The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-21
HARD TO GET JURY
MANY WENT OFF FOR CAUSE IN
D0RTIC TRIAL.
WITNESSES CAUSED DELAY.
THREE ARRESTED FOR KEEPING
THE COURT WAITING.


sisted in Selecting Jury and over
Half n Hundred Jurors Were Pass
ed Upon-COurt Waited for BeIat-
ed witnesses who Must Answer
for COntempt-That Deegan Cursed
DOrtic in "A Foul Manner, and Thai
He Was in CrOuchinE Attitude
at the Feet of the Prisoner when
the Fatal shot Was Fired, Undis-
puted Points Thus Far.
Dilatory tatics on the part of wit
nesses occasioned considerable delay in
the trial of William G. Dortic, charged
with the murder of John A. Deegan,
begun in the Superior Court yesterday
morning The delay occasioned a loss
of As minutes and another minutes
was spent in searching for a missing
juror.
While the case was called promptly
at 10 o'clock it was almost IL before
the work of selecting the jury began.
The witnesses who Occasioned the de-
lay were Frank c. F'iley, Tom Feltz
and John Howard, and attachments
were issued for them. They were kept
in the custody OF the Sheriff until the
hour of adjournment when they were
released, with the understanding that
they must appear in court this morn
ing to answer the charge of contempt.
Regular attachments were issued
against the belated witnesses and dep
uties were sent out in search of them.
Although the shooting of Deegan oc-
Cured on Dec. 26, last, it was a month
ago yesterday that he died from the
bullet wound. Solicitor General Os-
borne appeared for the state and Judge
IL. D. d. Twiggs and Mr.. Robert L.
Colding answered for the defendant
The examination of the witnesses was
conducted by Judge Twiggs. Much in
terest has been manifested in the case
and the court room was packed with
attentive spectators throughout the
long session that marked the first day
of the trial. For hours the spectators
stood and yet did not become noticea-
bly, restless. 1t was nearing 6 o'clock
when Judge Barrow announced an adj
journment and the atmosphere of the
court room had become murky The
windows and doors had remained
closed until late in the afternoon MAX
Ing the place uncomfortable and un-
pleasant.
The frequent use of foul and de-
PRAYED language quoted by the
witnesses who related what they
knew of the trouble, added to
the uncomfortable feeling. At
times when the witnesses were
repeating the language that they
had heard fall from the lips of Deegan
it seemed as if a drama was being
enacted in some sordid East Side dive.
Not in recent years has a trial been so
filled with the vilest sort of profanity.
The sporting element turned out in
full, and although they are wont to
siumber during the morning hours,
they gave up their sleep, and
were on hand bright and early. Be
cause of the frequent use of bad lam
guage, Dortic's wife and sister were
not in the court room. They remained
in the sheriffs office throughout the
day, and greeted the prisoner affection
ately when the recess was taken for
lunch. During the morning Mrs
Dortic had her baby with her, but it
was fretful, and during the afternoon
~sits presence was missed.
A potent point brought out during
the trial was that Deegan had for at
least day before the shooting been
threatening Dortic and had repeatedly
cursed him 10 others. He had also
followed him and had on the night be-
lore the shooting committed an assault
upon him in Bryan's cafe. Another
Undisputed point was that Deegan was
in a crouching position seeking the
shelter of Levan's bar when Dortic
fired the third and fatal shot From
the evidence adduced during the day il
transpired that the men had been the
best of friends and that their trouble
grew out of turkey raffie,' held on
Broughton street during the HOLIDAYS.
1t was a division of the spoils or
graft" that caused the i'll feeling
that led to the tragedy.
Exhausted the Jury Panel
The task OF selecting a jury was a
tedious one and every juror summoned
was presented. There were sixty-three
OF them, and William M. Craft was
the last on the list. He was accept
ed by both the state and prisoner. 1t
required an hour to get the jury. The
state struck eight and the defense
nineteen. The interest that has been
manifested in the case was shown by
the fact that twenty-four jurors went
OH Tor cause, only eight of whom were
Dortic was neatly attired and was
active with his counsel in striking the
jury. He sat to the right of Mr.. Rob-
ert l.. Colding ami as each name was
called had some suggestion to make.
The father of the dead man sat to
the right of Solicitor General Osborne
and was equally as active in making
suggestions as to what jurors should
be accepted. The first two jurors
called were promptly accepted and
sworn and 1t looked as If there was
going TO be no trouble about securing
jury. The following jurors finally
Qualified: George G. Hayward, Joseph
r.. Ruth, George o. Penton, George
w. Curtis, Gordon l.. Grower, James
M. Wells. William ]. Lindsay, w. T.
Walker, John r. Davis North CHS
holm and William M. Craft. Jurors
Grower and Wells served in the ASH
by trial.
Dortic Arrsigned.
Solicitor General Osborne arraienod
the prisoner read the Indictment charg-
ing him with the murder of John 4.
Deegan by shooting him on Dec. 26th.
last, inhicting a wound causing his
death at ST. Joseph's Hospital on Jan.
goth.
Attorney Colding stood by the side
OF Dortic. who looked straight at the
prosecuting attorney as the Indictment
was read. To the charge he pleaded
not guilty. The Solicitor General con-
tended that the prisoner at the bar In
indie iment and that IT, state would