The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-07
VACANCY IN
COURT-MARTIAL
WILLIAMSON NOT A MEMBER.
REPORTED THAT CAPT. DAVIS
FREEMAN HAS BEEN APPOINTED.

All of Defendants Except DIR. Morri-
son VIII BE Represented by Conn
seI-The Doctor VIII Content Him
self with Statement of His
Connection With StatesbOrO Affair
and Let 1t Go ut Manifestations
of Court viii BE Held at Guards
ArmOry-AdvOcate General Napier
viii Arrive This Morning.
II am not d member of the court
martial. ! was never notified of my
appointment, hence i had nothing to
resign from, "-Statemen of Maj. w.
W. Williamson.
I'm reply to the question asking If
i have been appointed member of
the court-martial, l refuse to either
affirm or deny the report. state
ment of Capt. Davis Freeman last
night.
Savannah will have two members on
the court-martial which will sit here
next week. Capt. w. w. Gordon, Jr.,
acknowledges that he is one, but who
is the other?
According to the list gent out from
Atlanta, Mai. w. w. Williamson was
named as one of the members. In a
statement made last night Maj. Will
hanson shows that he never was really
a member of the court, as he received
no official notification of the appoint
ment reported by press dispatches.
On seemingly good authority it is re-
ported that Capt. Freeman was made
a. member of the court. When asked
~ To- Lo
clined to either confirm or deny the
appointment. Official information re-
garding his connection with the court
will be received from Atlanta to-day.
Thirteen officers will compose the
court-martial. none being below the
rank of captain.
Guards ArmOry for Court.
held in the Guards armory, arrange
ments having already been made to
this end. The hall is admirably adapt
ed to the purposes of the court, being
roomy enough for the accommodation
of the court and of the witnesses and
a fair sized crowd in addition.
1t is probable that three sessions of
the court may be held daily, as it is
very desirable to complete the work
y
Three stenographers will be employed,
so that the reports of the previous
day may be ready each morning. I'm
der favorable conditions the court may
be able to complete its labors within
a week.
Counsel for -Four Officers.
With the single exception of DR.. A.
A. Morrison, the officers on trial will
be represented by counsel.
Capt. r. NJ. Hitch has secured Mr..
w. w. Toomer of Waycross and will
also have a representative from among
his friends of the local bar.
Lieut.. George A. Nell stated yester-
day that he would have counsel, but
declined to state who would represent
him. He will be a member of the local
bar.
Lieuts. Cone and Griner will be rep
resented by Statesboro attorneys. In
addition, Lieut.. Cone will be repre-
scented by Mr.. Emmett Wilson of the
local bar.
In explaining why he would not re-
tain a lawyer, DIR. Morrison said that
he will content himself with making d
statement of his connection with the
military movements at Statesboro, and
will not attempt to bring out any fur
Their evidence in his own behalf, as he
does not consider it necessary.
Not only will the attorneys for the
four officers be present at the trial,
but they will also watch to prevent
the admission into the record of testi-
mony in any of the other cases which
might be prejudicial to their clients.
In pursuance to this plan, it is posi-
BILE that some of the witnesses will be
submitted to rigid cross-examinations.
This will, of course, consume time, and
in the aggregate will affect the length
of the sessions.
Col. Napier Here To-day.
Col. George M. Napier, the judge adj
vocate, will reach Savannah this morn
ing for the purpose of having every
thing ready for the assembling of the
court on Monday. 1t will be his duty
to have the evidence to be submitted
in concise shape, and to know what
each witness can offer for the infor-
nation of the court.
While as judge advocate he also rep
resents the defendants, it is incum-
bent on him to prepare the evidence
for the state. as the court will look
alone to him to have the full evidence
before them. He will have for refer
ence, the transcript of the evidence be-
fore the court of inquiry, which will
greatly assist him in deciding what is