The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-20
De Girls FREED
BY SHORT TRIAL
CHARACTER OF PR0sEcUTRIx
TORN To sHREDs by HER OWN AD-
MISSIONS ON WITNESS STAND.

Had Lived in DisreputabIe Houses
Drinks when She Wanted Them
and Occasionally Frequented Bar
rOoms-Was First Witness Called
for the StRte-Brieiy Told of As
sauIt and Running to Negro Cabin.
jury Out Only Twenty Minutes.
After celebrating less than twenty
minutes the jury trying the case
against James De Girls, charged with
attempting to criminally assault Mrs.
Mamie Stirne, yesterday returned a
verdict. acquitting the defendant. The
result of the trial was in great meas
ure due to the admissions of the pros
ecutrix, who proved herself to be al
most without character.
The case was called shortly after
IL o'clock. The defendant. a boy of
about 20 years, and a brother of the
Diamond Queen" sat with his attor-
neys. He was apparently composed.
though restlessly moving his eyes from
place to place and seemingly anxious
lest even the minutest detail of the
trial should escape him. De Girls is
of a brunette type and of medium
hight and weight, and his likeness to
his notorious sister was very notice
able.
The prosecutrix was the first wit
ness called for the state She is
pretty woman of about 2S years of
age, with brown hair and eyes, and
a fresh complexion. She was attired
in black suit and hat, with gloves
to match, and wore a white stock tie
and brown veil. She was exceedingly
self-composed on the stand and an
swered, unblushingly, questions which
tore from her every shred of charac-
ter.
In rapid manner she told her story
of the alleged attempt, substantially
the same as that published in the
Morning News after the preliminary
hearing. She stated that she was ap-
preached, while walking near the Crit
tendon Home, by man in blue over
alls and carrying a gun. He asked her
how far it was to the Isle of Hope
She turned and ran. The man fol-
lowed her and, overtaking her, threw
her violently in the road, face down
ward, and overpowered her. Her
screams frightened him off, and she
ran to a negro hut nearby. The ne
groes told her that James De Girls, a
man who fitted her description OF the
one who had assaulted her, in every
respect, had passed by only a few
moments before. This was the first
she knew De Girls name.
Damaging Admissions OF Prosecu-
trix
On cross-examina ton witness ad-
nitted that her character was far from
the best. In replying to questions, she
stated that when in Savannah she had
lived with Irene Hall, Blanche Has
kins, Hazel Miller and other women.
She stated that for more than six
months, however, she had been living
an upright life and was reforming.
do y0u use narcotics?" she was
asked. She answered in the negative.
do you drink?"
Yes, sir; when I want drink I
take it,
do you go into barrooms 2"
Occasionally"
The cross-examnation was dropped
at this point and the witness dis
missed.
Dolly and Mack Cooper, the two ne
groes to whose hut the woman had
run, and who had told her who De
Girls was, were then called. They sub
stantiated the story of the prosecu-
trix in regard to her visit to them.
Both testified that there were no
scratches or bruises on her face. In
face of her statement that she had
been thrown face downward in the
gravel road, this evidence was greatly
in favor of the defendant.
Defendant Made Statement
De Girls took the stand and, in his
own behalf, said only a few words to
the jury. His story of the days hap
penings was as follows:
Gentlemen of the Jury: Here l am.
I am charged with assault. I am not
guilty. That afternoon I borrowed q
gun from Willie Butler at o'clock. I
left him at $3.50 o'clock and went
through Ambos' place. / crossed back
of Sunberry Swamp and shot my game
and then came home. was home at
4:30 o'clock. Mr.. Crawford arrested
me between $50 and o'clock between
my house and M. J. Doyle's track. I
was dressed in striped pants and a
black felt hat The pants are down
at the county jail"
With the statement of the defendant
the defense rested and after argument
the case was given to the jury. The
argument of counsel for the defense
made the most of the woman's stained
character and II was this which prob
ably had the greatest influence on the
jury.