The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-02
COUNTY MUST BEAR EXPENSE.
GOV. GAMBLERS VIEW OF SOLDIER
TRIALS.

Savannah Had the Soldiers, and He
Says IL Must stand the Conse-
quences in the shape of Trials of
Soldiers Who Laid Themselves
Liable to the state claws While
TYlere-Private James Arnold of the
Third Kentucky to BE Tried for
killing Herman Hunt of the same
Regiment.
Gov. Gambler has decided that as Savan-
nah was anxious 20 get the United states
troops and as her citizens derived large
benefits from their presence here, that 1t Is
The duty OF her citizens to bear whatever
burden may be imposed upon them by the
national government ia the way of trials
of former soldiers of the United States
army, who subjected themselves to the
penal laws Of the state by their conduct
while here.
This opinion of the government was
brought out by a letter from Solicitor Cen
eral Osborne in reference TO the action
of the war department in turning over
Private James II. Arnold of the Third
Kentucky Regiment to the local
authorities to be tried here for the killing
of Private Heman Hunt of the same reg
iment last February. The killing was
considered an accident at the time, but
it seems that it is not now so regarded
by the war department or the officers of
the regiment.
Some time ago Solicitor General Os-
borne received a letter from Adjutant
General Corbin, notifying him that Pri-
vate Arnold would be turned over to The
Georgia authorities to be tried under the
laws of this state for the killing of Pri-
vate Hunt of his regiment. This was I'M
welcome news to the solicitor general,
who, at thG- time, had about half dozen
murder cases demanding his attention, Be
sides he did not like the idea of having
the burden of the trial thrust upon the
county at this late day. Had the case
been turned over to the local authorities
when the crime was committed and when
all the witnesses were at hand, it could
have been disposed of expeditiously, and
without unusual expense. Now the wit
nesses are scattered, most Of them being
in Kentucky and the expense of bringing
them back to Savannah, If an indictment
be found will be considerable.
Mr.. Osborne entered into correspondence
with the adjutant general and with Gov
Gambler upon the subject The result
of the correspondence was to ascertain
that 1t was too late for the war depart
ment to alter its plans In the matter
and that Gov Gambler believes it to be
the duty Of the county to shoulder what
ever burden of expenses may devolve
upon 1t as an incident of the encamp-
ment of the troops here. This is some
thing probably that had not occurred to
a good many people living in Savannah.
The action of the war department in
the case of Private Arnold is similar to
its action In that of Lieut.. Curry, who
was charged with the killing of
Private Leo Reed of the Third Artillery
AS Lieut. Curry was Georgian, how
ever, there seemed to be some ground for
the action of the war department in his
case. In the Arnold case. both the slayer
and the victim were residents of Ken
lucky, and this led Solicitor General Os-
borne to believe that the expense should
not be borne by this county if it could be
avoided.
Ii may be that the result in the Arnold
case will be the same as in the Curry
case. and that no indictment will be found
Everything that was published about that
case al the time seemed TO show that il
was an accident and this theory
seemed to be generally accepted
by the officers of the regiment
Capt N. T. Howard, however, who COM
manded the company of which Hunt was
a member. is firmly convinced that the
killing was intentional, and has so stated
in correspondence with Solicitor General
Osborne. He has also furnished a list of
witnesses, whom he states are willing to
come TO Savannah to testify in the case
The specifications furnished by the war.
department also contain names of wit
nesses. The solicitor general has written
these witnesses, requesting them to fur
nish him with statements of their knowl-
edge of the affair. His object in doing
this is to avoid the expense of bringing
unnecessary witnesses to Savannah,
whose testimony would not be material
10 the case.
Capt. Howard is a member of the law
firm of Howard & Harold, at Morgan
town, KY, and evidently takes consider
able interest in the case. Arnold is now
in jail at Fort Thomas, Kentucky. The
solicitor will wait for him TO be delivered
here by the government authorities.