The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-14
GOT TWENTY YEARS
ABE SINGLETON FOUND GUILTY OF
VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER.
ACC0MPLiCE GOT 2 YEARS.
RICHARDSON RECOMMENDED TO
EXTREME MERCY OF COURT.

In Giving Singleton Extreme Pen
atty of the Law Judge Cam sniG
That His Carrying Pistol TO &
Scene Where Gambling Was to BE-
Engaged in Bore Out the Presump
ton That He Intended TO Do MUIR
der if the Necessity ArOse-StRt@-
ments of Prisoner and Witnesses
Were at Vnriance.
Abe Singleton and James Richardson
were put OH trial in the Superior Court
yesterday on the charge of killing
Charlie Quarterman in crap game in
Gwinnett lane on Sept. 6, yesterday,
Singleton as the principal and Rich
ardson as accessory. Both were found
guilty of voluntary manslaughter, the
latter being recommended to the eX-
IRENE mercy of the court
Judge Cam imposed a sentence of
twenty years on Singleton, holding
that he went into a gambling game
armed with a pistol, which supported
a belief of intent to do murder if nee
essary. The jury in the case against
Richardson returned a verdict late
last night, and recommended him to
the extreme mercy of the court. He
was sentenced to two years in the
pententiary.
The crime charged against Singleton
md Richardson was that on the morn
ing of Sept. 6, last, they were in
house in Gwinnett lane, east, for the
purpose of gambling. A dispute arose
between Singleton and Quarterman,
and the latter drew d pistol and fired.
Quarterman's Slayer Dazed.
Singleton had been under arrest some
time before he knew what had really
happened. When he was told that
Quarterman was dead he fell on his
knees at the police station and ex-
claimed:
Il didn't go to shoot him. He didn't
do anything to me. oh. Lord have
mercy"
He claimed self-defense, stating that
Quarterman had struck him twice with
a club. 1t was proven, however, that
this claim, which he made on the morn
ing he was arrested was not borne out
by any bumps or bruises on his head.
A stake of twenty cents in a game of
skin caused the row that ended with
the death of Cuarterman. The bet
was made with a marker" and Ly-
mus O'Neill failed to pay up. Single
ton was arguing with O'Neill about
the payment of the wager when Rich
ardson took a hand. He asked Sin
gleton if he didn't have a gun, to
which Singleton replied in the affirma-
tive. 1t was charged that Richardson
then advised Singleton to get his money
or shoot. Singleton then pulled his
pistol.
Escaped Behind "a Door.
ONeil stated that he escaped by
jumping behind a door, and that Sim
gleton then fired at Quarterman, who
was in the front door.
In his statement made to the po-
lice Singleton claimed that while he
was trying to get out of the house
Quarterman struck him twice with a
club, and that he then fired After
wards he said that the crowd in the
room jumped on him and that he shot
at no one in particular.
The murderer was arrested in an out
building near the scene of his crime
by Mounted Patrolman Pat Eivers.
The officer was at the Gamewel box
on East Broad and Bolton streets
when a negro reported to him what
had happened and pointed out Single
ton, who was running in an opposite
direction When finally arrested Sin
gleton denied his identity and stated
that he was hiding because he had
been gambling. The pistol with which
the killing was done was found later