The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-23
To The Pen FOR LIFE
AS TEARS STOLE DOWN HIS FUR
ROWED FACE.
POTTER HEARD HIS SENTENCE
CONDEMNED MAN THE PICTURE OF
DEPENDENCY.

Sentence Passed by Judge Barrow
and Proceedings Conspicuous by
the Absence of Any of Dramatic
scenes which Chnracte rized the
Trial of the Case-Potter still Pro-
tests His InnOcence-Says That Is
What Makes Him Take the Find
ing of the Jury So Much to Heart.
Finds Consolation in AcquittaI Of
His SOn-QuestiOn of the Legality
of Sunday Verdict Investigated.
Supreme Court Has Sanctioned 1t.
The sentence of the court was pro-
nounced upon w. ]. Potter, the con-
demned murderer of Fred Taylor, in
the Superior Court yesterday morning
The proceedings were conspicuous by
the absence of any of the dramatic
scenes which characterized the trial.
Shortly after court convened, the
prisoner was led into the court room.
The lines of worry were plainly depict
ed on his face, in marked contract to
the appearance which he wore. during
was passed upon him. tears trickled
down the face of the condemned man.
but he remained silent.
"W. J. Potter, stand up" ordered the
court.
The prisoner started TO rise, but as
he did so his counsel. Judge Twiggs.
walked up to the bench and held a
hurried consultation with the court, at
the conclusion of which the command
was repeated. Sentence was thereupon
passed in few words.
The Judges Sentence.
1.-THE jury that tried your case" said
the court, has found you guilty, and
has recommended that you be i'm
prisoned in the penitentiary for life.
The sentence of the court is, therefore,
that you spend the balance of your nat
ural life in confinement in the peniten-
tiary. Take out the prisoner"
The last command was directed to
Chief Deputy Sheriff Sweeney. who re-
moved the condemned man from the
court room, to the sheriff's office where
he was handcuffed and taken to Jail
Potter still protests his innocence,
and AYERS that it is his freedom from
guilt which causes him to take the
finding of the jury so much to heart.
He says the only consolation which he
has now is that his boy was acquitted.
Both father and son still have the in
dictment for the murder of Bourquin
hanging over them, and will be kept
in Jail for some time yet
To Answer for Bourquih's Murder.
AS stated in the Morning News, it is
not known what direction the case will
now take. Young Swayne Potter will
be held under the Bourquin indictment,
and the probability is that he will be
| tried later in the term. No further
criminal cases have been set for trial,
| and it is the intention Of the court to
direct it's attention to the disposition of
| civil matters during the month of
January For that reason it is probable
| that the case will not come up again
| for some time.
There were number of criminal
cases set for trial, but these were dis
| placed by the prolongation of the Pot
| ter case, and 1t is possible that they
| will be continued until the next term
of court.
One of the features of the Potter case
was the springing of the question of
the legality of a verdict returned on
Sunday. Upon investigation it was
found that such procedure had been
sanctioned by the Supreme Court
The decision was notable for the fact
that there were two dissenting opinions,
which disclosed the closeness with
which the point was viewed by the
members of the court of last resort.
| The decision is rather recent one