The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-30
PLACED ON THE DEAD DOCKET.
THE CHARGES AGAINST DIR. j. ID.
PROSSER sIDETRACKED.

The Indictments for Assault With
Presented by the Grand Jury at
the August Term of 1897, Laid One
side-The Superior Courts Good
Record In the Transaction of
Criminal business During the
Present Term-Many Cases Dis
posed of and the Docket Nearly
Cleared.
The Superior Court has made a remark
able record in the dispatch of criminal bus
mess during the last three weeks. Work
was begun upon the criminal docket Mon
day, March 6, and although there was
fun docket it would have been almost en-
tirely cleared by the end of this week, had
not circumstances interfered to prevent the
present week being used to the best advant-
age. AS it is, with the exception OF two
murder trials, there is very little business
left upor the criminal docket.
Only about fifteen days in all have been
given to the. criminal side of the court,
part of the time having been given by
Judge Fanigant to civil business. With the
exception of the Haupt trials, which re-
quired several days, all matters were ham
died exDediiiousiy.
Two cases were placed upon the dead
docket during the term. These were in
dictments against DR.. J. d. Prosser,
charged with abortion and assault with in
tent to murder The Indictments were
found by the grand jury in August, 1897,
being for separate offenses. 1t was charg-
ed that DR.. Prosser had caused the death
of an infant of Mrs. Johanna Toehl by
criminal operation. The mother subse-
quently died, but rrochaTge was brought
against DR., Prosser on this account as
other physicians were called in previous
TO the death. The Indictment for abortion
was based upon an operation performed
upon Mrs Mollie Saunders, it being alleged
that the operation was not necessary to
preserve the life OF the mother and that
the law of Georgia, requiring two other
physicians to he called in where such oper-
atoms are believed to be necessary, had not
been compiled witAp7A
DR.. Prosser was tried on the charge of
assault with intent to murder, the result
being a mistrial. The charge of abortion
has never been tried. The cases have
since remained upon the docket until they
were placed upon the dead docket at the
present term of the court.
The difference between entering noile
prosequi and of placing a case upon the
dead docket Is that in the latter instance
the case can be transferred back to the
live docket should further evidence be dis
covered, while the former procedure
serves to quash the indictment.
The following, is brief summary Of the
business disposed of since the opening of
the March term: Murder trials. two, both
guilty; assault with intent to murder, Z
8 guilty, not guilty; larceny after trust
2, both guilty; larceny from the house.
8, all guilty; burglary, 8, all guilty; forg-
cry, 2, both guilty; Tiisdemeanors, guilty,
several mol pressed; assault ana battery,
1 not guilty, / mistrial; robbery, 4 not
guilty, arson, ! not guilty.
The two murder trials were those of
Frank Wright and Queen Martin Wright
was convicted and sentenced to be hung
Queen Martin was found guilty of vol
untary manslaughter and sentenced to
twenty years in the penitentiary. The two
murder trials remaining to be heard are
those of William Fallon and Frank Iver-
son.