The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-05
TEN WITNESSES WERE HEARD.
COURT-NARTiAL MADE GOOD PROG
RESs LAST NIGHT.

nnce, hut the Evfsseaee showed he
cfded Contradictions Between the
Two sets of Witaesses-Witncrsc
for the Defense Te-tfaed Positive
~ 60 Harris Good Conduct and so
MISUNDERSTANDING Continued Until
Tomorrow Night.
The fourth session OF the Harris court
martial was held at the armory Of the
First Regiment Of Iufsntry last night.
and more prokTess was made. In the NOM
Der q witnesses than a.. any Of the
previous sessions The state rested its
care and the hearing OF evidence for the
defense was begun.
Unlike some Of the previous hearings.
there was little Of the sensational In that
last night. though the witnesses FOR the
defense testified very strongly In favor Of
;hs accused. Some OF the witnesses on
both sides were evidently prejudiced. a
popularity 81 the testimony being the
extreme exactness OF the witnesses In tes-
tfying to some matters and their very
detective memories when questioned on
other points
There was a good crowd In attendance,
there being q number Of the members OF
the regiment present as spectators, be-
sides those on duty with the court mar
tai The session begun at o'clock. and
lasted until 1880 Il was then continued
until Thursday night az s o'clock.
Ten witnesses were examined in all.
seven for the state and three for the de-
Tense. The testimony OF some was Of
only slight importance. Private ]. b.
smith was the FIRST witness. He was
the special sentinel placed over Corpl.
/ Harris when the latter was under arrest
at Louisville Among other things he
said. that Capt. Wilson told him he would
/ bring him up ammunition. and that he
was to use u II necessary. v Hafris at
/ tempted to escape. Later. when Capt.
l Wilson came back. he said that he had
forgotten the ammunition. hut that he was
sorry that he had forgot IT, The witness
said Harris mad on shoes the morning
after his arrest. this being one OF the
/ points which seems 20 be very much IN
dispute. The witness admitted that ne
had had trouble with Harris at one time
| Corpi. John o. Small testified that ne
was present when Harris was arrested
/ He had heard Harris call Lieut. Barthel-
mess by vile name IN che latter's ab-
sence Lieut.. Barrow made the point.
that as Lieut.. Bar,helmess was in uni
form. and on duty during the entire trlp.
the fact that Harris had cursed him
while ne was not present. did not relieve
him OF the charge Of cursing and abusing
an Nofficer while on duty
Private r. q. Pcnheid. who was also n
special guard over Harris testified to the
latter's escape by jumping out Of n win
dow In his undertakes while under ar
rest. Harris had asked 90 be allowed 10
wolk across the room TO speak 10 some
men at a window. but the witness had re-
fused this permission. his orders being
not to let Harris leave the cot Harris
walked across 10 the window. on the pre-
tense OF wanting 20 speak to some one
there. though ordered to come back In
stead OF obeying the order he jumped out
Of the window and told the guard goodby.
Private +. c. Gleason. Jr.. Of Company
D, testified TO hearing Harris apply the
vile epithet referred 20 Lieut.. Barthel-
I mess. Private W. VI. smith Sr. had start
"a 10 resent this insult 10 the lieutenant
when Sergt. Murphy interviewed.
Private ". ~ Smith. Sr.. explained the
/ trouble between Corpl Harris and him
self lie had simply resented Harris re-
mark concerning the absent lieutenant
ana had no further Interest or prejudice
In che matter.
Private W H. Smith. Jr.. testified 10
Harris obstreperous conduct on several
occasions. while he. the witness was on
guard In quarters.
Sergt. l.. J. Wilkinson testified that he
was the corporal who took charge Of the
relief 20 which Harris had been assigned
when the latter failed to appear in time
10 take charge himself II was also
brought out that the witness had heard
caps Wilson say. after the return to
savannah, that he would make il hot fos
Harris.
Here the state rested its case. nnd the
defense begun IS testimony Corpl "
A. Jeffries OF Company l.. was the first
witness for the defense. aud testified
strongly IN Harris behalf He testified
positively that Harris was absolutely Oh
time on the occasion OF his arrest Cor be-
ing tnrdg. stating that the clock struck >.
the time for Harris TO begin his tour OF
duty fully three minutes after Harris
had reached the top of che steps.
and was arguing with Lieut.. Barthel-
mess 80 10 whether or not be was on time
Harris. he stated. was not at all disorder
" and was perfectly respectful at aIl
times. Later. when recalled 20 the stand
By Capt Cam. Jenries testified with
great posttiveness that Harris was per
fectly sober az the time OF his arrest
Private Mendel OF Company II corroh-
GRATED corpl Jeffries' testimony ss 10 Har-
ris' respectful conduct and sobriety. The
wifiess also testified that when he went
ar 10 the room on one occasion after Har-
ris' arrest the latter complained Of being
hungry. He volunteered To act as guard
and to take Harris down 20 dinner. and
! was permitted to do 50
Fireman ID. p. Walker. who accom-
panied the Blues TO Louisville though
not n member OF. the company. was on
the stand for some slime He testified
hat he had made the trip under an I'M
deratanding with Capt. Wilson By which
he was 10 pay the same rate as the other
members, SIC. and was to take part IN
the parades. after which he was 90 be re-
leved from further duty as he and one
or two others had arranged 10 extend
their trip 10 Chicago Walker said that
he expected to perform duty while with
/ the company. but claimed there wos no
understanding TO this effect However.
when Capt. Wilson undertook TO put him
on extra duty for six hours. Including
| the charge OF the dormitory and the
| guarding OF Harris. because he had re-
mained away from the quarters. he re-
helled and iefi che quarters. only return
Ing a day or two later when he turned In
his uuniform and equipment as had been
agreed upon. His instruction as 10 Har-
ris from Capt Wilson were not 20 allow
the prisoner 70 leave his cot
Walker testified as to q conversation he
had with Capt. Wilson about the Harris