The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-04-02
SELECTING THE JURY
TO TRY WILL SORSBY

Intense interest is being manifested
and 1t is evident that the crowds that
will be in attendance during the trial
will be much larger than the capacity
of the courtroom. Sheriff Harding
states that he will keep the gallery
clear of negroes, if necessary for the
accommodation of white persons who
desire to attend, and the assurance is
given that seats will always be provid.
ed for ladies', even II the made spec
tators are deprived of their seats.
AS a rule the women of Mississippi
rarely attend a court session, but it
is quite probable that there will be
scores Of the gentler sex on hand
throughout the Sorsby trial.
History of Tragedy.
The killing of Postoffice Inspector
Fitzgerald occurred on the depot plat
form at Clinton On the afternoon of
September 20, 1908, at about 5 pm.
Mr.. Fitzgerald left Jackson on the
forenoon of the day named for Clih-
ton, ten miles from this city, for the
purpose Of checking up the books and
accounts of the postoffice. The post
mistress of the village was Mrs. Cab
aniss, widow of the late Judge Cab
aniss, and her son-in-law, William a.
Sorsby, a youngster about % years of
age, was the deputy in active charge.
The inspector spent several hours
going over the books, and discovered
a shortage Of about $500. He report
ed for ladies, even if the male spec
transpired between the two men from
the hour the discovery was revealed
until a few moments before the fatal
shot was fired is known save only to
Sorsby.
In his dying moments, however, Mr.,
Fitzgerald stated that Sorsby tried
to persuade him not to report the mat
ter to the department He urged the
inspector to make re tort saying that
the office was in first-class shape.
This Mr.. Fitzgerald delined to do,
but did, it seems, give lin an assur-
ance that he would usekis influence
with the department toHeal as len
iently with him as possible.
The shortage was male good by
Sorsby, and Mr.. Fitzgeral had placed
the amount in an envelpe and for
warded it to the department before
leaving Clinton. About 5p'clock pm.
he walked down to the \ & V. depot
to take the eastbound trim for Jack
SON Sorsby accompanied him to the
station. Arriving a few poments be-
fore train time, the inspdor and the
deputy walked down to tn end OF the
platform discussing the mtter, Sors-
by still imploring the inslctor not to
J make an official report onh matter.
As the train was apprching Mr.
, Fitzgerald turned and wfed for the
, station, Sorsby still at h side. Just
: as Mr.. Fitzgerald was alut step on
\ board the day coach Sorsf remarked:
p "Well, what are you Ding to do
about that matter?"
q 81 can't do anything, " boy" was
the reply. 81 will have tdo my duty
q but"
q Before the sentenceEa finished
q Sorsby had drawn a pipl, pressed II
o to Mr.. Fitzgerald's sidand fired. A
" small-sized panic folloYd, and In The
@ excitement Sorsby esqed from the
= crowd The inspectofealizing that
% he had been seriously ounded, asker
a several bystanders t'help him on
board the train, in ord that he could
10 get to Jackson for mlcal attehtloh
u ecord-breaking r' was made tC
citv On arrivahere Mr.. FitZ
ID was able to wa from the traN
no baggage room where he wa
cd on stretch and hurriedlN
A.t yeyed to the Jason sanitarlum
re- Several physicians ere summoned
TO and a probing for , bullet shcwe;
re- that the wound wafatal, the inttS
he tines having been incurred i'll 9e'
eral places.
III A few minutes tpre the ehd 'H
Ike patient was restoreto conscloue'leS
to and was able to 5 goodbye TO nj
vi heart-broken wife d weeping chi
nd dren assembled ahis bedside ;
he his dying momenPe murmured;
rn- "Poor boy, poofoy! He did nc
Lnow was his frhd!"
he This, accordingi Mr.. Fitzgerald
len family, is the eft language u"e'
as although the dqse, In a motlo
cry tinuance, quoted as saying; III
Sc, poor boy did not bow what he wa
Ind doing; was hifst friend and
ing did not know itHThis version a
ved cording to the fnse, showed 'h'
ers Mr.. Fitzgerald zed that MS d
II ...A4 L.,