The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-01

JuuSG 4JttIcS Al lcAocillE StAAA1Li1C DAA
the prisoners had as much TO do with
infaming the crowd as any other one
thing and probably more. What he
said could very reasonably have been
construed By the crowd to mean that,
in his judgment, hanging was too good
for the prisoners
Statement of Capt. R. NJ. Hitch be-
fore the court of inquiry yesterday aft
ernoon.
To give Capt. R. NJ. Hitch, Lieut.
Nell and Lieut.. McIntire an opportu-
nifty TO answer any accusations made
at Statesboro, the court of inquiry yes
De Soto Hotel.
The most sensational happening was
the charge by Capt. Hitch that Judge
Daley was partly responsible for the
lyHching of the prisoners. He also put
it up to Lieut. Cone to tell why he did
not hold the front stairway after he
had been seized and thrown out into
the mob
The statements of Lieuts. Nell and
McIntire related to minor incidents.
Nell Denied Statement.
Lieut. Nell was the first witness.
Col. Wooten stated that if he had
any testimony in rebuttal, or to make
any correction or explanation he would
have the opportunity.
A statement made by Deputy Sheriff
Kendrick, to the effect that he had re-
10 oil
need of reinforcements, was denied.
The officer had asked the deputy how
things were getting on at the Court
House, and had been informed all was
we'll The deputy said he had come to
look after the prisoners at the Jail.
Col. Barker: Did not Lieut.. Conc
ask you if he was in command at that
timer"
Lieut. Nell: mo. sir"
Col. Brooks did you tell Lieut..
Cone to march the troops up"
Lieut.. Nell: Il do not remember"
Col Brooks: Were you acting as If
you were the senior officer?"
Lieut. Nell: Il think So"
The statement by Sergt. Proctor that
the prisoners were taken out as wit
ness got there with his men, was de-
clared to be false.
-, Col. Wooten: Where were you when
hiC HiAoOAlNlE NGI6 taken out
Lieut.. Nell: lust where I can't
say. According to the testimony of
others as to the time it happened. I
guess I was about half way between
the Court House and the Jail. About
seventeen men were with me. About
half of the men were at the Court
House, and about one-half at the Jail
and in my detail"
Ammunition Given Ont.
Lieut.. McIntire was the next wit
ness. He was questioned as to the
accuracy of his statements that he
saw Lieut. Griner in the corridor and
knocked down by the members of the
mob. Witness was sure he was not
mistaken. Col. Wooten stated that
Lieut.. Griner had stated on the stand
that he had never been knocked down
The witness was closely questioned
about the distribution of ammunition
He stated that he had given the
Statesboro boys from three to ten
rounds of ammunition, depending on
the size of the soldiers, the larger ones
getting the most cartridges. He had
asked if all had cartridges and no
man answered, silence being a sign
that all were supplied.
For more than an hour Capt. Hitch
answered statements made relative to
his conduct
The first thing he did was to posi-
lively identify d. T. Mallard, alias
Cap" Mallard as the man who had
seized and disarmed him. and SHOW
ed him down the steps. Witness
stated that he could not possibly be
mistaken.
The man who seized me was Cap
Mallands" said Capt. Hitch to the
court. HE was a bailiff and served
as such Monday. His appearance was
riveted upon my memory He was
unquestionably the man who disarm-
ed me-"
Shooting Not Forbidden.
Instructions given to his men be-
fore they arrived at Statesboro were
discussed by Capt. Hitch. There was
nothing said from which "A reasonable
man would infer that there was to be
no shooting done" said Capt. Hitch.
''The reasonable conclusion was that
shooting would be ordered, and that
TO kill"
The statement of Lieut.. Cone that
Capt. Hitch was in charge of the de-
tail brought up by him was incorrect,
except so far as he was in command
Of all the troops. Lieut.. McIntire was
in command at the rear stairway and
Lieut.. Cone of the front stairway. The
detail was ordered to face at charge
VI
all hazards. These instructions must
have been heard by Lieut.. Cone. IL
Lieut.. Cone. ever left the front stair
way it was without any knowledge
or authority. He was left in charge
of this detail. Capt. Hitch did not re-
member 10 have seen Cone inside the
court room after he was placed in
charge.
col. Brooks: What order did you
give him."
Capt. Hitch MY instructions were
general to Lieut.. Cone and detail I
said: Halt. face at charge bayonets.
and hold this stairway at all hazards
/ intended that the detail was TO
hold the stairway with bayonets. and
IL the mob showed weapons, to fire.
] did not want them to leave the stair
way. as they would have been liable
TO a flank attack %
Being asked regarding the number
of men on the front stairway. Capt.
Hitch thought that there were about
sixteen or eighteen when he was SELF
ed. He outlined his idea Of what his
orders would he under different con-
dttions. II the mob had broken the
front line ne would have ordered those
an the rear TO take their posts near
the top OF the stairway and would
have ordered those IN front TO retire
10 the rear Then the soldiers with
loaded guns would have been ordered
to FIRE.
Col. Brooks. did you outline this
20 any officer 20 that he could have
carried II out?"
Gould Not Anticipate.
Capt. Hitch. There was no chance
II was impossible to anticipate the ma