The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-31

as Whitney" whose prowess with
sand bag he extolled in the most COM
plimentary terms. Groves had agreed
to this addition to the party, and
when Whitney was brought in was so
highly pleased with him he was pro-
NOTED to a position of responsibility
almost equal to that held by Groves
himself He was to help hold up
Dieter and the cab driver when the
assault was made.
Hatched on River Street.
In dark spot on River street, I'M
der the shadow Of the bluff, the second
plot was Matched. T. L. Avant, for
merly a street railway motorman, was
also present at this midnight confer
ence, but Avant notified Groves on the
ground he would have no hand in the
preparation of the crime.
While he was waiting with Waters
for the signal that was to announce
the coming of Groves he had been
placed under arrest by Detective Muir
ply, Waters at the same time suffer-
ing the same fate. Almost stimuli
taneously Detective Wall had effected
the arrest of Groves.
The detectives told of the manner
in which they had received from Avant
notice OF the plot to rod Dieter Act
ing on this information they had fol-
lowed the conspirators about from
O'Clock in the evening until long after
II, and had finally caused their ar
rest.
Knew They Were Followed.
The evidence showed that the con-
spirators had become aware of the
scrutiny to which the detectives had
subjected them and conscious of the
fact that their plan could only be ex-
cuted with difficulty. Whitley had call
ed Groves out of the bar where he
was throwing dice and drinking with
Dieter and it was during this inter
mission that Dieter himself had left
the place and not returned
In his own behalf Groves stated
that he had never been implicated in
the conspiracy, which had first been
mentioned to him by his cousin, John
Groves, and Marley. John Groves he
said, had laid the plot, John Groves
had organized the band, John Groves
had everything and he nothing to
do with the conspiracy. The de-
fendant said his only connection with
the conspiracy, which he had refused
to join, was to attempt to break it up
The argument for the state was
made by Mr.. Osborne, while Mr.. Cold
ing and Col Meldrim supported the
contentious of the defense. The jury
seemed to prefer the states conten-
tons, for the verdict of guilty, with
recommendation to punishment as
for a misdemeanor, was promptly re-
turned.
Wife Frustrated by Blow.
Mrs. Groves . had borne up well all
through the trial, and her confident
and often smiling demeanor seemed to
indicate she had every hope and expec-
tation that the verdict of the jury
would be not guilty. When the YER
dict was returned, therefore, the an
nouncement by the clerk of the jury's
findings came with all the more
crushing force.
She was Frustrated by the blow.
With a sob of heartfelt agony she
threw herself, weeping, on her aus
bands breast. and there lay and
wept until the stony hearts of those
most accustomed to witness human
grief were touched and saddened.
Last night Groves spent in the
county Jail. to which he was conveyed
after the verdict of guilty was return
ed. He has been at liberty, with one
brief exception, since the time of his
arrest, shortly after the commission
of the crime.
The impression around the Court
House is that both Mahlay and Waters
will plead guilty when court convenes
this morning, and that they will be
sentenced at the same time as Groves.
This is practically certain in the case
of Mahlay, and it is expected that
Waters will follow the same course
From the standpoint of the state
Groves was the arch conspirator in the
plot, and the probability is that the
two others. who are both quite young,
will escape with penalties very much
less severe.