The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-27
SUSPECTED BILL
RAlSERS WATCHED
DEVELo PMENTS EXPECTED
WITHIN FEW DAYS, SAID UNITED
STATES ATTORNEY LEA1EN.

ON These Grounds He Asked POST
ponemcnt of Hearing of j. w.
Reddick Case Until MOnday-An
Evidence VIII BE i'm Then-State-
ment Made After Consultation for
Several Minutes with Deputy Mnr-
shall WilsOn-NO other Arrests.
The government has other men I'M
der surveillance, and other bills in its
possession which have been passed by
them. We are completing our inves-
legations and expect within a day or
two to have our chain of evidence COM
plete. Until such time, hope that
the court will see fit TO postpone this
hearing.
i do not say that I can prove that
this young man is a member of this
gang, but until can complete my evil
dence I would not like this case dis
posed Of"
In the above language United States
Attorney William R. Leaken yesterday
asked for postponement of the hear
ing of the case against ]. w. Reddick,
charged with passing raised bill. At
torney Shelby Myrick stated that he
had no objection to postponement, if
the bond could be renewed. This was
done and the hearing will be concluded
on Monday.
Special significance attaches to Mr..
Leaken's statement, owing to its COM
ing Immediately after a long consulta-
ton with Deputy Marshal Wilson.
When asked if any arrests had been
made, Mr.. Leaken stated that there
had not I'VE have simply not been
able to gather all the evidence he
said land so asked for a postpone
ment. We expect to have everything
ready by Monday afternoon"
Sister WcPt During Hearing.
Reddick himself seemed perfectly
composed during the hearing. He sat
near his attorney, and consulted with
him constantly, apparently advising
on the questions asked. He is a young
man about 26 years of age, was at
tired in a dark blue coat, white shirt,
and light trousers. He wore red
necktie which he was continuously
adjusting.
Near him sat his sister, Miss Cora
Reddick Each time that the raised"
bill was passed between counsel. her
feelings became too much for her and
she cried.
other Relatives There.
A cousin Of Reddicks, pretty.
black haired, black-eyed girl of about
10, sat with his sister. She took the
greatest interest in all the proceedings,
her eyes following witnesses and coun-
sci constantly. During the repartee
between counsel regarding soap" she
several times smiled.
A number of cousins of the defend
ant were present, as well as several
who board at his home and many of
the neighbors.
Good Character of Defendant,
There was no evidence beyond what
has already been published in the
Morning News, brought out by the
government. Sergt. ]. A. Woods was
the first witness, and he told of Red
dicks arrest, after a telephone mes
sage had been sent to him.
Joe Coffee, the negro who had been
rendered the bill in payment for SOAP
told of going to Ben Renters for
change. 1t was Remler, he said, who
first detected that the bill was bad.
In response to a question from Mr..
Myrick as TO whether he knew a bad
bill when he sa0T one, he stated that
he did. Mr.. N.Y. ok then gave him
torn bill which had been pasted to-
gether. The negro at once stated that
the bill was a good one.
Mr.. Remler then told his story, cor
roborating the negro in every respect.
He stated that he had been warned
that bad bills were in circulation, and
when he found this one he at once
notified the police. AT this point the
government rested.
The feature of the defense was the
number of witnesses called to testifv
to the good character of the defendant.
Neighbors, boarders, merchants, and
the Atlantic Coast Line yard master,
all testified as to Reddick's being re-
liable, sober, honest, and faithful This
evidence aided greatly in strengthen
ing the defense.
Defendants own Story.
The defendants story was practically
the same as told by him to the police.
He said that he had been riding on his
bicycle and was near the Union Station
when a dark complexioned man with
dark eyes, hair, and mouStache" asked
him to change s. bill. This he did and
1t was this bill which he had rendered
the negro in payment for six bars of
soap. He had not noticed that the bill
was bad.
When asked why he went to the ne
gros store to buy the soap, he stated
he did not know whether his regular
grocer had it and that he bought it
whenever and wherever he remem-
bered he had been asked to buy some.
Thereafter nearly every witness call
ed for the defense was asked by Mr..
Leaken where he would naturally go to
buy soap. All answered unhesitatingly
that he would go to a grocery store.
There were several exchanges of re-
partee between counsel on the soap"
question which were enjoyed by the at
tendants at the hearing. The hearing
occupied more than two hours. All the
evidence available was in when Mr..
Leaken asked for the postponement.