The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-19
REFUSED COUNSEL
NAMED BY COURT
THOUGH WITHOUT ATTORNEYS
DE Girls REFUSED To MAKE
STATEMENT TO THOSE APPOINTED.

Facts Developed when Case Was
Called at Opening of Court-Pris-
Oncr's Relatives Insisted That
They Had Employed Col. COIding
to Defend Him-PrisOner Brought
Into Court and Stated That He Had
no COunseI-SheriR Empowered to
Appoint Additional Deputies.
Though he had employed no counsel
to defend him, James De Girls, ac-
cused of attempted criminal assault on
Mrs. NJ. L. Styron, yesterday morning
refused to acceptSthe services of the
attorneys who h%d been appointed by
the court to defend him. This condi-
ton of affairs developed when the
case was called for trial by Judge
Cam.
The court was calling the calendar
for the day. and when the case of the
state against James De Girls was reached
Solicitor Osborne promptly answered
ready. Mr.. e. H. Abrahams one of
the attorneys appointed by the court
to defend the prisoner. stated that he
was unable to go on with the case.
In explaining the reasons for his be-
ing unprepared Mr.. Abrahams said
that when he started to look into the
case he had consulted with his
client who had refused to give
him any information whatever, and
would not make any statement con-
corning the trouble.
The relatives of the prisoner were
then appealed to, and they stated that
they had instructed De Girls to make no
statement to any one except Col. Rob-
ert l.. Colding, whom they had en-
ployed to defend him. These instruc-
lions the prisoner followed implicitly.
Judge Cam then sent for Col. Cold
ing and asked him if he had been
employed to defend De Girls. He an
swered that a gentleman, to him I'M
known, had approached him and asked
him what his fee would be. He re-
Piled, and that was the last that had
been heard of the matter.
Prisoner Brought Into Court.
Judge Cam then ordered the sheriff
to bring in the prisoner. De Girls en-
tered and the court asked:
Have you any counsel to defend you
in the case now pending?"
mot a soul, sir" was the response.
The court again appointed Messrs.
Abrahams and Hayward, the two for
| mer appointees, to defend the prisoner,
and instructed them to consult at once
with De Girls and prepare their case.
The prisoner and his attorneys then
| retired.
The regular business of the day was
taken up, and the case against Eddie
| Wallace, charged with the murder of
Mamie Kennedy begun.
| At the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion the case against De Girls again
came before the court. Mr.. Hayward
| stated that he and Mr.. Abrahams had
consulted with De Girls, and that he
had consented to talk with them. Later
he had insisted that Mr.. Shelby My
rick was his attorney, and the counsel
| appointed, therefore, asked to be re-
| lieved
POstponement Was Refused.
Mr.. Myrick appeared before The
court and stated that renewed impor-
tunities had been brought to bear on
him by relatives of the prisoner, and
that he had finally consented to take
the case. He asked, however, that a
postponement be given him, as he had
/ had no time in which to work no his
case, and no witnesses had been sum
moned.
| Judge Cam refused the request and
stated that the case would be called
| for trial this morning. His reasons for
refusing further time was that ample
| time had been given the defendant to
| talk with his attorneys, and allow them
to prepare his defense. The attorneys
| appointed to defend him were c0nIpe-
| tent and able, and that he and his rel
atives had refused to accept their serv-
| ices, even when they could not afford
| to employ counsel, that the prisoner
must abide by the consequences.
Judge Cam Was Obdurate.
He stated that he was perfectly will
ing for Mr. Myrick to assist the at
| torneys appointed by the state and
would do all he could to aid them in
making out their case. In closing,
however, he announced that he would
call the case for trial this morning
and that it must be tried.
He then instructed Sheriff Schwarz
to aid the counsel as much as possible
in subpoening witnesses and author
| lied him, If necessary, to appoint adj
ditional deputies to aid in the work.
| The case was then dropped for the day.
De Girls himself is very poor and
none of his relatives have any money,
so that 1t was evident that they could
employ no attorneys. Despite this fact
they steadily refused to consult with
the attorneys appointed until after
the announcement by the court that 1t
| would try the case this morning.