The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-14
INDICTED AS PRINCIPALS.
HAYES. BLIGE AND LLOYD CHARGED
WITH VARNADOE's MURDER.

Grand Jury of the Superior Court
Says All of Them Are Equally
Guilty Hayes Fired the Fatal
shots and BIiGe and Lloyd Were
Present. Assisting in the Commits
sion of the Crime-Gardner and
Butler Indicted as Accessories
After the Fact-TriaI of the Trio
Set for Thursday-James Bunkum
Indicted for the Murder of His
Brother.
Seaborn HAYES. Joseph Lloyd and James
BHge were indicted by the grand jury OF
the Superior Court Yesterday afternoon for
the murder of Lucius v. Varnadoe. Josh
Butler ana Edward Gardner were indicted
at the same time for being accessories af-
ter the fact TO this brutal and cowardy
murder
The indictment returned by the grand
jury against Hayes, Lloyd and Blige makes
no distinction in the degree of their guilt
but charges them all with being principals
in The commission of the crime. Under
the law there is no distinction as to pun
ishment between the principals in murder
cases and accessories before the fact. and
under the statement that has been made
by Lloyd to the detectives he and BHge
are equally guilty with Hayes. If the lat
ter has committed murder. then the two
former are. according TO Lloyd, also guilty
of the same crime.
So the case is stated in the Indictment.
The pistol with which the mortal wound
was inflicted is said in the Indictment to
have been held and discharged by the
joint actions Of all three Of the men.
While Hayes. of course was the only one
who actually did fire the weapon, che law
attaches the same degree OF guilt and re-
sponsibility to any others who were with
him at the time. actively assisting and
cooperating with him in the commission
OF the crime. Under the evidence, both
Lloyd and Blige were present when the
fatal shots were fred, and it was Blige's
pistol with which yarnadoe was killed.
Gardner and Butler are indicted for the
part they played in shielding Hayes from
the consequences Of his crime after its
commission and preventing his arress by
the officers of the law. 1t was in Gard
ners room in Perry lane that Hayes spent
he nigh. following the homicide and fhe
succeeding day; Butler received him at
his house near the Ogeechee road on
Monday morning, and il was here that
Hayes was located and afterward ar
rest ed.
But one of the men wanted by the po-
lice. James Blige. yet remains at liberty,
and the indications are that he will not
much longer be able to escape arrest.
The grand jury spent about two hours
in the investigation of the evidence in
the cases connected with the murder of
Motorman Varnadoe and that of Jeff
Buncomb. Buncomb was killed by his
brother, James Buncomb. on last Satur-
day night, and against the perpetrator Of
this deed of violence also the grand jury
returned true bill, upon an indictment
charging him with murder.
For the two hours and a half which
they spent in the jury room. the grand
jurors were very busy men. large num-
Der of witnesses were at the Court House
for examination, among them Lloyd and
Gardner. Lloyd is a negro youth about
II years old. whose appearance would lead
TO the conclusion that his principal char
acteristic was weakness. rather than
propensity for crimes of violence. Yet
he has told a story that put himself
deep in the mud as it does Hayes in the
mire.
The case against Hayes. Lloyd and Rlige
has been assigned for Thursday. but there
are some chances that il will not be tried
on that day. Messrs. Twiggs & Oliver
and r, L. Colding represent the defend
ants, and Judge Twiggs stated yesterday,
in conversation with Morning News re-
porter, that it would be impossible for
him to enter upon the trial Of the case
with such brief time for preparation and
consultation with the other counsel. He
will oppose, therefore the case proceed
ing to trial on the day for which 1t has
been assigned and will move the court
for a continuance. II is possible that he
will be able to make such a showing as
will authorize Judge Faiiigant in grant
ing the postponement he will seek.
1t may be that the defendants will elect
to sever their trials, and that the cases
will be considered separately. Unless
Blige is arrested before Thursday she
case would have to go TO trial unless
pos ponement is permitted, without him
at any rate.
AS has been stated. the public demand
for speedy trial of the murderers of
Varnadoe is strong and the solicitor
general. imbued with something of the
same feeling, is trying TO crafty it. AS
a matter of course, this pubic demand
will not be permitted to interfere with the
que admnistra ton of the law and respect
for the rights of the accused, and il
Judge Twiggs can make the showing he
expects 70 make IL may very possibly De
that the case viii not be. tried on Thurs
day
The killing Of the riotorman, under
such tragic circumstances, has aroused
degree of interest that has not attended
any homicide within the recent history
of the county. Not since Patrolman
Jansen Neve was shot down by Abe Small,
a negro desperate whom he was attempt
ing 10 arrest, has Indignation been so
strong. The men accused OF murder will
be ably defended, and il goes without
saying that they will be as ably prosecut-
ed. For all of these reasons the case bids
fair to become cause celebre in the
criminal annals of the Superior Court.