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VOL. XXIII. NO. 33.
BOARD BLAMED FDR
LOWERING MORALE
OF ITlffl FORCE
F 1 . (
J. C. Little Tells Investigat
ing Committee That Beav
ers and Poole Should Have
Free Hand
s
Blame for lowering the morale of
the police department was laid di
rectly at the door of the board of
pdf ice commissioners by J. C. Lit
tle, who for two years was a mem
ber of the board, in sensational tes
timony Wednesday morning before
the special committee of council in
, I'estigating the police and crime in
Atlanta.
Besides scoring the policy of the
police board Mr. Little charged that
the fee system in vogue in Fulton
county is a curse and caused crime 1
*■ to flourish.
. Mr. Little declared that members
the police board ought have
been iispeached for allowing gam
bling games to run at Lakewood
last year. He denounced as pretty
bad the policy of the board of re
instating in twenty-nine days men
discharged for drinking. He said
t ether members of the force were
' hurt about this. He said the
board used’ to disgust him by its ac
tions. He declared that the morale
•f the police would be greatly im
proved if Chief Beavers and Chief
Toole had an absolutely free hand
•n running their departments.
City Punished Enough
Referring to the fee -system Mr.
Little said tint while chairman of
the police ■ committee of the city
council, and as such an ex-officio
Jnember of the police board, he en
couraged the practice of allowing
\ men caught in gambling raids, where
the evidence was doubtful, to put'up
collateral.
“Frankly, I wanted to get all the
money I could for the city,” he said,
“binding such cases over didn’t stop
gambling, the solicitor and other of
ficials merely gojt the fees, the coun
ty didn’t punish them any more than
we did. The officers couldn’t get
the cases tried. They would spend
•"days getting up the evidence, only
to be notiied that the cases had been
settled in the state courts. Some
times they would get men sentenced
tr the chaingang and later meet them
on the street. I just decided that it
was better for the city to get the
money in forfeited collaterals than
tor county officers to get it in fees.”
Mr. Little told of one raid on which
he accompanied Lieutenant Shaw.
The officer, "lie said, -risked his life
in catching a notorious gambler. Mr.
Little said he wanted to send this
man to the chaingang, but the case
.was settled by the court for a fine.
Mr. Little said he “raised cain" and
that Judge Calhoun reopened the
case and when it was tried the man
was sent to the gang.
Favors Impeachment
Mr. Little formerly was a member
Os the city council and was chairman
of the police committee of council.
In that capacity he was an ex-officio
jnember of the board of police com
missioners. Besides attending all the
board meetings, he was much inter
ested in the police, and visited the
stationhouse often and frequently
Went on raids with the detectives.
He began his testimony by stating
that he wanted to deny H. G. Hast
ing’s statement to the committee
Tuesday that the board of police
commissioners allowed games of
chance to run at the fair grounds
in 1919.
“There never was an official meet
ing of the board of poljde commis
sioners on that matter.” he said.
**Lieutenant Shaw had gone to Lake
wood under orders from Chief Poole,
and had put the lid on gambling. The
next day the fair association had in
' dividual members of the police com
mission at Lakewood to a dinner.
•Members of council were there, too.
They held an impromptu meeting on
the midway and gave permission for
the games to run. I think they oflght
to have been impeached, and I still
think so.
“Chief Poole was thoroughly dis
gusted. I was mad. but there were
no minutes of the meeting and I
couldn't get them on record or else
’y*u would have heard about this long
•go.”
Got “Idd Off”
“We studiously avoided having you
present at that meeting, didn’t we?”
Inquired Attorney Aldine Chambers,
smiling.
“You did,” said Mr. Little, also
smiling.
“Was the dinner given to get the
lid off?” asked a member of the com
mittee.
s “I think it was; 1 couldn't swear'
to it,” said Mr. Little.
“It was.” laughed Mr. Chambers,
“and it got the lid off.”
Comparing the Lakewood games to
crap games, Mr. Little said that
neither ought to run, but if eithei
could it should be the crap games,
because they were fairer. Telling
about his experience at police board
meetings Mr. Little said that he
' always voted to “fire” offi
cers for misconduct and drunkenness.
Disclaiming any intention to reflect
on the board or its members he
said the policy of the board in such
cases was pretty bad.
“Under the law,” said Mr. Little,
“a man discharged from the force
can’t even apply for reinstatement
for twelve months, but the board
doesnt pay any attention to that.
They give a man only twenty-nine
days’ suspension. For instance, they
r discharge a man for deing drunk;
in a short while he applies for re
instatement. Under the law he can’t
even apply, but the board gets around
that by passing a motion to rescind
its action in discharging a man. In
my opinion that’s wrong.”
