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CITY AND COUNTY.
Frank Humphries’ Trial.
Frank Humphries was brought over
from Macon on Sunday, 1st, to under
go his trial for the murder of Mis 4 *
Carrie Raines and Miss Eila Hum
phries on the 4th of March last, on 8
country road something like a mile
from his own house. The former was
his wife’s sister and the latter was the
daughter of his half brother, Elisha
Humphries. He had enticed them to
start from their home at the house of
Elisha Humphries, by telling Miss
Raines his wife was very sick and
was very anxious to see her, having
something very special to tell her,
and Miss Ella Humphries accompa
nied them at the earnest request of
Miss Raines. The killing was done
when they had nearly reached Frank
Humphries’ house, about the 'hour of
sunset.
The case was called in t*he Superior
Court', Judge Lawson presiding, last
Thursday morning. The prisoner was
brought into court by Sheriff Ennis
and exhibited by his pale complexion
the effects of his long confinement in
the Macon jail, but was otherwise ap
parently in good health.
His wife and his three children, a
daughter some ten years of age and
two good looking boys who were
younger, were present throughout the
trial and the former, evidently, at
times, suffered great distress. His
brother Jehu was also present and
sitting at his side, exhibited great in
terest in the proceedings.
His deportment throughout the
trial, in the most exciting por
tions of it, was remarkably cool and
collected, amounting almost, in the
opinion of some to callousness of feel
ing. The making up of a jury was ac
complished with much less trouble
than was anticipated and took up
comparatively but little time. The
following named citizens composed
the jury, viz:
C. W. Ennis, Jr., Herman Gumm,
Thomas Smith, J. H. Simpson, John
Scogin, J. A. Buck, E. K. Champion,
Harry Erwin, Thos. N. Willis, C. L.
Moran, A. R. Bloodworth, W. O.
Finney.
“This jury was empanelled to try the
defendant for the murder of Miss Ella
Humphries, not including that of Miss
Raines.
The first witness called was Mr. Eli
sha Humphries, who gave the fol
lowing evidence:
I am father of Ella Humphries and
half brother of defendant. Lived
four miles from defendant. Ella was
killed on 4th of March, 1886. That
evening I went to the field about
two o’clock. Left Ella, Carrie Raines,
Mrs. Moore, and Henry Lane and
wife at my house. I returned at 6
o'clock. Ella and Carrie had left
Avhen I returned. Frank had been
there between 2 and 5 o’clock. I
knew nothing of what had happened
until I received the note next morning
from Frank. I wa6 in the field plow
ing when Henry Lane brought it to
me. I took out my mules and went
straight towards Frank's house, my
son, Jim, followed me. The Monti-
cello Roe J leads towards his house 2
miles, and a neighborhood road
branches off from that to go to his
house. Had ridden three quarters of
a mile down the neighborhood road,
Avhe 11 saw blood on the ground, and
v r here efforts had beep made to con
ceal it by raking dirt over it. Look
ed to one side and saw the bodies,
about 47 yards from the road. Went
up to them. Saw my daughter was
wounded in shoulder. Felt so strange
couldn’t examine her. Saw she was
dead. Tried to arrange her clothing
which exposed her person. Sent
Louis Vinson after Mrs. Stiles, and to
get something to cover them- with.
Felt so badly couldn’t do anything.
Looked aboy.t on the ground. Found
Ella's false teeth in the road. Found
unloaded shells and one loaded.
were wet and muddy. They were un
der some bags of cotton. Saw Frank
about 11 o’clock. He was in a crowd
where the deed was committed. He
pointed out the places the killing was
done. Showed me his wriaj slightly
bruised ard a small scratch on it.
Said ‘It’s mighty bad, and he wished
he could have given his life for this/
Said he would never forget the looks
of Miss Carrie as men w r ere carrying
her off. No marks upon him except
on wrist.
Witness on cross-examination said
Frank had liquor with him. Didn’t
think he was drunk; only smelt tho
liquor.
Court then took recess for dinner.
After dinner Mrs. Raines testified.
Was at F. Humphries’ house. Frank
came next morning after murder, wet
and clothes torn and bloody. He
told of four men who struck him with
something like an eel .skin. .He shot
six
Found Ella’s ear-rings. Looked like
there had been a struggle from signs
all round. (The witness was shown a
small box of trimming, and he recog
nized it as Ella’s.) Found the box
100 yards away from bodies, by the
side of a pine tree. I was by myself
there, and was Avalking about. Fol
lowed the seme direction, which was
towards house, and saw track*.
