The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-26
CRIME WAS MURDER
so SAYS GRAND jury OF THE Kill
LING OF PRESTON.
JOHN SINGLETON INDICTED
MUST STAND TRIAL FOR CHRIST
MAS DAY HOMICIDE.

Superior Court Grand Jury Returned
Two Indictments for Criminal A.
sauIt Again Joseph ButIer-NO Bill
on Indictment Charging b. schwab
with Larceny From the House.
Demented Negro Caught in Judge
FaIIIgant's Residence Given HIS
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Who is Too
Gay with His Gun.
The grand jury of the Superior Court
held a long session yesterday afternoon
and as a result of its deliberations num-
Der of true bills of indictments were re-
turned. The defendants in the indict-
ments are charged with crimes ranging
from simple larceny to murder.
John Singleton. colored, was indicted
for murder of Zacharias Preston. The
crime for which Singleton must stand
trial was committed at Burroughs, six
teen miles from the city, on Christmas
day. Singleton shot Preston with a pistol,
it is said without reason or provocation
given.
Two Indictments for criminal assault
were returned by the grand jury against
Joseph Butler a negro well known as
cake-walker and vaudeville entertainer
among the members of his race. The al
legged victims of Buffers brutal lust are
saIie Ball and Hattie Perry, two little
negro girls, the eldest of whom does not
appear to be twelve years of age.
The grand jury found no bill against
Il. Schwab, the young white man who
has been charged with stealing a watch
and chain belonging to Capt f. F. Dan
iels, while the latter was stopping at the
Screven house. The watch was valued at
$50 and the chain at SOL. The jury did
not consider abe evidence against Schwab,
which was given in substance in the
Morning News at the time OF his arrest,
sufficient to warrant the return of a true
bill.
No bill was The return also in the case
against Albert White, charged with
burglary. White Is the demented negro
who was found one evening, without
shoes. in Judge Falligants residence and
whom the Judge captured. After an in
vestigation of the case Judge Falhgant
came to share the general opinion that
White had lost his wits, and when he
was summoned before the grand jury,
himself to give evidence he stated that
he did not believe White was responsible
for his actions.
Three true bills of indictment were re-
turned by the grand jury against Edward
Andrews, each charging him with assault
with intent TO murder. Andrews is a
Waterman employed by Capt. Augustus
Oemler, to guard his oyster beds near Will
mington, and according to the stories of
the witnesses in the three cases against
him, he carries out what he conceives to
be his duty by firing upon everybody thlt
passes his post. In the three cases there
are in all some ten or a dozen parties
who claim he has tried to kill them.
George Thomas and William Mills were
indicted for the larceny of $135 from the
house of Richard Haygood. Edward
| Campbell is charged by the grand jury
with the offense of robbery by force. and
jeff Jason and Ben Hampton with bur.
glary. Pleasant Blount and Robert Low
EFT are indicted for an old offense, the
larceny of copper wire from the Savannah
ThunderDolt and Isle of Hope Railway
William Henry and Joe Brown are
charged with burglary and Tom Rowland
with larceny from the house and cow
stealing.
The grand jury spent nearly three hours
in the jury room yesterday afternoon, and
did not nearly finish the criminal business
that awaited its investigation. 1t will
meet again on Tuesday afternoon, when
| the solicitor general will submit some adj
ditional cases for its consideration.
| 1t is probable that the trial of criminal
| cases i'm the Superior Court will be taken
| up next week and that some of those in
which indictments have just been found
| will be among those tried.