The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-04
TWO LIVES AT STAKE
IN TRIALS FOR MURDER IN sUPE-
RIOR COURT.
PHILIP TAYLOR ACQUITTED.
JESSE HANsBERRY SENT TO PENI-
TERTIARY FOR TWO YEARS.

Taylor Tried for the killing of His
Brother Which He Claimed Was
an Accident--His story COrrObO-
rated by Inference of IA Statement
Made by Dying Man to PatrOlman
Davis-Hansberry's Crime the
Shooting of Paris Ellis Nine Years
AgO-His Attorneys Filed De-
murrer Against Trial for HOmi-
eide of Grade Less Than Murder.
Two men were on trial for their lives
in the Superior Court yesterday and
in each case the charge was murder.
The cases were of more than usual
interest. In the case of Philip Taylor.
one of the men, the victim of his pis-
toll had been his own brother, "Sug"
Taylor. In the case of Jesse Hans
berry. who was called to answer for
the death of Paris Ellis, the crime was
committed about nine years ago.
The death of "Sug" Taylor came
about in a fruit stand on the West
Side. A number of men were in the
place. Philip Taylor pulled his pistol
and fired, the bullet striking his broth
er in the stomach and inficting
wound from which he died within an
hour. Taylor claimed that the shoot
ing was an accident and this view of
the matter was in part borne out by
a statement that the wounded man
made to Patrolman Nose Davis shortly
before he died.
Said 1t Was Accident.
Davis was one of the chief witnesses
in the trial, and stated that he had
gone to the place where the wounded
man was lying shortly after the shot
had been fired. The dying man told
the patrolman, according to his story,
that he knew his brother hadn't in
tended to shoot. He further asked that
nothing be done to Philip, as he was
the only support of his people. The
witness was the officer who arrested
Taylor.
The states case, which was conduct
ed by Acting Solicitor General D. ].
Charlton, was based on the theory that
though Taylor had not intended to
shoot his brother he had intended to
shoot another man with whom he was
on bad terms and this contention must
have had weight with the jury, for
it took that body about two hours be-
fore it could reach verdict. The YER
dict, however, was one of acquittal for
the prisoner. The defendant was rep
resented by ]. H. Kinkle.
Hansberry Got Two Years.
The case of Jesse Hansberry also
contained unusual features. The de-
PENDANT was represented by Messrs.
Beckett & Beckett. who, before the
case had been called. filed a demurrer
against prosecution for all offenses less
than murder, on the ground that they
were barred by the statute of limita-
tions. The demurrer was oyerruled by
Judge Barrow. After the jury had re-
tired to make its verdict 1t was re-
turned to the court room at it's request
to receive further instruction regard
ing the lesser grades of homicide.
After retiring the second time, how
ever. it took but a short time to reach
verdict. which was that the defend
ant was guilty of involuntary man
slaughter in the commission of an I'M
lawful act. Judge Barrow sentenced
the man to two years at hard work In
the penitentiary.
HRnsberry's Crime.
The crime for which Hansberry was
tried was committed on Jan. l, 1894,
at a hot supper" given in Sackville.
While the room in which the affair
took place was crowded with people
he fired one shot through the door,
shooting one man through the nose.
then was alleged to have fired another
through the window XKrho Do vii
received a wound that little more
than three weeks later resulted, it is
claimed, in his death.
Hansberry claimed that the second
shot was not fired by him and in sup
port of this statement said that Ell
lis had been his friend and to prove
this told how, after Ellis had been
wounded, he had visited the man each
day until he died. 1t was after this
event, he stated, that he left the city.
Travelling ?-For smooth ride use
the Atlantic Coast Line. Unexcelled
sleeping and dining car service on the