The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-16
HELD WITNESS
FOR PERJURY
EVIDENCE OF PROSECUTOR
so PLAINLY FALSE THAT JUDGE
CANN ORDERED HIM HELD.

Accused Isaac Harris, Janitor of
Pythian Castle, of Larceny After
Trust-Hnd Given Him Money in
Payment of Dues of Mr.. A. Full
ford, He CIained-Later 1t Devel-
oped That Elliott Had Returned
the Money which He Claimed Har-
ris Had MisnpprOpriated.
In the Superior Court yesterday
Judge Cam, in the case against Isaac
Harris, charged with larceny after
trust, ordered the jury to return a YER
dict of not guilty. At the same time
the sheriff was ordered to arrest Joseph
Elliott, colored, on charge of per-
Jury. The orders were at once carried
cut and Elliott is now lodged in jail
The case against Harris moved rapid
" to it's culmination. The charge
made by Elliott was that he had gone
to Pythian Castle. Of which Harris
was janitor, for the purpose Of paying
the lodge dues of Mr.. a. Fulford. For
this purpose Mr.. Fulford had given El-
liott $50, and his due card. The mon
ey was to be given to Mr.. Charles J.
White, secretary Of the lodge.
According to Elliotts story he went
20 the Pythian Castle several times
in an endeavor to find Mr.. White,
but could not catch him in his Office.
He finally decided to hand the money
over to Harris, and ask him to hand
it to Mr.. White. According to his story
he at once left the building. thinking
that everything had been settled.
Later he learned that the money had
not been paid Mr.. White. and went to
Harris TO ask him about it. Harris
denied having received the money and
Elliott at once preferred charges for
larceny after trust. An indictment was
found by the grand jury and the case
began yesterday. Mr.. H. Z. Wilson ap
peared for the defendant.
Good Character of Harris.
The story originally told by Elliott
was repeated yesterday on the stand,
and evidence was adduced to show that
he had received that amount for the
purpose of paying the dues from Mr..
Fulford. Evidence was also brought
out to show that he had been at the
hall.
For the defense. a number of wit
nesses were called who testified to the
good character of Harris. MIR. Will
liam H. Leopold. grand keeper of rec
ords and seals, stated that Harris had
been employed about the Pythian Cas-
tie for a number OF years. He had
often been entrusted with moneys, and
in every case had turned it over to
the proper persons. Other witnesses,
principally those employed about the
castle. corroborated the testimony of
Mr.. Leopold.
Elliott Had Been Around.
In the course of his testimony Mr..
Leopold stated that he had seen FL
lott on the morning in question, and
that he had in his hand the dues card
which had been sent by Mr.. Fulford
with the money No mention was
made to Mr.. Leopold of what Elliott
wanted.
Another witness for the defense
stated that on the night following the
alleged payment of the money, in trust,
to Harris. that Elliott had returned
the money in question to Mr.. Fulford.
This absolute contradiction of facts
caused the prosecuting attorney to call
Mr.. Fulford by phone and ask him
regarding this matter. Mr.. Fulford
said the money had been returned to
him by Elliott.
Held Elliott for Perjury.
The prosecuting attorney at once
stated to Judge Cam how matters
stood. Immediately the court ordered
the jury to bring in a verdict of ac-
quittal and ordered the sheriff to hold
Elliott for perjury
Elliott made no statement in regard
to his action against Harris. The sup
position is that he lost the money in
some game and fearing the conse-
quences, put the blame on Harris.
Later he raised the money from an
other source and returned it to Mr..
E1Ilfnrd