The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-02
DOC" HOWELL ACQUITTED.
George F. Gilbert Vow on Trial at
WaycroSs for Car Robberies.

George f. Gilbert Now on Trial at
waycrOss for Car RObberies.
Waycross, Ga, May 1.-The cases for
car breaking are still on in Ware Su-
perior Court The case of the State
versus Doc Howell. charged with car
robbery. was turned over to the jury
yesterday about noon. The jury was
out considerable time, and for while
it looked as if there would be a mis-
trial, but an agreement was reached
about $50 o'clock last night, and this
morning a verdict was brought in OF
not guilty.
All day the court has been occupied
with the case of the State versus Geo.
F. Gilbert, charged with the same Of
Tense. This case has been one OF great
interest. 1t will be remembered that
Gilbert was arrested in the early part
of the year under a warrant charging
him with breaking into and stealing
from a railroad car. The matter eX-
cited great deal of interest at the
time on account of his standing in
the community. Gilbert gave bond for
his appearance at Superior Court. and
then came out in the daily paper IN
which he protested his innocence, eX-
planning the circumstances and asking
the public to suspend judgment until
he was heard in court. Solicitor Ben
nett is assisted in the prosecution by
Coils. W. E. Kay, Simon w. Hitch and
John c. Mcdonald Coils. Toomer and
Wilson represent the defendant
Quite awhile was taken up in secur-
ing the jury. The prosecution proposes
to show that on the 18th of February
at night, or about that time, Mr.. Gil
bert entered a certain car in the Plant
System yard at Waycross and stole
therefrom two pairs of overalls and six
pieces of breakfast bacon. Gilbert was
seen by Detective Shannon coming
from the Plant System yard with a
sack on his shoulders. Shan
non accosted him, searched the
sack and found two pairs of
new overalls and six pieces of break
fast bacon in it. He swore out a war
rant, charging Gilbert with the oftense
above named and Gilbert was placed
under a thousand dollar bond. The
attorneys in the case are contesting
very vigorously.
UP TO this time there has been intro
duced by the prosecution as witnesses,
w. F. King. the manufacturer of the
overalls in question. for the purpose
of Identifying the overalls; Mr.. A. R.
Baer. the merchant who sold the goods;
D. P. Myerson, to whom the goods
were sold: F. L. Tanner, the agent
who shipped the goods; H. c. Dozier,
D. C. NARROW and Archer Steele, the
last three being employees of the differ
ent lines of railroads that handled the
alleged stolen goods in one capacity
or other: also Mr.. r. G.. Ramsey, the
agent in Jacksonville, who found the
shortage in the shipment: Mr.. C. c.
Curtis. w. A. Shannon, the detective
who arrested Mr.. Gilbert T. j. Nc
Clellan, sheriff of Ware county and S.
NJ. Roberts, master mechanic of the
Plant System shops. These witnesses
have made out very strong case as
far as Identifying the property is con-
cerned, also in tracing the goods over
the route named. Mr.. McClellans evil
dence showed mainly remarks that Mr.
Gilbert made in explaining his possess
sion of the bacon and overalls When
he was arrested. Mr.. Shannon also
testified as to his explanatory remarks
and other remarks which Gilbert made
about the goods when he was arrested.
The case and the manner of the pros
ecution and defense is almost the same
as the case of the state versus Doc
Howell. and is one of the several car
robbery cases which will come UP.