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The Americus Times-Recorder
THIRTY-FIFTH year.
MBS. GODBEE FOUND GUILTY
AND GIVEN LIFE SENTENCE
Murderess of the Wife of Her Divorced Husband Will Do
Life Term—Jury Remained Out .Thirteen Hours —
Woman Will Be Tried Also for Killing Her Former
Husband
Millen, Ga.. Sept. 13.—Mrs. Edna
Perkins Godbee today was found
guilty of the murder of Mrs. Flor
ence Godbee, wife of her divorced
husband. Mercy was recommended oy
the jury.
Two minutes after the jury re
turned its verdict, Judge Hammond
sentenced Mrs. Godbee to remain in
the penitentiary the “rest of her nat
ural life.’’ She stood while sentence
was pronounced. Her daughter Sarah
broke down and wept audibly, but
she was calm and stoic as she had
been through the trial.
The verdict was returned at 9:10
this morning, after the jury had been
out thirteen hours.
Mrs. Florence Godbee and her hus
band, W. S. Godbee, a prominent res
ident of this place, were shot to death
by the convicted woman on August
18. The killing occurred at the Milieu
postoffice. Mrs. Godbee was imme
diately arrested, and on September 9
was indicted for the two murders
Her trial for killing Mrs. Godbee
was called Thursday. a
Only a small number of witnesses
were examined, their testimony deal
ing with details of the crime. The ac
cused woman took the stand and told
a story of alleged mistreatment by
W. S. Godbee.
Mrs. Edna Perkins Godbee, on Au
gust 18th, killed her former husband,
Judge W. S. Godbee, and his wife,
whom hie had married, after she had
CHAMBLISS FARM
SENDS A TRAIN
COTTON LADEN
18 WAGONS IN TOE PAGEANT
Made a Fine Show As It
Came to Town
Messrs. Will and Jesse Chambliss,
w hose fine Sumter county farm lies
twelve miles east of Americus, usual
ly make up a wagon train of their
own farm teams when they market
cotton, and it is needless to state that
this ‘overland train" presents a pic
ture of thrift and prosperity in making
its weekly trips to Americus.
Yesterday morning the “Chambliss
rain” of eighteen wagons, all cotton
laden, rolled into Americus on sched
ul'‘ time and came to a stop at the
Oliver warehouse, where for a half
ll °ur or longer Lamar street was
blocked with the cargo of cotton
ba les discharged.
hach of the eighteen wagons was
!'a*n by two or four stout mules,
d "i as the roads of Sumter are pro-
good the cotton was piled
Upott each wagon as long as a bale
' °uld stick on. The cargo represeht
i a value of several thousand dollars,
and the train attracted much attention
us it rolled into Americus.
Mr. Jesse Chambliss stated that he
recently hauled eight 500-pound. bales
to the city with two mules and experi
eil - ( ‘<i no trouble in making the trip.
obtained a divorce from him. The kill
ing took place at the postoffice at
Millen early in the morning. Mrs.
Godbee was in the postoffice when
Judge Godbee and his wife of a few
months came in to get their mail. As
they passed into the postoffice, she
took a revolver from a handbag and
shot Judge Godbee twice. He fell mor
tally wounded.
The infuriated woman then turned
her revolver upon Mrs. Florence Boyer
Godbee, and firing three times, fatally
wounded her. Judge Godbee died at
once and his wife died two days later.
Mrs. Edna Godbee has been in jail
since the killing. She w'as indicted for
the murder of her husband and also
ficr the killing of his wife. She was
tried for the murder of Florence
Boyer Godbee and convicted.
The case has excited the keenest
interest throughout the state.
Mrs. Godbee claimed as a defense
that she had long been mistreated by
her husband before and since his di
vorce, and that he applied a vile epi
thet to her as he entered the postoffice
on the fatal morning. Her excuse for
killing the judge’s wife, was that af
ter she began shooting, she was so
excited she did not know what slue did.
The dead woman w'as from Williams
port, Pa.
The defense is expected to apply for
a new r trial at once, and if this is de
nied, to appeal the case to the su
preme court.
AMERICUS Will
ATTEND STATE
MEET IN MACON
TH MU. IE THE HIT
Local Chamber of Gommerce
Will Be Represented
Tuesday will be rally day for all
Georgia. Macon is to entertain the
state chamber of commerce. Over a
thousand delegates are expected to
attend the convention. Preparations
are being made to entertain the visit
ors in grand style.
Americus is going to be represented
by a delegation of local business men.
