The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-25
VALD0STA'S COURT NEWS.
SHERIFF OF BROOKS INDICTED
FOR GAMBLING.

Prominent Citizens Indicted for
Playing "set Back" for Cigars.
Another Sensation mt McRee's
Convict Camp-oId Man who WAS
Badly Beaten Has Disappeared and
Charges of Cruelty Against whip
ping Ross Are 10 Be Investigated.
The Messrs. Corbett Fined 500
Each for Assault and Battery on
DR.. John F. Hall.
Valdosta. Ca. May 24.-The Superior
Court adjourned last night until Tues
day. when Judge Hart will return to nm
ish up the criminal business. The last
case to be trieds was that of the state,
against W. T. & j. W. Corbett, on the
charge of assault with intent to murder
DR.. John F. Hall at Lake Park some
time ago. The case was interesting
throughout, the men involved being prom
inent citizens and brothers-in-law. The
Corbetts met DR.. Hall at Lake Park sew
eral months ago and bounced upon him
with their knives and stabbed him in sew
eral places. The stabbing was the result
of feud of long standing, and the de-
PENDANTS set up the plea in the trial that
they acted under the fear of harm from
DR.. Hail.
Some of the best legal talent in this
section were employed in the case, the
solicitor general being assisted by Judge
Griffin and Mr. j. Randall Walker, while
the defendants were represented by Ham
n1nnd e. hammond 81 evil nd
Col. G. A. Whitaker and Capt S. T.
Kingsbery of this city. The trial con-
sumed all of yesterday, four speeches be-
ing made and two hours and half be-
ing given each side for the arguments.
The jury returned a verdict about mid
night, finding the two men guilty of as
seult and battery. The judge fined them
800 and cost each or twelve months on
the chain-gang.
The grand jury continued its investiga-
lions up TO last night but took recess
until court meets next Tuesday. A large
number of true bills were returned among
them being one against Sheriff Connolly
OF Brooks county for gambling, on a spe-
cial presentment. True bills were also
found against a number of prominent citi-
zens for playing set back for cigars in
one of the hotels. 1t is said that some
of those who had been presented for gam
ping were responsible for these indict-
ments.
another sensation has been sprung here
by Supt. Scruggs, of the county chain
gang He has rendered a report to the
County Commissioners, making vigor-
Gus complaint as to the cruelty of a whip.
ping boss named Stephens at McRees
camp. Supt. Scruggs charges that an old
negro man was beaten nearly to death
there few days ago, and that since then
the od man has disappeared. The man.
ayers of the camps say that the negro
was confined in a house and was being
treated for Illness and that he made his
escape. The County Commissioners have
set next Wednesday for the hearing of
these complaints, and a large number of
witnesses have been summoned to testi-
fy in the case. The sensation caused bv
the report is almost as great as that
which was caused by Lawyer Edmond
sons charges against the McRees some
time ago.
Miss Ann Kelley, formerly of Clarendon
county, South Carolina, died at the resi-
dence of her sister, Mrs. r. S. Thigpen,
yesterday and was buried this morning IN
the city cemetery She was Sc years of
age and was an excellent Christian char
acter. She had been in i'll health for a
long time.