The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-25
THE JURY TIED UP
CAN'T AGREE ON LUMP GRANTS
GUILT OR INNOCENCE.
GRANT TRIED FOR MURDER.
SHOT AND KILLED VICTOR RIVERS
NEAR RED LIGHT SALOON.

Tragedy Occurred In Front of the
East Broad Street Resort Last Oc-
tober-Rfvers' Abuse of q Negro
Woman, Maggie Harris, Incited
the Interference of Grant and
Brought on the Quarrel That Cost
the Former His Life-With Help OF
SpOtter, Grant Was Nabbed In
JacksOnviIle-CInime He Acted iu
seIf-Defense-Juryo out Many Hours
and MistriaI Expected.
Since o'clock yesterday afternoon
a Superior Court jury, supplied with
Tense, enlightened by the arguments
of counsel and with the whole illumin-
ed by the charge of the court, has
been endeavoring to decide the ques-
ton of the guilt of innocence of
Lump Grant, charged with the muir
der of Victor Rivers
The jury seems to be hopelessly at
odds on the question and there is lit
tie reason to believe they will reach
a verdict. Judge Barrow had instruct
ed he should be called at an yreason-
able hour last night if the jury agreed,
but no agreement was ever in sight
and it was not found necessary to dis
turb the court or counsel. 1t is al
together probable a mistrial. will be
declared when court convenes this
morning.
An East Side Tragedy.
The tragedy in which Rivers lost his
life occurred near the Red Light sa-
loon, an East Broad street resort bear
ing an unsavory reputation, on the
night of Oct. 20. Rivers was the piano
player at the place, had been drinking
on the evening in question, and adj
mittedlv was in an ugly and vicious
humor. For some time before he was
shot he had been emptying the vials
of his wrath upon the head of Maggie
Harris, a negro woman, and the quar-
rel with Grant sprang from this verbal
encounter.
Jerry Scales was probably the most
important witness for the state. Ac-
cording to him there had been little or
no provocation for the shooting. He
said Rivers and the Harris woman
were exchanging billingsgate when
Grant came up, and that there had
been no interval of, time between his
appearance on the scene and the pistol
shot that ended Rivers life.
story of a SpOtter.
There We're other witnesses on behalf
of the state to testify to substantially
the same state of facts. Robert Crum-
mildly, the negro spotter through whose
efforts the arrest of Grant in Jackson
vile was effected. sWore that Grant
had told him he had shot a man in Sa-
vannah because the man was beating
woman. The defendant had said
nothing then about any attempt >on the
part of Rivers to assault or injure him.
This was substantially the evidence
for the state. For the defense Grants
own statement was the only testimony
submitted to the jury.
He said he had come upon the scene
at time when Rivers was cursing and
abusing Maggie Harris and had then
asked Rivers why he treated the wo-
man in this way. Rivers had re-
sponded with an oath and threat and
picking up a brick had advanced men
acingly towards him. He lodged be-
hind woman and did all that he could
to get out of the way, but Rivers con-
tinued to advance.
Shot In SeIf-Defense.
kid Johnson said Grant, passed
me his pistol and 1 shot Rivers to save
my own life. Then 1 gave the pistol
back to Johnson"
The defendant denied running away
saying he had stayed in. Savannah for
a week after the commission of the
homicide, going from here to Fernan-
dina. He had met Crummidy there
and been enticed to Jacksonville, where
the spotter had him arrested. Crum-
mildly had sworn that Grant gave him
the, pistol with which he shot Rivers
and introduced a weapon he identified
as the one. This also Grant denied,
saying that Kid Johnson had supplied
the weapon.
Mr.. r. l.. Colding, acting solicitor
general, made only a brief argumnt
for the state. Mr.. Colding said the
decision of the issue was dependent
upon which of the witnesses The jury
found it possible to believe. Mr.. Raj
ford Falligant made a much more. ex-
tended argument for the defendant, in
which the testimony of the spotter,
Crummidy, and that individual in per-
son were bitterly attacked. Judge Bar
row charged the jury at 2:30 o'clock
and it retired at 3.
The Jury has been out ever since
and there seems little probability that
it will agree. AS stated, mistrial is
expected.