The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-10
THE MUTILATED RECORDS.
Account in Morning News Causes
Much Discussion In Brunswick


Much Discussion In Brunswick.
Brunswick, Ga, June 9.-To-day's is
sue OF the Morning News was read by
large number of interested citizens who
therein learned for the first time of mat
ters pertaining to coming court trial of
Mr.. Jacob l.. Beach.
The story of the mutilated Glynn coun-
~ records proved a source of much in
terestin2 conversation on the streets.
and speculation was rife as to when the
mutilauon occurred, and who did the
work on them. Nothing seems to have
developed in addition TO what these dis
patches have contained regarding the mu-
ulation, and the general public as well
as the court officials seem TO be as badly
IN the dark as men generally get to be
There are no charges being made against
anyone, for no one knows who to accuse
ana so many people have been in and
out of the vaults where the records are
kept that it would be folly to attempt
to point the finger of suspicion at any
particular one.
While the clerk of the County Commits
sloners is supposed to be custodian sole
~ of the minute book which is mutilated,
1t is well-known fact that this book is
kept in the same vault with other court
ana county records, and it is customary
mere as elsewhere to allow attorneys and
others to look over these records at Vari-
GUS times without a special watch being
Kept on their movements 1t is also GUS
tomary to allow all parties who have mat
tiers on record the privilege of examining
same whenever such can be done without
injurins any one, and this custom of ac-
commodation accounts in a large mea assure
Of rxr,o -
access to the books. 1t is fair to presume
also that attorneys for the county as well
as attorneys for the defense in the case
against former Prison Commissioner
Beach have had access to the book which
has been muulated, and it would be as
fair to charge one side as another with
having done the work. Then again there
is question as to the reia-
tive value of the mutilated page
In the way of evidence against Mr.. Beach
and it might not be so important after
all.
Probably the least concerned man in
Glynn county, SO far as his trial is con-
cerned, is the defendant in this suit. Mr.
Beach has all along denied most emphat-
ically that he was ever a party to any
effort to embezzle funds or their equva-
lent in bonds or anything else from Glynn
county, and his absolute confidence in his
being acquitted is shared by a large num-
Der of Brunswckians. There does not
seem to be any denial made to the allie
cation that Mr.. Beach, while a county
officer, obtained and sold a large amount
of old Glynn county bonds, but his friends
allege that any transactions that might
have occurred in that respect were purely
of a business nature.
AS the time for the trial draws near
the friends of Mr. Beach are beginning
to show UP in numbers and the question
of securing a competent jury will be puz-
zlng. The county has employed Col Mel
drim of Savannah to assist in the prose-
cution while Atkinson and Dunwody of
Brunswick will conduct the defense. A
legal battle royal will be the result and
Mr.. Beach will face a charge that will
put everyone on their metal to prove and
disprove. There are no bets on the result,
as no one knows at this time what the
county has up its sleeve, but the missing
page story that has now cropped out is
liable to cut considerable figure in the re-
suit. On account of the prominence of the
accused, the trial is of more than local
interest. and throughout the state the re-
suit is being watched closely. Judge Ben
net has postponed the case until June a.
and the defense will demand trial.