The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-26
FROM SAVANNAH
To STATESBOR0
COURT OF INQUIRY MEETS.
ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 10 O'CLOCK
IN SUPERIOR COURT.

Col. w. w. Barker Detained one Da1
BY Illness of Wife and Col. NJOOt
en-, the Presiding Officer, Wa
Waiting on UnifOrm-LOcaI StenO'
Eraphers Did Not Want Job nnt
Reporter Ordered from Atlanta
Names of Twenty-Five Handed In
One n Civilian.
At the close of the brief session oil
the Court of Inquiry held yesterday AT
noon, Col. w. E. Wooten, the presid-
ing officer. announced that as soon as
the evidence available here was taken
the court would adjourn to Statesboro.
Owing TO the inability Of the court
to secure a stenographer in Savannah,
and to the fact that Col. Wooten had
been appointed as a member of the
court while away from home, and did
not have his uniform with him, it was
decided at the first session to adjourn
until this morning. Col. w, w. Bar
ker of. Atlanta, was also unavoidably
detained
to-day in the Superior Court room, be-
ginning at 10 o'clock. An afternoon
session will also be held, and perhaps
a night session, if it is found neces-
sary in order to conclude the testi-
mony obtainable in Savannah.
In the event that the evidence here
is concluded tonight, the court will
go to Statesboro tomorrow, and it is
possible that the evidence there may
be taken in one day.
Court Called to Order.
When the court of inquiry was called
to order at 1910 o'clock in the Supe-
rior Court room. there were present,
the following members: Col. w. +.
Wooten, Albany, president; Capt. War
rem Grice. Hawkinsville, Recorder;
Lieut.. Col. Jordan F. Brooks Savan-
nah, retired. The fourth member, Col.
w. W. Barker of Atlanta, was detain-
ed by the serious illness of his wife,
but Will arrive this morning.
OF the military company which was
on guard at Statesboro when the two
negroes We're taken from the Court
House by the mob, We're Capt. r. NJ
Hitch, First Lieutenant George A.
Nell. Second Lieutenant James McIn-
tire and Sergt. R. G.. Thomson. The
Rifles, and the first two to the Ogle-
thorpe Light Infantry. All were in
uniform and came to testify.
Among the other military men in the
room were Col. A. r. Lawton, who
was originally designated to sit as
president. and Lieut.. Col. Grayson, of
the First Regiment A dozen specta-
tors and representatives of the press,
completed the rather limited attend
ance, due in large measure to the un-
certainty as to the place of the meet
ing and also as TO whether or not the
sittings would be open.
Gathered About the Table.
Seated at the head of the table was
Col Wooten, while at the foot sat
Capt. Grice. who. as recorder. will con
duct the examinations col. Brooks
sat to the right of Col Wooten.
Col. Wooten explained to his fellow
members that his lack of uniform was
due to the fact that he was notified
late the night before of his appoint
ment at Atlanta and did not have
time TO get his uniform from Albany.
his home. A telegram had been sent
for il. and it will be worn this morn
ing by Col. Wooten. From the read
ing of the law governing courts of in
quiry it was considered doubtful if
Col. Wooten could hear testimony
without a uniform.
Recorder Grice read the order for
the court. which was to inquire into
the conduct of Capt. r. NJ. Hitch and
the officers and men during the recent
trouble at Statesboro from the time of
their arrival until their departure.
No Objections TO Court.
At the conclusion Of the reading of
the order Capt Hitch was asked il he
had any objections TO the composition
of the court.
Speaking for myself" said Capt.
Hitch, Il have none. For the men
and officers under me, cannot speak"
Lieut.. Nell. Lieut.. McIntire and
Sergt. Thomson were asked the same
question and expressed themselves as
pleased with the court
Recorder Grice then read the oath
for the two members of the court of
inquiry, after which Col. Wooten adj
ministered the oath to Recorder Grice.
Col. Wooten stated that the court
had been unable to secure a ste
ographer to do the work required for
the amount allowed by the state, and
with the assent OF the other members
of the court he announced he would
telegraph for stenographer from At
lanta who could be- secured.
1t was then announced by Presi-
dent Wooten that an adjournment
would be taken until 10 o'clock in the
morning. II was stated that the taxi
ing of the evidence in Savannah might
be conducted in a day, and that the
court would then hold a session in
Statssboro.
List of the Witnesses.
After the adjournment a list of
names of witnesses was handed to Re-
corder Grice to be summoned for to-
days sessions. About twenty-five
names were on the list, all members
Of the militta. except Mr.. Palmer Kirk
land. civilian, who was inside the
Court House at the time of the assault
by the mob.
Preliminary TO the meeting of the
court, a conference was held with Col.
A. r. Lawton at the latter's Office,
when the legal aspects of the case
were discussed and the method of pro-
cedure outlined.
When court convenes for the second
session Corpl. Burch and three order
lies will be on hand to act as officers
of the court. Owing to the lateness
OF the notification given the squad, II
did not arrive until after the adjourn
ment of the court
Capt. Hitch will be the first witness
examined. In addition to his verbal
examination, it is understood that he
will aek leave to submit a number Of
written statements relative to the
happenings at Statesboro.
One OF these is a statement by Rev.
Harmon Hodges, brother of Mr.. Henry