The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-30
CONTINUED TO PROBE
GRAND JURY STILL SEEKING IN
FORMATION OF CORRUPTION.
WITNESSES KNOW LITTLE.
PAINFUL IGNORANCE OF CoNDI-
TIoNs AFFECTS THOSE SUMMONED.

C. w. and w. II. Dyer, Conspicuous
Among screven Forces on Election
Day, Quizzed by Grand Jurymen,
But Knew Nothing of Use of Money.
Colored Leaders of McAIpIn Co
horts Could Tell little More-Other
witnesses, Same Story-Seven Bar
keepers Indicted for Keeping Open
Tipping Houses on the Sabbath.
The session of the grand jury yesterday
was marked by a continuation of the in
vestigation of alleged fraud and corrup-
ton about the polls on the day of the
election for ordinary and tax collector
Several witnesses, summoned to appear
and tell what they knew, came before the
grand jury and told-nothing.
Somebody got some fun out of it, how
ever, and possibly the grand jury acquir-
ed some additional information. No in
dictments have been returned, but those
who have watched the grand jury's con-
tinued and persistent Investigations are
of the opinion that there will yet be some
sensational denouement. Even should no
one be presented for trial, it is believed
!
ments, will make disclosures of existing
political methods and conditions in Savan-
nah and Chatham county that will make
good citizens, hitherto passive and mac
| tive In politics, pause and consider well
what their plain duty requires them to do
The Dyer brothers, C. W. and w. H.,
who were unusually active about the
polls on the day of election in the inter
| est of Maj. Screven, were among the wit
nesses whom the grand jury examined
Sap" Dyer was the first of the two
summoned into the grand jury room. In
answer to questions from grand jurymen
| he said that he had seen nothing of the
use OF money about the polls and did not
know whether there had been any money
| used not.
You are police officer, are you not,
! Mr.. Dyer?" a member of the jury asked.
Yes SIR" said the witness, exhibiting
his pollceman's badge.
Were you on duty on the day of cleo
tion?
mo, SIR
WHO sent you, then, to the polls"
Nobody sent me-" said the witness. 81
| just went there myself"
Ibid you go in any barooms on cleo
ton day."
| Me!' said the witness. in great aston
| ishment. Il can't get into any barrooms.
! They lock the door as soon as they see
me coming. I'm an officer" Very little
! else was asked.
Then w. H. Dyer was called in. He had
one response to all questions, mo, sir. -
Foreman Sheldon asked him a number,
| but when he found the witness could be
with slight and immaterial variations, he
| desisted.
| Tom Milledge, a negro politician, was
another of those quizzed on the subject
| of politics and political corruption, bu.
| he said he knew nothing. L. M. Pleas
ants. one of the prominent leaders of the
| colored corps of the McAlpin forces, told
the grand jury he had not handled a cent
| of campaign money, knew nothing of its
expenditure by others and had only a
casual knowledge of the fact that such a
| thing as campaign headquarters existed.
| Several others, called upon by the grand
| jury to tell what they knew, were equal
ly lacking In the information that was
desired.
A subpoena had been issued for Mr.. J.
j. Killorin, who was one of Capt Meal
pins chief lieutenants on the day of cleo
| ton, but the bailiffs who had sought to
serve the subpoena had never been able
to locate Mr.. Killorin They sought him.
| they reported to the grand jury, near and
| far but with very discouraging lack of
success Mr.. Killorin has recently contri-
| buted several interesting newspaper arti-
| Giles to the discussion of this subject and
the members of the grand jury had enter
| tanned hopes that he would be in a posi-
| ton to give them valuable information.
They were panied when they heard the
story the bailiffs had to tell.
Seven proprietors of barrooms were in
| dicted by the grand jury for keeping
| open 'tippling houses" ON the Sabbath.
! They are owen Travers. ]. K. Taylor, ].
| H. LANCE, S. L. Byrd. ]. X. Pedrick, G.
| c. Warn and c. F. Luersen.
| The evidence upon which these presen-
tations were returned was furnished the
| grand jury by the members of the Law
| and Order League, a considerable dele
| cation from that organization being pres
| ent In the witness rooms while the grand
| Jury was in session In addition to the
| force from the league whose names have
already been given in the Morning News
il now includes e. w. Cooper, Charles
| Creacher. f. L. Hendry, e. b. Dean, j
r. Joy and Eli Otto.
| OF the barkeepers indicted Travers and
LANCE are charged with keeping open
their places on January 20, Pedrick on
| March TO- Warn and Byrd on March II
and Taylor and Luersen on March "a
| Bench warrants for the. arrest of all the
| defendants were SlSueu ny
giant and placed In the hands of deputies
for service Immediately after the ad-
iournment OF the court.
In connection with the indictment
against Taylor, Al S. Canuet, one of tho
principal Witnesses for the Law and Or
der League, told a Morning News reporter
an interesting and rather amusing story
Last Sunday" he said, some of oui
boys were down at Taylor's place. at tn.
corner of Oglethorpe avenue and Price
streets. and asked the bartender If they
could get anything to drink.
"'Oh. yes he answered with laugh
we always have something for the mem
bers of the Law and order League The
boys got q drink for themselves anS
brought me back a bottle of whisky.
on the indictments against Taylor thu
names of Il. w. Cooper. Charles Creachei
and e. l.. Hendry appear as witnesses.
It is probable there will be interesting
developments in these cases when they
are brought to trial. All the barkeeper'
indicted announce that they will no.
plead guilty. but will fight the cases bit
terly 1t will be interesting to hear wha
they have to say. OF course, 1t is a seri
Gus matter with them as a conviction
means the forfeiture of their licenses and
a perpetual bar to obtaining others. No
only will they have to pay the fine anc
costs assessed against them, but they
will be put out of business. This Is not
a matter within the discretion OF th'