Went on further and found six or
seven tracks^in a place where the hogs
had rooted up the ground. Found no
evidence of where four masked men
were there. Shells K were lying by
Carrie. Ella Avas dragged from the
road to the woods before the rain,
and Carrie afterwards. One was
dragged one way around a tree and
the other on the opposite side. They
were killed 18 feet apart. Thought
at first they were dragged by the
feet, but now think they were drag
ged by the head. Ella was lying
with head to west and Carrie east.
Effort was made to conceal tracks
and blood by drawing dirt over it.
found tucking 4 comb belonging to
Miss Carrie; it was covered up. I kick
ed the dirt and found it. Ground
was damp. Some sand in road, but
outside of road was pine thicket. Had
a struggle taken place between Frank
and four men could have seen signs
of it. No further evidence was pro
duced by cross examination.
Henry Lane testified. I married
Ella H’s. sister. Was at E. J. Hum
phries on evening of March 4th. Had
started off to get some shoes half-sold,
and when 100 yards from house, saw
Frank’s dog and Frank coming. He
came up and he told me he was going
to Lawrence Green’s to bird hunt
next morning. He decided not to
but went to the house, I with
him. He had gone. He told Miss
Carrie the ‘old lady’ was poorly, and
wanted to see her. Had
to tell her, asked her to go
l him. She refused giving
She went out of the
heard her and Ella
talking. Carrie refused to go without
Ella: said Ella, ‘you know Frank is in
the habit of drinking.’ The girls
then fixed up and left with him. i
staved at home. Next morning re
ceived note brought by negro, and ran
to field to inform Elisha, and then
f oilowed him to the scene ot murder.
Assisted Ennis that evening to search
Jor clothing. Found shoes, which
both gun barrels—-didn’t know wheth
er he bit any one. ,
Miss Carrie’s last dying looks at him
he couldn’t stand, and didn't intend
to stand it. Didn’t know where he
staid all night. He Avas unconscious.
When he found himself he was in the
thicket. He changed his clothes up
stairs. Didn’t stay long thereafter.
She saw him Avrite the note: Didn’t
write it ’till the family were going to
send for others. The gun was Avet
and bloody. She and Frank’s Avife
spent the previous day at Win. Webb’s
and Frank knew of it. They left Frank
at home. He told them he was going
to hunt.
Cross examination—She said she
was Frank's sister-in-law. She Avas
at Frank’s from Sunday till Thursday.'
Saw Frank drinking—didn’t know
how much. Drank every day except
Tuesday, when he didn’t have any.
Whiskey was brought there in a jug.
They went to Webb’s, and came back
at sundown. He was no drunker
than common. Couldn’t tell if he was
drunk. She couldn’t tell if a person
was drunk unless they lay down.
It A\ r as not long after Frank got home
before he Avrote the note. Frank Avas
friendly with both murdered girls.
He told them he Avas knocked sense
less and didn’t know where he staid
all night. He undressed up-stairs,
and left his clothes. She never saw 1
them afterAvards. She saw a place in
his coat Avhere he said he Avas cut.
SaAv no other plaees Avhere he Avas
hurt. She saw him drink some little;
couldn’t say Iioav much.
Re-direct.—Coat Avas only cut in
one place so far as she saw. Re-cross.
Didn’t examine it. Didn’t remember
seeing him stagger; seemed and talk
ed as usual.
By Stfte. He said he carried off a
quart and drank off it all day and all
night, and brought back half a tea
cupful and he said they knew he
couldn’t be drunk.
Mrs. Joe Sitles sworn—By State—
She Avas first to get to place of kill
ing. She and Elisha made first effort
to straighten their clothing. Their
persons were exposed indecently,
Witness has grown children—is fifty-
five years old. Ella had suffered vio
lence.
Miss Ella was badly wounded. Re
ferred to wounds on shoulder and
neck. But her reply in regard to her
suffering violence had a different
meaning.
Mrs. Kate Webb.—She knew Frank
drank some. But he never drank so
much as not to knoAV what he was
about. She had heard him say so of
ten.
Dr. Jno. Hardeman—SAvorn by
State—Practised medicine 20 years.
Was at place of murder in the even-
evening,
Dark, cloudy evening. Shots heard
go,
i.
~ri<
that she
.something
back wit!
several excuses,
room. Witness
ing. He examined Ella’s body and
found she had been, violated. The
wounds about the neck and shoulder
were mortal. First thought the
wounds Avere gun-shot, afterwards
thought another instrument had been
used to lacerate. Thought she had
lingered some time.
