eXtOrtion, the crime charged.
because the justice and the constable were
entitled to the fees charged, and If Ar
mand was willing to pay them in advance
OF the trial and determination of the case,
IN order to secure a settlement of it, that
was his own business and lookout He
heed not nave done so, and he must have
known that he had constitutional rights,
as well as the defendant, was presumed To
nave a knowledge Of the law He ar
sued that McEVoy did just as he was di.
rected by Justice Blois. and called upon
Armand for no more than the legal fees.
The jury evidently agreed with the case
as presented by the defense, for a verdict
OF not guilty was returned within about
five minutes after it received the charge
and retired. One of the jurors remarked
afterwards that he thought some one was
after McEvoy with a vengeance, and
that the jury looked upon it somewhat as
a case of persecution.
The indictments against the keepers of
gaming houses, found at a recent session
OF the grand jury, are all set for trial in
the Superior Court to-day. The cases as
signed are those of Male Henderson. Ed
Marcus, George F. King, John H. Mona
han, Lawrence Myers Harry Strickland,
and James Ballantine. So far only one of
them has appeared before the court. and
he was fined $1,000 and costs.
George Dyer will be tried tomorrow on
the charge of numbering William Titcomb
Christmas night year ago. Dyer has
had one trial, the result being a mistrial.
l. M. Falk was reappointed a CONNER
cial notary public by Judge Falligant yes
terday.
In the case of Slavich VS.. Juchter. in
the City Court. involving the amount due
on the schooner William and John. a YER
dict for $22716 was rendered in favor of
the plaintiff