The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-13
HIS CASE WITH THE COURT.
TESTIMONY AND ARGUMENT ~ THE
HARRIS TRIAL FINISHED.

menfH-tnpt. Cam spoke Tor an
Hour aud Half and Lieat Harrow
for Half mn fiour-Court WIN send
In It- SenIcd Finding 10 the Once
OF the Adiutnnt General.
Testimony ana arguments in the now To-
caIy famous Harris court-martiai have
oeeu concluded. and n remains with the
officers OF the court 20 say whether the
accused g. guilty OF the charses preferred
against him. Not Tor several dave, pos
sibly weeks will the result OF the trial
be known. as returns must be made by
che president Of the court TO the Office Of
the adiutant general Of the Georgia state
Troops in Atlanta. where the finding will
be- opened and made public
Just how the case will result Is a matter
that Is interesting the military men Of the
city generally. while the friends OF Corpl
Harris and Capt Wilson also feel CON
ccrned 10 know what view the court may
take Of che alleged onenses charged
against the former. So great is this inter
est that one bet az least. has been made
upon ,he result. witness that was called
by the defense last night having testified.
in answer to a question from the Judge
advocate that he had made a bet the
night before.
Last night the court spent IN hearing the
remaining evidence and the arguments OF
the counsel for the accused and the judge
advocate. Il was not until 1880 O'Clock
that adjournment was had. Several Wit
nesses were put up by both the proseou-
ton and the defense IN rebuttal. and i,
was not until ioI5 that Capt. Cam start
"a upon his argument In Harris behalf
Il was al li.i5 that he concluded. his
inslstance upon the points in Harris ia
vor and his denunciation Of the conduct
Of officers OF the Blues taking up an hour
and "a half
Capt. Cams argument and plea were
pronounced both able and eloquent by al
who heard him speak. His EFFORT was
unquestionabiy OF weight. and his talk
throughout was followed with keen inter
est So was that OF Lieut.. Barrow's
who declared that Capt. Wilson had net
Cd not through malice. In bringing the
charges. but as any officer in the state
F'A WV NNNAlA nave AANtAs A8 AN1NF hfA-
vocate made no appeal. but confined
himself strictly 10 argument. lie epokc
for a little more than half an hour.
Second Lieutenant George }. Barthel-
mess was the first witness put up by the
prosecution. Tie testified that Il was al
about dusk on Thursday evening while
the company was In Louisville that Corpl
was when the accused was standing on
corner talking to ladies. Harris did not
he said. have a dress uniform OF. and IL
was never quite plain TO him whether he
was clad in his undergarment or a pair OF
light trousers.
A question was raised by the counsel
Tor the defendant as to the witness orgI-
nal testimony. In which the former alleged
that Lieut.. Earthelmess rad stated that Il
was on "wednesday that Harris had betn
arrested. An appeal 20 the records
showed that Lieut.. Barthelmess said he
was sure u was on May 81. and that he
thought that day ftll on "Wednesday. The
Lieutenant insisted that Il was on May 81
and that he could not say whether that
date fell on "A Wednesday or Thursday
lie ala not know. be said. who nad or
dered Harris dress uniform taken away.
Pay member :. r. Cook swore that ne
had heard Harris use vile epithet Ia
speaking Of Lieut.. Barthelmess while ln
quarters at Louisville. lie had had no
conversation with anyone. he declared. be
fore hc appeared upon the stand relative
20 what he should swear Ia behalf OF the
prosecution. He admitted that he had no,
been on friendly terms with Harris. a
question brought out the further admis-
sion from the witness that he had been
confined 90 quarters while IN Louisville for
not going on guard duty when ordered
by Lieut. Bariheimess.
Private W. n. Smith. Jr. said that Har-
ris had not left che company al the depot
but on the way there from the quarters
in Louisville. lie did not see Harris when
he fell out OF ranks. for Harris. he de-
clnrcd. was rather slick duck but
had he been In ranks. he would have seen
him. lie was reasoning from this fact Of
his noe having seen Harris when he tes-
titled that che latter had fallen out before
reaching the depot.
Private Tomas Connolly testified that
Harris had told him In Louisville that be
had jumped out Of the window because re
had an engagement with young lady
that he wished to keep. He had heard
Corpl. Harris. he said. ask permission Of
Capt Wilson 10 remain over In Louisville.
the state would rest is case.
Private Walls was recalled by the de-
Tense. lie said IL was on Friday evening.
not on saturday morning. that Harris had
been released after being allowed TO apollo
gize.
Private Ivey was also recalled and said
he had seen Harris AZ a ball IN Louisville
on Friday night. showing that ne could
not then have been under arrest he said.
too that he had heard Lieut. Barthelness
order Harris clothes taken away rom
his IL was this witness who admitted
that he had made a bet the night before
as TO the outcome OF the case.
with the last witness the defense rest
ed lts case. whereupon Capt Cam aud
Lieut.. Barrow Joined "a the request that a
brief recess be taken to adult OF their
going over their memoranda Of evidence
TO shape their arguments. The recess was
taken. and. upon the court being called To-
order again. Lieut. Barrow. the judge al
v9cate. snid he would forego his privilege
Of leading on with his argument but
would Indicate 10 the counsel for the de-
Tense what he purposod TO maintain 10 his
conclusion.
Harris. the Judge advocate declared. was
absolutely guilty OF the FIRST charge. that
OF absence without leave. ami Of the sec
ond cuTsing superior officer. Upon the
third charge. being drunk and disorderly
he said he would not insist and would
probably devote but slight attention TO
q In his arguments. the evidence upon the
point having been conflicting and not con
elusive "a was generally believed hss tho