The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-16
BERRIEN SUPERIOR COURT.
Conclusion of the BeagIes-PearsOn
Case-Other Trials.


Triton, Ca. Oct. 15-Berrien Superior
Court after a four days session, adjourn
ed yesterday afternoon. The session was
devoted entirely to criminal business, no
civil cases being called. The principal
case of importance was the trial of Thorn
as ]. Beagles for the killing of Madison G.
Pearson, Nov 4, 1887. twelve years ago.
Beagles married Parsons sister and
there had been considerable bad blood be-
tween them, eliminating when Mrs. Pear
son left the home of her son and went to
live with her daughter, Beagles' wife.
Pearson threatened to kill Beagles on
several occasions, and a few days before
his. death went to Beagles' house and
cursed his wife and children.
Bcages then swore out a peace war
rant for Pearson, and he was arrested
under il and carried to the Court House at
Rays Mill for trial. A large crowd was
on the court ground, among them Beagles,
and Pearson challenged him for a fight
pulling off his coat and starting out the
door as he did so. Beagles was standiug
on the porch of the house, within few
feet of the door, and as Beagles stepped
out fired at him, shooting him through the
head, the bah entering just in front of the
right ear and coming out behind the left
ear, producing instant death.
6edSleS skipped the country, ana spent
several years in Florida returning just
before his arrest. He was admitted to
bail, ana staid under bond until two
months ago when his bondsmen gave him
up, and since that time he has remained
in Jail.
At his trial he was represented by Col
Joseph A. Alexander of Nashville and
w. II. Griffin of Valdosta, while the state
was represented by Col. w. NJ. Hammond
of Townsville and Solicitor General
Thomas. The trial lasted a day and a
half, and every inch of ground was stub
bornly fought. The principal evidence
against the dead man was the ante NOR
TEN statement of his own mother made
four years ago, which was exceedingly Bit
ter in denunciaeon of her son.
Six hours were spent by Coils. Griffin
and Hammond in their strong and elo-
quent arguments of the case, and the jury
remained out on it seven hours before re
turning a verdict of manslaughter with a
recommendation to mercy. Col. Griffin
made a touching appeal to the court for
mercy, and Judge Hansell fixed the sem
tence at two years in the state peniten~
tiary.
Jim Oscar Stearns, colored. who killed
Amos White, oolored, with a coupling pin
in Triton about two months ago, was SEN
fenced TO the penitentiary for life
North Cochran. for robbing another ne
in the penitentiary. Warren Moss, a ne
gro, who burglarized the store of G. c.
Gray, at Lenox, was given five years in
the penitentiary.
John Davis, who burglarized the store
of Mrs. j. L. Ford, in Triton, was given
five years in the pen.
There were several convictions and SEN
fences for minor offenses.
The grand jury. in their general pre-
sentiments, recommended the building of
new jail at once. They also expressed
their appreciation in strong terms of Judge
Hansen for his administration of the jul
dicial office In thanking them for their
kind words. Judge Hansen incidentally
mentioned that next month would see the
Afrieth anniversary of his promotion to
che bench, and nearly all of these fifty
years of service had been spent with the
people of South Georgia. The scene, as
the aged veteran thanked the jury, was
a very affecting one.
4 strong effort is being made TO secure
the pardon of w. r. Futch, defaulting
county treasurer, convicted one year ago
and sentenced to four years in the peni-
Tertiary.