Policy Encouraged Drinking
Mr. Little explained throughout hie
tdkimony that his criticism of the
board was only his personal opinion
as an individual, and he would go
(Continued on Page 6, Column 6)
ANOTHER VICTIM OF
WIRE-TAPPING RING
ID TESTIFY HERE
Mysterious Witness Will Tell
Grand Jury His Costly Ex
perience With Syndicate of
Swindlers
Another alleged victim of the so
called syndicate of gamblers, wire
tappers and confidence men hais ar
rived in Atlanta from a distant state
and has been closeted with the solici
tor general. He will probably be call
ed before the grand jury to give evi
dence relative to how he was fleeced,
and to furnish a description of the
men who were alleged to have swin
dled him out of his money. It is also
likely that he will be taken about
the city in an effort to identify the
place where the swindle Is alleged
to have been perpetrated.
Mr. Boykin declines to give the
name and address of the man as, he
says, it would spoil his plans at the
present time. The man Is said to
have lost over $3,000 while in At
lanta on a visit. He has volunteer.'d’
to assist the solicitor general in the
latter’s crusade against the syndi
cate.
Among the witnesses who were
summoned for appearance before the
grand jury Tuesday morning were
Will Mills, brother of Ed Mills, the
gambler, who is alleged to have been
shot and killed by Floyd Woodward,
at a local hotel two years ago; Gor
don N. Hurtel, clerk of the record
er’s court; Sergeant Connally, of
the police force, and John Wood and
Steve Selder. It is also understood
that efforts are being made to find
the house detective employed at the
hotel at the time of the shooting of
Mills.
During the day Monday Mr. Boy
kin was engaged in preparing evi
dence to be presented to the grand
jury and indications are that anoth
er busy week confronts the inquisi
torial body. New evidence has been
secured and it is expected that some
sensational exposures will be made
within a few days.
Although several vagrancy cases
were on the calendar in the emer
gency division of the superior crim
inal court, presided over by Judge
W. E. Thomas, of Valdosta. Monday,
they were not reached and it is ex
pected they will be called Tuesday.
$150,000 Paid for
Murder of Chicago
Man, Police Claim
CHICAGO, Dec. 15.—New evidence
indicating that “Big Jim” Colosims
wealthy case proprietor- and under
world leader, who was shot to death
last May, was slain at the behest of
a powerful black hand organization
in New York and that the price for
the murder was $150,000 was reveal
ed by the police today. A request
to the New York police was made
by Chief Fitzmorris for a picture of
a notorious New York gunman be
lieved to have been the actual slayer
of Colosimo.
Rocco de Stefano, executor of Co
losimo’s estate, told the police that
the murdered man was known to
have had 150 SI,OOO bills in his pos
session the day before he died, arid
that no trace could be found afte.’
the murder. De Stefano gave the po
lice a black hand letter demanding
this money.
Many times, police have learned,
Colosimo defied the black hand.
Pet Rabbit Vanquished
Three Cats in Battle
Having earned the right to hang
the scalps of three cats at the door
of its hutch, a pet rabbit, Byng,
owned by Mrs. Ella Fields, of Ocean
port, N. J., is now held in deadly
fear by the feline members of the
neighborhood.
Cats have killed hundreds of young
rabbits in that section each year, but
war-grizzled "toms” who- picked out
Byng as a prospective dinner have
done so to their sorrow. Byng has a
powerful kick and he literally kicked
his would-be assassins to death.
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OBMMII OF
EXPORT BANK TO BE
EFFECTED®. 17
Stock Subscriptions Now
Exceed $6,000,000.
Maddox, Ottley and Mc-
Fadden to Attend Meeting
“Reports fro mstate chairmen
show subscriptions received to the
Federal International Banking com
pany now well over $6,000,000.
Please attend meeting in the direc
tors’ room of the Hibernia Banking
and Trust company, New Orleans,
Friday, December 17, for the purpose
of completing organization, when all
signed subscriptions will be handed
in. Think under existing conditions
the response of the south has been
very creditable, and we can now defi
nitely proceed, to bring about some
beneficial results.”
The foregoing telegram, bearing
the signature of Robert F. Maddox,
president of the Atlanta National
bank, and chairman of the campaign
committee, went out of Atlanta Tues
day night to prominent bankers
throughout the cotton states. Mr.
Maddox and John K. Ottley, president
of the Fourth National bank, and a
member of the permanent organiza
tion committee, will leave Atlanta
Thursday afternoon to attend the
New Orleans meeting. Haynes Mc-
Fadden, secretary of the Georgia
Bankers’ association, will also attend
the meeting.
The telegram Was sent to practi
cally all of the leading banks in the
south.
Although, as Mr. Maddox an
nounces. over $6,000,000 has been sub
scribed to the capital stock of the
Federal International Banking com
pany, none of the money has yet
been paid in. The New Orleans meet
ing will, it is regarded as certain,
issue a call for the payment of 25
per cent of the subscription, with a
vlewj;o placing the bank on a func
tioning basis as speedily as possi
ble.