Secretary Gardner is getting up a
list of those that will attend and it
looks as though Americus will have a
good crowd.
The delegation will leave on the
morning train over the Central of
Georgia They will return on the ev
ening train. Lunch will be served by
the Macon board of trade at the Hot’l
Dempsey. Good times will be on tap
for exery one present.
Novel plans of advertising Americus
are being devised, but at the time ot
going to pres* the details were not
completed. Amerifcus is going to let
them know that there is such a place
on the map.
Americus pennants can be secured
at the local Kress store. Earle Wil
liams. who is in charge, has marked
them down to cost, 10 cents, and has
several hundred.
AMERICUS. GEORGIA. SUNDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER 14. 1913.
;
THAW CONTINUES
A PRISONER IN
NEWJAMPSHIRE
HABEAS CORFU!) IS GRANTED
*m I ~
United Slates Court Has Ju
risdiction Now
Concord, N. H., Sept. 13— In th:
United States district court in this 1
city this afternoon Judge Edgar Al- 1
drich granted the petition of counsel
for Harry K. Thaw, for a writ of
habeas corpus, returnable at Littleton,
on Tuesday next at 11 a m. Nathaniel
E. Martin, of this city and Merrill
Shurtleff, of Lancaster, appeared as
counsel for Thaw. The state of New
York was not represented at the hear- 1
ing.
Colebrook, N. H., Sept. 13. —Harr *
KendallTThar,w r , fugitive from t£e New -
York state hospital for the insane at
Matteawan, will remain in his hotel
room here until tomorrow' at least
and may not be taken to Concord for
extradition proceedings 'before Gov
ernor Felker before the middle of :
next w'eek. This was the announce-1
ment made by counsel for both sides
today.
After another night marked with
rumors o)f kidnapping, Harry tv.
Thaw, fugitive from the New York
state hospital for the insane at Mat
teawan, awoke today to gaze out
upon rain-soaked streets and to confer
with counsel.
Thaw’s conference with his law
yers w T as in regard to the hearing
before Governor Felker, at Coniord,
in opposition to his extradition to tins
state of New York. This hearing,
according to the understanding of the
Thaw lawyers, w r ill be held next
Wednesday. Thaw* will probably If.
removed to the capital Monday witn
out further court procedure here.
Annoyed at the constant and re
curring reports that attempts were
being made to spirit him away, the
fugitive issued the following state
ment before he breakfasted today:
"Some people have been spreading
rumors which are unfounded and di
rectly contrary to the facts.
“We received warning on Wednes
day that certain strong arm men
were being brought into New Hamp
shire. Everyone in Colebrook knows
that what w'e did as a precaution was
to accept the offer of ten citizens of
Colegrook to meet any unlawful es
forts that might have been made.
“Everyone on our side was on the
side of the law, and our only interest
was to defeat any attempt at kid
napping or any other illegal tricks
such as was boldly threatened in the
hearing of responsible people here.
“Now fifteen local special police
have been sworn in to our great
satisfaction. While they are on duty
there will not be any strong arm
work.
“It might be said, regardless of
expense, the special train on which
the deputies of Attorney General
Carmody, of New York, arrived In
Colebrook, had been waiting now 48
hours, and w# are credibly informed
its engine has kept up steam all the
time.
(Signed) “H. K. THAW.”
Neither side trusting the other and
Thaw’s special guards trusting neither
side, all hands kept watch at the
hotel where Thaw is housed until well
after midnight.
At 2 o’clock this morning, a re
porter, sure that the presence of
some strange men and automobiles
about the building meant no good,
ran down the silent hallways shout-
I Ing at the top of his lungs.
\ The entire hotel was awake in an
instant. Sheriff Drew, who had re-
THE WEATHER:—Probably Rain Today.
GOVERNOR WILL
CONSIDER CASE
OE M’NAUGHTON
FATE IN GOVERNOR’S HANDS
Condemned Man Hopeful of
Tardon
Atlanta. Ga., Slept. 13. —Withii
the next ten days or two weeks, Gov
emor Slaton will hold a hearing op
the pardon petition of Dr. W. J.
McNaugkton, the Swainsboro doctor,
who is now under sentence to be
han'ged October sth. McNaughtyxm's
fate is now entirely in the governor’s
l ands. The prison commission has
l-ecommended a full pardon for the
condemned physician, but the governo r
is not compelled to follow the recom
mendation.
He will use his own discretion in
disposing of the case. A rather awk
ward situation in connection with the
case is presented by reason of the
fact that Judge T. E. Patterson, one
member elf the prison commission
dissents from the recommendation for
a full pardon.
