The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-15
ahead of him as he ran down the stairs.
The

ahead of him as he ran down the stairs.
The woman followed
The prisoners statement was a long,
rambling and disconnected affair. He
said that he had been drinking, with
Hagar Robinson and the women who
We're witnesses in the case, on the night
OF the homicide. AS he started up to
the room he saw Hagar in the yard
and called to her; she went upstairs
with him.
Then, said the prisoner, he started
to go to bed, Hagar saying, however,
that she was not ready. He took off
part of his clothing and lay down
across the bed. Soon afterwards he
saw the woman coming towards him
with some weapon, whether knife or
a razor he could not make out.
Il grabbed the pistol from the bu-
reau," said Richards, land jabbed it at
her to scare her off-jes So" Here the
prisoner illustrated. II was very much
under the influence of liquor and some
how l must have pulled the trigger
she said, Sherman, you have shot me-
and l was frightened and went on
down stairs"
Richards told of his effort to escape,
OF his firing at the officers and of his
final arrest. He declared he had not
meant to hit any of the officers, but
merely to frighten them away. He
told the jury that he had first come
to savannah in 1887 and had lived here,
OF and on, ever since. He never car
RED revolver and had never been in
any trouble before.
Second Statement Refused.
AS Richards walked to his seat there
was momentary conference between
him and his counsel and then Mr.. Ny
rick stated that he desired the defend
ant to make further statement Per-
mission to do this was refused by
Judge Seabrook. 1t is stated that this
refusal will be the principal ground of
the defendants motion for a new trial.
Then began the states evidence in
rebuttal. Matte Hill told of the death
of the woman before the door of her
house. She said she had seen the
| prisoner with pistol on the day be-
fore the shooting.
Policeman Jernigan told of the
chase and final capture of the defen-
dant, and exciting running fight in
which several policemen participated,
and in which a number of shots were
| fired. Richards ran at last fairly into
the arms of Policemen Davis and
| Christy, after running from Perry lane,
near East Broad street, to the corner
| of Hall and Abercorn streets. 1t was
at the former point that Hagar Rob-
| inson received the mortal wound.
The arguments were brief, Mr.. My
rick speaking ouly about fifteen min
utes and the solicitor general about
half that time. Judge Seabrook con-
cluded his charge to the jury at lis
o'clock and in ten minutes the jury
| had returned with the verdict.
1t was guilty.
Richards trembled slightly as he
/ heard verdict read hut in mn.
ment seemed to have regained his
] composure.
| Sentenced to Die.
Sherman Richards, stand up" said
Judge Seabrook. Richards rose un-
steadily to his feet. Have you any
| thing to say" asked the court, ''why
| sentence of death should not be pro-
nounced upon your"
The prisoner murmured an inarticu-
late and almost inaudible reply.
Come closer to the BENCH said the
court, :" that 1 may hear what you
! have to say" Richards moved uI
closer and in a clearer voice said:
Il have said all 1 had to say"
"You have been indicted for the
crime of murder" said Judge Seabrook
land you have been given fair trial
with exceedingly able representation
| Inc jury mas louHu you SulitS anu eie
law now imposes upon me the duty OF
passing sentence of death upon you.
| have no discretion. l sincerely hope
| Sherman, that you will occupy the
DAYS you will be allowed to live or
earth in preparation to meet your
| God"
Then the formal sentence of death
was imposed 1t fixed the day of exc
cution for Nov. %. AS Mr.. Myrick al
once gave notice that he would move
| the court to declare a new trial, the
execution will not take place on the
day appointed. The motion for the new
trial and the appeal to the Supreme
| Court that will be sure to follow, IN
the event the motion is overruled, VIII
carry the prisoner far beyond the day
upon which he now stands condemned
to die.