The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-08
FIGHT HIS OWN CASE
VI. A. CONNOLLY WILL GUARD HIS
OWN FENCES AND STAND PAT.
NO FRIEND OF THE OTHERS.
CONNOLLY DOESN'T CARE WHOM
HE HURTS Or HELPS.

Mercer & Mercer, His Counsel, An
nounce Their Intention to Make
the Fight on Their own LiDes-No
Attempt to BE Made TO Defend
Anyone EIse-COanOIIy Has Al
ways Been willing to stand Trial.
Actions of other Defendants De-
nOunced ms zone of the Most Sue
cessEnI and Gigantic Schemes to
Defrnud the Government Ever
Carried Out"
1t has become evident that Michael
A. Connolly will fight his own case in
opposition or at least in indifference to
the course pursued by Benjamin d.
Greene and the Gaynors. This idea,
inspired by the happening of past
events, is rendered certain by a state
ment made yesterday by his attorneys
Connolly is represented here by Mer-
Ger & Mercer. The firm has stood by
him from the time the Indictment
against him was found. That it's de-
fense will not involve any attempt to
defend Carter, Greene or the Gaynors
say.
There was a long conference between
Connolly and his attorneys yesterday
and the course that should be pursued
in the defense of the case was fully
mapped out. An application for a sew
erance of the case would seem to be
indicated by what counsel has to say.
Connolly is now at liberty on bond
for $1,000, the surety on the bond be-
ing the late John ]. Sullivan. This
would seem to indicate that the gov
ernment has little fear of Connolly's
appearance in court when he is wanted
AS to the position of his firms client,
Mr.. George A. Mercer, Jr., said yes
terday:
we will be present in the United
States District Court Tuesday next
with our client to plead to the indict-
ment. He has been ready and waiting
for more than two years for the case
to be called for trial on it's merits
We have used no diliatory tactics, nor
made any technical objections to delay
meeting the issue. Each and every is
sue made by the government shall be
met fearlessly, honestly and without
the slightest attempt to evade a free
and full investigation of our clients
connection with what is considered one
of the most successful and gigantic
schemes to defraud the United States
Treasury ever carried out
$50 far as the other defendants are
concerned, it is almost needless to say
we do not represent them and the de-
Tense of our client will be separate
and distinct from theirs. There will be
no concert of action. We will fight our
case on our own lines regardless of
who is hurt or helped.
"lt has been insinuated in the news
papers from time to time" said
Mr.. Mercer, that Mr.. ConnoIly's
apapparent readiness to go to trial
and his indifference to the probab BILE
outcome led to the belief that he would
turn states evidence. This does great
injustice to Mr.. Connolly. His course
in the matter has been consistent
throughout, and he has never been in
fluenced in the least by any other than
a desire to have the case inquired into
and all the facts brought out, which
will show the full extent of his COM
plioity in the conspiracy, if any.
"It will be remembered that when the
indictment was found against our
client he was in Havana, Cuba, en-
ployed at a good salary The next
morning he cabled us that he would
take the first steamer for Savannah,
via Tampa, and we so Immediately no.
titled Mr.. Erwin, the United States at
torney. We are now, as we always
have beeni ready and willing to meet
all the issues in the case"