Made examination after dark of day
after they were found. Gun-shot
wounds on both girls. Could not tell
where murderer stood. Impossible to
tell how long they had been dead.
Redirect. lie was certain Ella was
violated. Gave all the details of
signs where it Avas done in the road,
and the examination of body confirm
ed it. • •
Shade Banks (colored) sworn.—
Lives on Cobb tract. Near the Hum
phries’. On day of killing was plow
ing £ mile distant. About sunset
heard two gun-shots in quick succes
sion in direction where the ladies
were killed. At that place could see
man through woods 100 yards. Not
possible for 4 men to creep on one
Avithout being seen. How far from
place of killing does thicket extend?
As you go towards Elisha Humphries,
about 300 yards. There were some
large pine trees scattered along.
Thick woods in bottom at branch.
First knew of killing on seeing people
with guns etc., going to the place.
Hadn’t seen Frank lately before kill
ing. Knew Frank drank when whis
key was about. There are places
where men could hide themselves, and
creep on after others passing along the
roam i
Re-direct—The place where persons
could hide was some distance off.
Mitchell Humphries (colored) sworn
—Lives 1 mile from Frank and 3 miles
from Elisha Humphries. Heard two
gun shots in quick succession Where
killing was done. He was I mile off.
Knows the pine thicket. From gate
to place of killing was 300 yards.
Borne thick places along 150 yards off.
Oak woods pretty thick. Thick woods
at Polly corn branch. Saw the mur
dered ladies about 12 o’clock. Some
pretty large pines and also good sized
piles of wood about 50 yards from
place of murder. Some pine tree tops
near. Fire had been in them.
Solomon Vinson, (colored) sworn—
Was ploAving day of murder a quarter
of a mile off. was in sight of road.
Saw a man passing; thought it was
Frank, and two ladies he didn’t knoAV.
They walked one after the other.
Saw a gun on the man’s shoulder.
Report of gun Avas in direction of
place of murder. It was £ mile from
place he saAV them to place of murder.
Lived at Geo. Vinson’s. The man
Avalked about 10 yards in front. It
was a cloudy evening* From begin
ning of pine thicket to place of mur
der, some places were thick and some
thin. Some small piles of wood along
there. Didn’t know it was Frank but
saw his dog. - He was about | hlile
from place of killing. # Piles of. w8pd
high as a table,. 18 or 20 yards from
road; as many as 4 or 5 piles.
Geo. Vinson (colored) sworn.—Saw
the ladies on the road. Worked 150
yards from road they passed. Saw
dog, thought it was Humphries’ dog.
Heard two gun-shots quick after each
other. Reports came from direction of
place of murder. One-fourth mile 1
from Avhere he worked to place Avhere
bodies were found. Persons couldn’t
get nearer than 100 or 150 yards with
out being seen if persons looked out.
Mentioned a thicket these persons
passed on the road. Thinks they had
passed a thicket before they were
killed.
Didn’t see Fr&nk that
ly *
about sunset. From gate to place of.
murder, some places quite thick.
There were place’s where a person
coaid hide on road passed by the girls.
Well acquainted Avith Frank. Saw
Humphries not many days before kill-
iug- .Didn't know if Frank had been
drinking hard. Had seen him drink
ing. Girls Avere 80 yards on hill from
place of killing Avhen he saw them.
L. L. Smith, sworn-^Lived on or
near Cobb place. Morning after killing
went to work on public road, and saw
boy going to Elisha Humphries’.
He went to place of murder and sent
for Frank twice. He didn’t come till
10 o’clock. He got there first. Saw
tracks and other signs. Saw dry
place Avhere a person lay by Ella
Humphries. Tracks Avere going 150
yards towards Frank Humphries’.
Only dry place was Avhere some per
son had lay by Ella Humphries.
Sent a darkey for Frank twice, he
said twice, he’d be there directly. He
didn’t come till 10 o'clock. He finally
came. The dry' place was by Ella.
Her clothes could not possibly liaA r e
been spread over the dry place, be
cause they Avere. dragged up under
her. Frank looked strange. Didn’t
knoAV if he was drunk. Never saw
him before. Not acquainted with
him. Miss Carrie seemed to be shot
dead. The other had scuffled and left
the signs.
Isaac Miller, sworn.—Attended in
quest. Got there 12 or 1 o'clock.