Judge Patterson submitted a state
ment to the governor in which he
gave it hs his opinion that Dr. Me-
Naughton’s sentence should be com
muted to life imprisonment, but that
he did not favor a pardon for hint.
Governor Slaton already has begun
a study of the voluminous record in
the case and will thoroughly acquaint
himself with it before he sets the
date for the hearing which the at
torneys representing Dr Mc-
Naughton and those representing the
state will be invited to attend.
Final action by the governor is ex
pected by October Ist.
city Assessors
HAVE COMPLETED
HERCULEAN TASK
WORK FINISHED SATURDAY
Big Increase in Taxable Val
ues Assessed
The uoard of city tax assessors,
Messrs. P. B Williford, H. D. Watts
and Frank J. Payne, announced yes
terday the completion of their work of
assessing values for the current year
and the lists are now in the hands yf
City Clerk H. W. Weaver for compil
ation. This will require several days,
but within the week, it is expected,
the footings can be announced.
The assessors were employed seven
weeks upon the task, and the “never
again” look of at least two of them
tells that it was g trying one.
The assessors found real estate that
had not been returned in years for
taxation, and their diligence in th’3
respect will bring many added dollars
into the city treasury. Many proper
ties were arbitrated where owners ob
jected to increased valuations put
upon it by the assessors, thus pro
longing the task of making up the final
returns.
While the taxable values of the citv
are not yet known, it is believed that
the total will be between $4,000,00J
and $4,500,000.
tired, ran Into the hall in his night
shirt and twenty reporters, half
dressed and dishelved, dashed down
to the lobby to telephone for auto
mobiles.
ALFALFA DAY
WILE BE HELD
AT COURT HOUSE
MONDAY 18 THE GREAT BAY
Exercises Have Been Trans
ferred From A. & M.
Campus
A minor change has been made in
the arrangements for Alfalfa Day
on Monday. Instead of having the
exercises on the campus of the Agri
cultural college they will be held at
the county courthouse. Judge Little
john has agreed to adjourn court for
four hours Monday morning so thit
the courthouse may be used.
All of the invited speakers have no
tified those in charge that they will be
cn hand. Several phases of farm life
will be touched upon, but “alfalfa”
will be the keynote of the day.
Both of the railroads leading into
Americus have put on special rates
and every farmer in Sumter and the
adjoining counties should avail them
selves of the opportunity to attend.
Monday is the day. Ten o’clock e
the time, and the courthouse is the
place.
FOURTEEN YEAR OLD
BOY TRIED FOR MURDER
Atlanta, Sept. 13.—As the result of
a true bill found by the grand jury to
day, a fourteen-year-old boy will be
tried for murder at the coming sessio i
of the superior court. The indictment
which puts a mere child in the shadow
of the gallows is against Frank Bar
ton. a white boy, accused of stabbing
to death a companion of about the
same age.
The indictment of the Barton boy
occasioned a wave of sympathy
throughout the court room, not only
for the youngster himself, but for the
frail little mother who sat trembling
ly awaiting the result of the inquiry,
and who broke down completely when
GIRL OF 21 ELOPES WITH
EX-CONGRESSMAN OF SO
Washington, D. C., Sept. 13—George
Curry, one of the most picturesque
members of the Sixty-second Con
gress, eloped last night to Rockville,
Md„ the capital’s gretna green, and
married Miss Martha Clara Gans, of
Uniontown, Pa. Curry is 50 years old,
while his bride gave her age as 21.
Objections by the young woman’s
parents to the match are said to have
prompted the runaway.
MASHERS CHARMS FAIL TO WIN FAVOR;
WOMAN USES FISTS AND BRICK ON ’EM
Longansport, Ind., September 13.
Mrs. Jesse James stood on a corner in
the business'dictrict conversing with
her father, John Bingham. Near by,
staring at her, was a group of five
mashers, Mrs. James bade her father
goodby, and started away.
“O, you chicken —busy?” cried one
of the group.
Mrs. James stepped back to the
group and smilingly Inquired who bad
spoken. One of the crowd stepped out
and asked: "Where are you going?"
Mrs. James slammed her left first
[against his face. The man staggered
PURCHASE OF BRICK MADE
FOR CITY’S NEW HOSPITAL
First Shipment of 100,000 Will Be Delivered This Week
—Association Is Prepared to Posh Work Upon
New Building nod Have it Completed Before the
Nr.w Year.
