The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-14
GREENE FREED
BY TRIAL JURY
LESS THAN HOUR REQUIRED
ron IURY TO ACQUIT HIM OF MUIR
DEROUS ASSAULT CHARGE.

Uns Tried for Shooting PatrOlmnn
collins During Investigation in
,,.vor.s Omce-Vindictive and Bit
,er statement of Greene a Feature
,f the Case-Judge Cam Ordered
Kim TO Desist in Criticism of RE
cnrder MyricS.
Not guilty" was the verdict of the
i1rv in the Superior Court trying
the case of the state against Henry G.
Greene, charged with assault with in
tent to murder. The verdict was re-
tnrned at 7:45 o'clock last night after
The Jury had been out about forty-five
minutes
There was no new evidence intro
du,ed by either side. The case was
the first one called for trial. After
several hours time a jury was Sc
cured. though not until thirty-three
had stood aside for cause. ten had been
stricken by the state, and nineteen by
the defense. The following composed
the Jury which acquitted Greene:
Harmon J. Meyer, H. T. Wilson,
stephen T. Furse, Jr., Robert A.
Grady E. j. Keiffer, Jr., Thomas F.
Coffee, w. c. Rowlinsky, A. G.. Guer-
ard. Jr, j. H Gould, William F.
Reynolds, A. E. bearing and H. D.
Durant.
For evidence the state contented it
self with that of the physician who
had treated Patrolman Collins wounds,
COL Robert L. Colding, a witness to
the shooting, and Stenogra pher Cohen.
Greene's own statement was also re-
lied upon to secure d conviction. The
defense called no witnesses except
Greene, who made his statement con-
cerning the affair.
At AS o'clock Mr.. F. M. Oliver be-
gan the argument for the prosecution
He was succeeded by Solicitor Osborne
and Judge Adams then spoke for the
defense. At 6:57 o'clock the case was
given to the jury and at 745 it return
ed with a verdict of not guilty.
Judge Adams at once left the court
room Greene moved among the jurors
and shook each by the hand, as he
thanked him for voting for his ac-
quittaL BY o'clock the Court House
was deserted. Patrolman Collins was
not in the courtroom at the time the
verdict of the jury was announced.
Judge Interrupts Defendant.
the feature of the trial of the case
was the statement made by Greene in
his own behalf. The statement, which
required more than an hour to deliv-
er was filled with invective against
arraignment of Patrolman Collins. So
vehement did the defendant become in
his statements that he was twice in
terrupted. once by the court and once
by his own counsel.
In speaking of the proceedings in
Police Court the morning after his
arrest Greene attacked Recorder My
rick. That man never looked me in
the face" he said. why, gentle
men, it is a we'll known fact that he
cannot look a man in the face. He
is noted for never looking a man in
the face"
At this point Judge Cam interrupt
ed with Greene. there is no neces-
si,y in discussing and criticising the
Recorder"
Interrupted by Judge Adams.
For bitter invective and an attempt
TO tear the character of the prosecutor
TO shreds, the statement of Greene
has seldom been euualled in the Su-
perior Court He spared nothing and
even stated to the jury he had made
an especial effort to collect evidence
against the officer since the first hear
ing of the case.
Constantly he referred to the officer
as "a great, big. cowardly bully" He
accused him of cursing him and rough
" treating him without cause He
claimed he had been picked up drunk
on the streets while in uniform and
/ he had insulted the ladies in the
Planters Hotel" mo member of the
police force can equal him." he said,
lin his record for brutality and for
being before the Mayor on charges of
drunkenness"
Referring to Collins companions, he
said he made friends with. the most
all around cut-throat. murderer, and
burglar in the state of Georgia, Why,
gentlemen of the jury he continued,
he even made an attempt-and
verified this through the then super
Wife"
At this point Judge Adams jumped
10 his feet. raised his hand and said
DO not bring up that" During this
arralgnment, Collins conducted him
made to his attempt to kill his wife,
nus face flushed with anger and he
srlpped the arms of his chair, but
made no attempt to interfere with the
statement
In closing Greene said: IF I were
N the same position tomorrow, gem
Iiemen of the jury, would do the same
Thing over"
Arguments and Judges Charge.
Both Solicitor Osborne and Attorney
VlVer scored the defendant on his
esIaiement in their arguments to the jury
N. ms bitter. revengeful spirit, not yet
sduated said Solicitor Osborne, "still
SseeKs to injure and wound the man
u Snot down in cold blood. Claiming
W. should be freed because he was
] olecting a woman when he shot, he
INTO this trial the name of Mrs.
ms the life-partner of his victim.
state needs nothing but Greene's
statement to prove his malignant
aoandoned heart"
,'se Adams. in his argument, ex-
'ned TO the jury he had stopped
sene IN his statement because he
w., not wish to drag Owen Reilly into
tnls case
Not to Affect Case.
IN his charge to the jury, referring
Nv ms stopping Greene, Judge Cam
Comment has been made by counsel
lion Inc fact that the court caution
y. the defendant, while making his
cement that he must not speak dis
spectiully of a judge of lower court
tauae ~ was unnecessary to the de-