The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-06
TWENTY-THREE INDICTMENTS
GRAND JURY RETURNS A NUMBER
OF TRUE BILLS.

Harmon JenI<ins'nnd Handy Holmes
Charged with Capital ONcnses
The Murder of Joe Bird Imputed
TO Jenkins, and That of West Dias
to HoImes-W. 4. Bexley, Who Con-
fesses Himself Guilty of RobbIng
Adler's store, Indicted by, Grand
Jury for Larceny After Trust-Tom
Rivers Presented ON Two Charges.
Grand Jury's Session Was "a Long
One.
The grand jury of the Superior Court
met yesterday afternoon for the considera-
ton of the cases of a number of prisoners
now in the county Jail. AS a result of its
deliberations twenty-three indictments
were presented 10 the court, two of which
were for murder.
The indictments for murder were against
Harmon Jenkins and Handy Holmes, who
are charged by the grand jury with kill
ing Joe Bird and West Dlas, respective
ly, in each case without reason or prov
ocation and with malice aforethought The
circumstances of both homloides are ia
miliar to the readers of the Morning
News Bird was fatally wounded in his
room, near the corner of Bay and Inm-
Der streets, on Nov. 2, and died a few
days thereafter. while Dias met his death
aboard the steamship Itasca of the Mer-
chants and Miners Line, on the day after
Christmas.
Among the other true bills found was
one against w. A. Bexley. the white boy
who robbed Adlers store of goods amount
ing approximately in value to Sl00, He ia
charged in the indictment with larceny
from the house, and the articles which
he confesses to have stolen are infinitely
alleged. Bexley, 1t is said, will probably
plead guilty TO the charge that has been
brought against him by Mr.. Adler, and
In this manner endeavor 10 get off with
the lightest possible sentence. His youth,
his short stay in the city and his mex
perience win probably serve to recon-
mend him to the mercy of the court
The score of other Indictments found
We're for robbery, burglary, larceny from
the house, and assault with intent to MUIR
der, but the alleged crimes on which they
are based are of the usual variety are
quite common with the negro criminal
classes In this section, and not of breath
less or absorbing interest Among them
though, are two Indictments against Tom
Rivers. who is charged with burglarizing
the store of Mr., r. A. Bryson, and with
assault with attempt to murder Mr.. W. H.
Hoffman Rivers is the negro who broke
in plate glass window and stole Coz
lumbia chainless wheel, and who, when
Mr.. Hoffman, who was aroused by the
noise of breaking glass, came downstairs
to investigate the matter, fired at him
with a revolver. The bullet flattened it.
self against an iron post. and MIR. Hoff-
man escaped without injury. Some weeks
afterwards Rivers was arrested, charged
with the crime ana virtually confessed his
guilt.
Robert Alexander is presented to the
court by the grand jury for arson. Alex
ander is said to have attempted to burn the
store of John NJ. Asendorf and very near
ly succeeded in the attempt.
The grand jury had a long session, be-
ing kept in its room from 4 O'Clock, when
it convened until long after 9. Besides the
indictments in which true bills were
found, number of those presented to the
grand jury were returned with the legal
and laconic comment mo bill" and these
cases viii not be pushed by the solicitor
general. The defendants whose cases were
investigated have for the greater part
been arrested and imprisoned since the
former meeting of the grand jury, during
the first week in December.