Frank was there. He Avas slioAving
his wounds. He saAV nothing but a
scratch on his Avrist. Looked as if
made by grasp of hand or fingers.
Frank tried to show Avound on his
head but Avitness could see nothing
like a wound.
Cross examined—The wound on
Frank’s wrist looked as if made by
finger nails. Could’nt tell if a bloAV on
head by sand bag would leaA r e a sign.
Frank looked somewhat as if he was
drinking. »
Saw no hole in the hat made by
sand-bag. A bloAV that rendered him
senseless the night before would have
left some sign he thought.
E. P. Gibson sworn—Was on ground
at place of murder. Got thereabout 10
o’clock. Saw track in road. Ward
asked him if he knew whose track
that Avas? He replied, “yes, Frank
Humphries.’ He saw signs of scuf
fling. From marks made in ground,
etc., believed an outrage had been
committed.
Cross examined—Not many people
there Avhen he got there.. Ennis was
not there. Frank was not there when
he got there. It had rained on the
track lie previously mentioned. Not
impossible the holes made in ground
might have resulted from knocking a
man down. He was oareftil not to ef
face tracks and Avarned others.
Win. S. Scott, Coroner, sworn—Ex
hibited shells, gun wadding taken
from Ella’s wound.—6 loaded shells.
Got there 3 or 4 o’clock, p. m. large
crowd there. Held inquest, Frank
was there. Seemed quiet and sober.
Verified Lane’s testimony on inquest
that Frank was under influence of li
quor.
Capt. Bill Ennis, sworn—He arrest
ed defendant. Jury retired and state
introduced a statement made by de-
fendent.
Coming to town he said “he was
sorry he fooled themaAvay from home
in order to have some fun Avhen he
got them to his house.”
It was made with no induce
ment or request by witness. He told
them his wife was sick when she was
not. Wads taken from Ella’s wounds,
were just like those found by witness
at defendant’s house. He had difficul
ty in finding Frank’s clothes. Search
ed and could not find them. Went
next morning and demanded them,
under threats, and Jehu went to old
lady’s house and got them. Clothes
were exhibited bloody and muddy on
knees. There are stains on front of
E ants. Stains also on undershirt ex-
ibited. Drawers exhibited and blood
ori them. Over shirt of cotton jeans.
Piece of left sleeve cut off—stains of
blood. Shirt sleeve seemed cut off
Avith knife. Pieces found in road.
Three or four cuts were on his coat.
Jehu said Frank’s wife told him Frank
had burned his hat. What she said
was on motion of defendant’s. coun
sel, ruled out by the Judge.
Cross examined.—Thinks there was
a rain the night of the killing. To
On Friday morning, the State re
called Elisha Humphries. He said
Ella was about 22 and Carrie Raines
42 years old. Ella’s weight Avas 125 or
130 and Carrie about 145. Ella was
diagged off before the rain and Car
rie Raines after the rain. Witness
lives 200 or 300 yards from Monticello
road. The road Frank and the girls
passed along was a common faeigh-
borhood road. Never knew of Frank’s
trying to commit suicide. Carrie’s
body lay nearest Avitness’ house, the
other fartberest off.
The defendant was then called to
the stand to make a statement and
said all he knew was, he was knocked
down seqseless; tAvo men*were behind
him and two before. Fired his g\m
once on his knees and next as he was
falling. The rain spattered in his
face in the night and he became con
scious. He was by himself. He got
up and Avandered about and finally
got home about breakfast time.
The Solicitor General read Hum*-
phries’ statement before Coroner’s in
quest, Avhich Avas very similar to his
statement before the jury, but more
full.
The State lia\'ing announced that
they had no more evidence to pre
sent, the counsel for the defense sta
ted that they had decided to present
no evidence in behalf of their client.
This was doubtless done in part for
the purpose of securing the privilege
of making the last speech in the argu
ment before the jury.
Hon. Seaborn Reese and Sol. Gener
al Whitfield appeared for the prose
cution and Judge D. B. Sanford and
Col. Miller Grieve for the defense.
The argument was opened about 91
o’clock, a. m., on Friday, by Hon.
Seaborn Reese for the State. This
gentleman’s reputation as an excellent
and effective speaker before a jury
was well sustained on this occasion.
He spoke of the crime as being un
paralleled in its'atrocity and he used
his poAvers of invective" upon the guil
ty perpetrator without stint or mer
cy. His speech occupied perhaps for
ty-five minutes and was listened to
Avitli the closest attention.
