The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-23
GOT LIFE SENTENCE
MURDERER OF It. r.. SMITH TO
SPEND LIFE IN PRISON.
FOR A DIAB0LICAL CRIME
TRIAL JURY RECOMMENDED I'M
PRISONMENT FOR LIFE.

Crime for which He Was Sentenced
Was One of the Blacklist of Recent
Years in This COunty-Murderer
FeIIed His Victim from Behind
with "a Billet of Wood and Then
Carved Him Up with Razor.
Blood Bespattered Clothes and
Stained Weapons of Death Intro
duced in Evidence.
Ed Green was declared the murderer
of T. R. Smith by the trial jury yes
terday in the Superior Court, but it
was recommended that he be punished
by Imprisonment in the penitentiary
for life.
The murder of which he was declar-
ed guilty was one of the most brutal
enacted in Chatham county in recent
years. The tell-tale blood Of his un-
armed victim, spattered over his hat
and coat We're mute witnesses of his
guilt. Armed with a heavy lightwood
knot, which he had deliberately saw
ed off for the purpose, contended the
state, he crept upon his unsuspecting
victim, and dealt him a blow upon the
head which crushed his skull. Not
satisfied that his object had been ac-
complished, he completed his bloody
work with razor, and escaped in the
darkness.
Recovering temporarily from the eff
feet of the wounds the injured man
found his way across the street and
told those he met of the assault. He
was taken to the Savannah Hospital,
where shortly afterwards he died in
commissions, without knowing who his
assailant was.
Had an Alteration.
Circumstances pointed strongly to
the guilt of Green. The murdered man
kept grocery and bar on the corner
of Bay and Farm streets, and Green
was his bartender. On the night of the
murder the two had had an alterca-
ton about the latters wages. One wit
ness told of leaving the two men ar
guing over the matter shortly before
midnight.
The murder occurred but a few min
utes afterwards, as Smith was clos
ing his store for the night Statements
made by Green when arrested, to the
effect that he left Smiths store before
10 o'clock were disproVen by the evil
dence OF the state. 1t was established
that Green was at the scene of the
killing few minutes before the en-
| actment of the crime.
Inc most damaging testimony
against MIN was that given by the Of
hcers who made the arrest, Detective
Murphy, and officers Cowart and Da-
Wis. Inc officers went to the home of
the murderer and ordered him from
MS bed. He exhibited nervousness and
apparently endeavored to hide some
thlng under his pillow An examina
tlon by the officers disclosed the pres
ence OF a blood stained razor. A fur
tner search of the premises resulted in
e me nndlng of broken pair of Mr..
Smiths spectacles, which he wore on
the night of the murder.
Broken Skull Displayed.
The blood stained clothes of tbe
murderer were exhibited to the Jury.
"A portion of the skull of the murdered
man. which had been extracted by DR.,
Elton 5. Osborne was also displayed.
The defendants statement was one
OF general denial. He said that he
LETT the store some time before mid
nignt, and went directly home. He de-
nled that he had engaged in a heated
argument with the grocer, but said
that ne had merely endeavored to ger
mis- salary which was due him on thai
night VI ''1"'
The defense claimed that Green had
no motive for the crime. whereas
there We're certain other parties who
had made threats against him. nota-
Oily white man, who had a few DAYS
o or struck the grocer in the face
Mr.. smith had appealed to Officer
Cowart to keep the white man away
from his store The defense contend
eo tnat the stains on the coat and hat
We're probably red paint, and that had
1t been blood, Green, when command
ca 10 put on his clothes and come with
the officers, would not have selected
the blood-stained ones.
A motion for a new trial will he
made by the defense. which is repre-
scented by W. F. Slater, Esq. Notice to
this effect was given on the return of
the verdict of guilty.