The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-22
IN CHATHAM COUNTY JAIL.
w. It. CHANNELL BROUGHT DOWN
FROM MT. VERNON.

The Nan Who Killed Postmaster
Thompson at GIenwOod Brought
TO Savannah for Safe Keeping.
Committed TO jail without Bail
Yesterday by a Bench of Magis-
trates-ChanneII Declines to Talk
of the KiIIing-CharIes Loud One
of His Attorneys.
W T. Channel. who shot and killed
Postmaster ". H. Thompson at Glenwood
onithe Georgia and Alabama Railroad, was
brought to the city last night and lodged
in the Chatham county jail by Sheriff J.
d. McGregor of Montgomery county.
ChannelPs errest was by the state au-
thorities, the government au-
thorities having as yet taken
no action in the matter of the kill
ing of Postmaster Thompson. A prelimi-
nary trial was held at Mt. Vernon, the
county seat of Montgomery county yes
terday, as the result of which Channel
was ordered held for murder without bail
and to be taken to Chatham county jail
Montgomery county now has two white
the other party being Jenkins.
The bench of magistrates which held the
preliminary hearing at Mount Vernon,
consisted of Justices William Bland,
Frank Morrison and W. C. Ryals. The
evidence was in line with the report pub
lished in Saturdays Morning News.
Thompson. who kept store besides be-
ing postmaster, walked out of the store
with the mail pouch on his arm and was
sitting on a pile of crosstles engaged in
conversation with other parties, when
Channell, who was the depot agent, walk
ed up with a double barrel shotgun In his
hands. Thompson had his back to Chan
mel.
Come across" said Channel to Thomp-
son.
Whats that, old man." said Thompson,
turning around toward Channel.
Come across, / say said Channel;
you have been coming between me ard
my wife long enough"
With this Channel lifted the shotgun.
Thompson rose from his sitting posture,
and one witness testified that he threw
his hand to his side, as If to draw pis-
toll. This may have been his intention, but
Channel did not give him time to do so.
Without waiting to bring the shot
gun to his shoulder he fired. Thompson
started to run, when Channel fired he
second barrel ana Thompson fell, shot
through the heart.
Channel made a dash for the woods at
ter firing the second shot, but was pur-
sued and caught by citizens who had wit
messed the tragedy. An inquest was hold
by the coroner the same day. and YER
dict was rendered declaring the crime to
be wilful murder. The prisoner was then
placed in Jail at Mount Vernon. The Jail
is old and not safe, and hence the recon-
mendation of the magistrates that Chan
mel be placed in the Chatham county Jail.
At the preliminary hearing Channel Of
fered no evidence IN his own defense. He
was seen at the Jail on his arrival here,
but declined to say anything about the
killing
MY lawyers have advised me not TO
talk" he said, "and shall follow their
advice. 7 prefer to wait and let my de-
Tense be made known at the trial"
Channel is a man Of medium hight, with
dark hair and mustache of good appear
apce and with pleasing address. He
was handcuffed last night, but took his
unpleasant situation good-naturedly. Sher-
iff McGregor took his prisoner to supper
before bringing him to the Jail.
CHANNEL and his wife separated several
months ago ana there ndu previously Deen
talk about Mrs. Channel and Thompson.
This, together with Channels remark
when he approached Thompson, is believed
to furnish an explanation of the shooting
Channells attorneys are Howell b. Sim
mons, of Americas, son of Chief Justice
Simmons, and Col. c. d. Loud of Mount
Vernon. Col Loud will be remembered as
the man VINO killed Phil Fitzpatrick. at
Thunderbolt several years since, the two
men being rivals for the affection of Hell
enc Stockton. a variety actress who had
been in Fitzpatrick's employ. Loud was
afterwards acquitted.
Graham & Kent of Mount Vernon have
been engaged to assist in the prosecution
Montgomery court meets in April for a
two weeks session. There has been quite
an epidemic of killing in the county re-
Gently, there having been three killings
within three days. There are six murder
cases to be disposed of at the April term
of the court.