The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-09
CHARGE AGAINST TOOMER.
WADE BY DEFENDANT IN A COW
STEALING CASE.

turner Declared He Had Been Adj
used TO Plead Guilty So That He
uirht Get on With IA Light Sem
.ance-Former Solicitor General
Toomer Denies the Charge EN-
nbaticaIIy and VIII Go on the Wit
ness stand To-day to Disprove 1t.
brunswick, Ca, Jan. S.-The case
oeainst Alfred Turner, charged with
cow stealing. developed some I'M
enacted and sensational features
.rst before court recess this
evening, in which the name of former
solicitor General w. M Toomer of the
brunswick circuit, was used by the de-
fepd3nt. Alfred Turner, in a manner that
effected upon the official conduct of Mr..
,or a warm and determined defense of
that gentleman.
Solicitor Bennett read In open court
q telegram he had addressed to Mr. Toom-
or referring to the serious charges that
had been made against him by Turner,
and requesting him to come to Brunswick
Immediately and take the stand in his
nett was sanctioned by Judge Joseph w.
Bennett from the bench, and Mr.. Toomer
viu be allowed to appear before the case
is closed Mr.. Toomer is expected to ar
rive tomorrow morning and go on the
stand Immediately when his friends say
mat he will disprove every sentence ut
t,red against his official conduct.
The case against Turner has been of
unusual interest throughout and when the
defendant took the stand 10 make his
statement which included an emphatic
denial Of his guilt, he stated that in a case
of a similar nature, tried some terms ago
he had pleaded guilty to the charge of
cow stealing under a Misrepresentation of
what he was pleading guilty to. and that
he was virtually lead into the plea by the
advice of the solicitor general, who with
others. led him to believe that if he did
not do So the case would go extra hard
AGAINST him for several reason, not the
least of which was that the then presid-
ing Judge. ]. L. Sweat, had personal
enmitv against his family, and as the
Jury would probably convict him he would
get the extreme penalty of the law from
the Judge. This, according to the defend
ants statement, was practically coercion,
and the inference was made that the Of
fcers profted by the payment of a fine
for misdemeanor.
Judge Sparks ON the Stand.
The defense then placed the defendants
former attorney on the stand, Hon. j. D.
Sparks Judge of the City Court and he
stated that Turner had entered the plea
Of guilty against his advice and it was
done one night after he had been excused
from court with the understanding that
III case was to go over until the next
DIV. He stated that the plea was entered
l,-
client as to the consequences and that
his client stated to him in explanation of
TIE plea that he had been persuaded to
60 it by some of the court officers.
Solicitor Bennett was emphatic in his
defens of Mr. Toomer and stated he did
not believe he had been a party in any
way to the advice given Turner, and that
when Mr. Toomer went on the stand he
would clear himself of the charge made
by Turner.
In an interview later Solicitor Bennett
reiterated his defense of Mr.. Toomer, and
said that he feels his statement to-mor
row viii clear him of the charge.
The taking of testimony from local wit
nesses in the case was concluded at
night session. and tomorrow argument
Wi. he heard
Mr. Toomer arrived on to-nights late
train, and in an interview, emphaticaliy
denies the statement made by Turner to-
day He says that he had a clear case
AGAINST Turner, and was ready with evil
donce TO convict him, when Turner asked
permission to plead guilty to a INSIDE
meanor. lie refused the request. stating
to Turner that he was either guilty or
not guilty of COW stealing, and he would
not CONSENT to a pea of anything else.
The defendant then pleaded guilty, and
The jury returned verdict recommending
MIN to the mercy of the court, when Judge
Sweat imposed fine of 500.
Mr.. ToOmer took up the case in detail,
and subsfantiated his statement at every
point and says he came to Brunswick i'm
meGately on receipt of Solicitor Benefits
telegram, 10 go on the stand and disprove
every word uttered against his official
conduct