Col. Rob’t. Whitfield, the Solicitor
General, folloAved in one of the most
eloquent speeches Ave have e\ T er heard
from him and his strong arguments
and eloquent appeals, as he encircled
the defendant with the strong chain
of evidence and painted the- most
touching Avord pictures of the piteous
fate of the A r ictims of this dark trage
dy, made the most profound impres
sion upon the feelings of the large
and very attentive crowd of his hear
ers. His address occupied an hour an
twenty minutes.
The next and last speaker was Col.
Miller Grieve for the defence. It
seemed like a most hopeless undertak
ing to efface the profound impression
made upon the jury and the audience
by the eloquent and effective speeches
of his predecessors, but the speaker
grappled with the mighty task before
Aim with a boldness and seeming con
fidence in the righteousness of his
cause, which was a matter of surprise
to the writer and doubtless had its
effect on all Avho heard him. He
made an earnest appeal to the jury to
divest themselves of any feelings that
might have been engendered by a
rabid public opinion, Avhich was call
ing for the destruction of his client
before he had had the benefit of a
trial and of such defence as Jiis coun
sel could make. Without going into
any details, it is just to say he made a
A'ery ingenious presentation of all the
circumstances that could in any Avay
be arrayed in his fa\ r or.
The charge of Judge Lawson Avas
short, but doubtless covered all the
points necessary to present to the
jury and seemed to the Avriter to be
very concise and much to the point.
The jury withdrew to consider the
case submitted to them and the large
crowd which had remainedjso long in
the heated court room, ora greater
portion of them, dispersed to enjoy
the refreshing atmosphere of the
outer world.
We had not left the court house
more than an hour before we were
surprised to hear that the jury had
brought in a verdict. The verdict
was murder, without .recommenda
tion to mercy. Although it was what
was generally expected, yet we pre
sume few expected that a conclusion
Avould have been reached by the jury
in so short a space of time. We made
enquiry of several who were present
and all stated that the prisoner re
ceived the (to him) terrible announce
ment without the least exhibition of
feeling or emotion. A distinguished
legal gentleman used the Avord
“stolid” as indicating the state of
feeling of the unfortunate man.
DEATH SENTENCE.
On Saturday afternoon, Judge Law-
son proceeded to pronounce the sen
tence of death upon Frank Hum
phries. He told him to stand up and
after he did so, he asked the customa
ry question whether he had anything
to say why the sentence of the law
should not be pronounced upon him.
Humphries replied he had nothing to
say except that he-was not guilty.
The Judge said the jury had come to a
different conclusion and that it now
only remained for him to pronounce
the sentence which the law affixed to
the crime of which he had been con
victed. He stated that the prisoner
having been found guilty upon cir
cumstantial evidence, it had been left
discretionary with him to sentence
him to be hanged or to be imprisoned
for life. He said he had heard all the
eAridence and was familiar with all the
circumstances of the case, and though
painful to him to inflict the severer
penalty, a failure to do so would be
doing violence to the spirit of the
laAv and to the outraged feelings of
this community. He then handed the
Clerk the order of the Court for his exe
cution, Avhich, as he read it, pro\ T ided
in substance that lie should be kept
in confinement ’till the 24th of Sep
tember, Avhen the Sheriff was requir
ed to execute him by hanging, the ex
ecution to be in prh*ate within one
mile of the Court House in Milledge-
ville. The Judge gave evidence of
being under the influence of much
feeling, while the prisoner exhibited
the same stolid composure, which has
characterized him throughout the
trial.
the best of his belief there was blood
on the knee of drawers. Saw Frank
soon after getting there. Would say
he was either partly drunk or was
getting over a drunk.
A. J. Wall, sworn.—Was at place of
murder. Found pieces of cloth just
exhibited in the road about 300 yards
from place of murder. Turner Ben-
ford told him where the pieces were.
Turner Benford, (col), sworn. Told
A. J. Wall Avhere the pieces of cloth
were and went with him. They went
and found them. On showing them
to him witness identified them. Knew
Frank Avell. He drank very hard at
times. Had seen him on his sprees.
In his sprees he acted like men when
drinking. Saw him Wednesday be
fore the killing. He Avas then drinking.
Heard dispute betAveen Frank and
Jehu while Avorking road. Frank
wanted to order hands to Avork dif
ferent from Jehu. Had often seen him
in liquor in Milledgeville and going
home. In January nis mother talked
to him of his going on so and he told
her if she did’nt let him alone he
would off and never come back. Have
seed him sober and drunk.
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