With characteristic energy and in
domitable spirit which spells success
in whatever they undertake, the ladies
of the Americus Hospital association
are preparing to begin work imme
diately upon their new building, and
will push operations to the end of
having it completed and ready for oc
cupancy e(H|jy in the coming year.
Qqietly ji>«w have proceeded with
their plaraj/lld have just placed with
Mr. a contract for 100,-
000 used in the construc
tion of walls. Contracts for
other t' '■ Material will be award
ed this f
The new ,/dspital, modern and fully
equipped is the cherished dream of the
zealous and public spirited women of
Americus interested in this splendid
charity, and their dream will soon be
fully realized.
While the association has some
funds available, it was not deemed ex-
PRES. WILSON IS URGED
TO ATTEND THE FAIR
Macon, Ga., Sept. 13.—Mayor John T
Moore has received a letter f "om Hoke
Smith, junior senator from Georgia,
in which he stated that he was doing
everything in liis power to induce
President Woodrow Wilson to visit Ma
con during the Georgia state fair.
Senator Smith stated that he had
every reasn to believe that if the
president is in this section of the
south that he will pay a visit to th’
state fair, and that President Wilsoi
had promised to give the invitation of
the Macon people every consideration.
she learned that the boy would have
to stand trial for the capital offense.
Curry served as sheriff of several
counties in New Mexico in the fron
tier days, saw service in the Spanish
war, as a captain in Roosevelt’s rough
riders, fought later in the Philippines
as commander of the Philippine
scouts, was police chief of Manila
and later governed several provinces
in the archipelago. He was elected
to the sixty-second congress, but did
not seek re-election.
but befoTe he could recover she struck
again, a fair, straight blow which put
him to the sidewalk. Then she turned
upon the other four, who crowded
against a building.
Her attack was so unexpected and
forceful that all the men felt her fists
before one of them fought back and
knocked Mrs. Jemes across the side
walk and against a mail box.
She stooped, grabbed a loose pav
ing brick and let It fly. It landed on
the head of the man she had knocked
down and who had arisen and was run
ning away. Th" others followed and
boarded an outgoing interurban car.
pedient to employ a supervising archi
tect, and the work of construction will
be performed by day labor under the
direction of a competent foreman.
Sayre & Baldwin, of Anderson, S. C,
drew the plana for the building, and
they are satisafetory in every reaper' - .
The hospital will be erected out on
the Southside upon a lot presented
the Hospital association by Dr. W. S.
! Prather as a part of his contribution.
The lot will front 200 feet upon the
extension of Dodson street, having a
depth of 210 feet. The building site
is in a desirable residence section of
the city, one mile from the business
center.
The new hospital will be construct
ed of brick, with granite trimmings.
It will be two stories and contain
j thirty rooms and wards for patients.
Modern appliances will be installed,
and the new hospital will, indeed, De
the pride of its projectors and of the
people of the city and county.
BREWERS HELPED
GOVERNOR SULZER
Gave $50,000 to llis Ga m
paign Fund
New York, Sept 13. —The New
York state’s assembly board of man
agers for the impeachment of Gov.
Sulzer announced today that Charle**
Dersch, a salesman allied with the
brewery interests, had testified pri
vately that he had collected nearly
fifty thousand dollars for Sulzer'
gubernatorial campaign, which had
not been accounted for by the gov
ernor in his statement of campaign
contributions
Mr. Dersch was one of the wit
nesse called yesterday, but at his re
quest he was aJlowed to give his
testimony in private. The fifty thous
and dollars, Mr. Levy said, had been
collected from the brewing and malt- v
ing Interests.
BODY OF LATE MAYOR
SENT TO NEW YORK
Gaynor’s Body to Arrive Bo
Friday
Liverpool, Sept. 13.—Bearing home
ward the body of the late mayor of
New York, Wm. J. Gaynor, who die.-*
on board the steamer Baltic at sea
Wednesday afternoon, the Cunari
line steamship Lusitania, sailed from
Liverpool shortly after 5 o’clock this
afternoon. The vessel is expected to
reach New York next Friday.
From the time the casket was re
moved from the steamer Baltic last
night until it was transferred to the
Lusitania this morning, the body lav
in state In the Liverpool town hall
amid trappings used at the public:
funeral of a British monarch and
prominent English statesmen.
I The oaker .coffin, draped In the
stars and <— rests In a spe
cial otwnj A J ,£board the ocean
liner. Tt /mll voyage to New
York It w W e ‘B ht
formed qv
NUMBER 229
