The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-14
WHEELS OF JUSTICE GRIND.
The Superior Court. Devoted to Grim
inaI business Now.

inaI business Now.
All Of yesterday morning and afternoon
in the Superior Court criminal business
was being transacted and at Il o'clock last
night a belated jury, Chat had been I'M
able to agree on a verdict, was called
down to the court room. one Of the panel
Withdrawn and @ mlstrial IN the pending
case declared
John wilkins. an ex-soidier of the
Fourth Illinois. who had been Indicted fer
the larceny after trust OF a bicycle be-
longing 90 Mr. r. T. Higgins. offered a
plea Of guilty and was sentenced by the
court to term Of two years in the peni-
Tertiary Of ihe state. wilkins thus gets
the same punishment as befell his part
ner q the bicycle enterprise, Finley who
was convicted and sentenced IN the Su-
perior Court a few days ago.
Finley puts up the claim that In the
whole matter he was The dupe and tool
OF wilkins. and has moved, through his
attorney for a neA trial of the case. He
claims that all the crime was committed
by wilkins who sold the wheels without
his knowledge or consent.
Dave Pine had been indicted for burg
larizing the houses of Messrs. C. W. Fa-
ries, II. c. Bruen and l.. NJ LeHaUdy.
first placed on trial for his feiOnious
breaking and entering of the residence OF
Mr.. FAIRIES. He was found guilty by the
jury and sentenced TO a term Of three years
In the penitenuary. Then he consented to
enter pleas OF guilty to the two other In
dictments, and was given an additional
year for each. This light punishment was
conditioned on his plea Of guilty, and win
make his term for the three burglaries
fve years IN all 1t is altogether likely
that Pine was not the principal ia these
offenses and the punishment he is fated
70 receive is probably about as much as
he deserves.
Edward Screven pleaded guilty TO the
larceny of a watch and chain and s. in
money from Mr.. w. II. Daniel. Mr.. Dan
lei stated to the court that ScreVen had
borne hitherto a good reputation, and
that by putting his property close within
the negroes reach, he had doubtless SUBJ
Jected him to temptation more than he
was 10 have been expected to Withstand.
AS all of the property had been recover
ed, the prosecutor was anxious that the
case against Screven should be dropped
and the man dismissed. To this course
Judge Faillgant could not give his consent,
though he did agree TO reduce the punish
ment 10 three months in the county Jail,
which is as light as was possible, even I'M
der the peculiar mitigating circumstances
of the case.
William Ford was tried on two
charges of burglary from the stores of
Herman Lange and Mrs. l.. Skinner.
There was a spirited contest of the first
case, but the second developed nothing
material against the defendant and Judge
Failigant directed a verdict The Jury
that tried the charge of the burglary of
Lange's grocery store found Ford guiltless
after short cousidera ton. The evidence
In this case had principal regard TO a con
fession made by Ford to Detective Soul
~ which the jury evidently thought was
inspired more by the negro's terror In his
confinement and hope of getting out of IT,
than any real desire to tell the truth
They came to the conclusion that Ford
was lying when he made the confession,
as he said on the stand, because Of the
fear he had of the consequences of refusal
20 confess, and they turned him loose.
The defendant was represented by Mr.. H.
f. Wilson.
The last case that went to a jury was
that against Willie Jackson. Jackson was
indicted for the burglary of the fruit ana
confectionery store of John Christopher,
on Randolph street, and the case has al
ready been once tried. The result then
was a mistrial, and the same result at
tended the hearing of the case that was
had yes terday. After being out five hours
with no prospect of agreement, the jury
was brought down to the court room, one
of the turymen withdrawn and a mis-
trial declared.
Jackson's alleged crime was committed
several months ago Christopher had $500
In money stolen from him and numerous
suspicious circumstances led him to place
the guilt at the door of the negro He
had been seen around the place on the
night preceding the burglary, with piece
OF iron in his possession that was used
TO effect an entrance and was subsequent-
ly found within the house. He blossomed
out, too, in much negro finery and was
seen In the possession and enjoyment OF
large sums OF money.
It is evidence such as this that has been
offered by the state at the two trials of the
case. They have both resulted as has
been said, IN the disagreement of the iu-
ries, the evidence apparently having differ
ing effects on different men. To some
member Of the two juries it has warranted
the opinion that conviction should follow
trial, while 10 others II has not appeared
sufficient 10 free their minds from a reas-
enable doubt.
Seven other defendants have been placed
on the criminal docket for trial to-day.
The work Of clearing the Jail of both con-
victed and acquitted defendants Is pro-
crossing as rapidly as possible and il is
hoped to affect a clearance during this
week.