Mr. Maddox’s telegram, announc
ing subscriptions exceeding the $6.-
000,000 set as the minimum capital,
and calling the final organization
meeting for New Orleans on Friday,
is the first official statement that has
been made respecting consummation
of the big export bank, and confirms
in detail the story published in The
Journal on December 10.
To Name Directors
At the meeting in New Orleans, in
addition to calling for a payment of
25 per cent of the subscription, a
board of directors will be elected and
the bank’s charter perfected. This
charter will be forwarded to Wash
ington for the approval of the fed
eral reserve board, following which
the institution will begin to func
tion as soon as possible.
“It is our hope that the bank will
be functioning by January 1,” said
Mr. Maddox Wednesday morning. He
added that the bankers of the south
believe that the institution will op
erate to relieve conditions with re
spect to cotton and other southern
farm products by facilitating their
export to foreign countries through
credit arrangements.
Texas Cotton Planters
Move to Form Million
Bale Marketing Pool
DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 15. —Amend-
ment of the Texas . anti-trust laws
permitting organization of a Texas
cotton growers’ association and for
mation of a million bale cotton mar
keting pool, will be urged before the
January legislature bv the Texas
farm bureau, according to resolu
tions adopted by the body meeting
here today. <
Organization of the growers will
be along the lines of the California
Fruit Growers’ association, accord
ing to the proposed plan and efforts
will be aimed at remedying price
conditions.
Texas wool growers, to meet
here this week, are scheduled to
form plans for warehousing and ex
porting of millions of pounds of
Texas wool, the price of which has
fallen sensationally the last several
months.
ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1920.
TWO OF THE PRINCIPALS IN SHEPARD CASE BAIL HEARINGS IN MACON. Left, Mrs.
F. Eugene Elmer, the peach king’s widow, now the wife of a Jacksonville physician, who was ar
rested on a charge of murder following the verdict of a Houston county coroner’s jury holding
that Shepard’s death was due to bichloride poisoning. Right, Mrs. Annie E. Cutts, friend of Mrs.
Elmer, at whose home, near Abbeville, the murder plot is alleged to have been formulated. These
craybr sketches by Artist Brewerton were made from photographs taken several years ago.
' ■ ..n Mq
HARDWICK PLANS
MARKET SYSTEM
FOR THE FARMERS
ATHENS, Ga., Dec. 15.—Address
ing a meeting of county demonstra
tion agents in session here Wednes
day, Governor-elect Thomas W. Hard
wick said that the state’s most vital
need at present Is a cash market for
its crops, especially crops other than
cotton. The time has come when the
farmers must diversify, he declared,
and to do this they must feel as
sured of a cash market for grain,
live stock, syrup, peanuts and other
products.
He then stated that the enlarge
ment of the state bureau of markets
into a great brokerage system with
headquarters at the state eapitol. so
organized as to enable the farmers
to get in touch with the markets of
the country and realize cash on what
ever they choose to grow will be one
of the first aims of his administra
tion.
Mr. Hardwick’s plan contemplates
the establishment of a central office
or clearing house in the.' bureau of
markets at the state eapitol which
would keep in, close touch by tele
graph with markets in. aIL parts of
the country, especially those mar
kets having a demand for crops
grown in Georgia. This information
would be transmitted to agents of
the system in each Georgia county.
Farmers by consulting these agents
would be told where their velvet
beans, corn, their syrup, their
peanuts, their hogs, their cattle or
any other product would command
the highest price. The agent or the
farmer himself could then get in
touch with the buyer through the
clearing house at the eapitol or di
rect.
The farmer’s products could be
shipped, bill of lading attached to a
sight draft on the purchaser, and
the grower could get his draft dis
counted at the bank, thus getting his
money on the day of sale.
The governor-elect stated that the
present bureau of markets under
Lem B. Jackson had done much for
the farmers, but something on a
larger scale is a vital need in Georgia
today. He asserted that time for
talk and writing has passed, as evi
denced by the present plight of the
farmer who is “hog-tied” to cotton
as his only money crop. Diversifica
tion is the need of the hour, but di
versification will never be widely
practiced until it is possible for the
farmer to get money for his side
lines in the same manner he gets it
for his cotton.
Crawley Brothers
Denied New Trial
GAINESVILLE, Ga.. Dec. 14.—Re
liable news received here today is to
the effect that Judge J. B. Jones,
holding court at Toccoa, has denied
the Crawley brothers’ motion for a
new trial. The Crawleys were con
victed in the Towns county superior
court of complicity in the murder of
Deputy United States Marshal Dixon.
Awakened Volcano
Flattens Hills and
Kills Many Cattle
VALDIVA, Chile, Dec. 14. —The Vol
cano Lanin, due east of here on the
Argentine frontier, is reported to be
in a state of eruption. The volcano
is approximately nine thousand feet
high.
SANTIAGO, Chile, Dec. 14.—Ad
vices to the ministry of the inte
rior today confirm the reports of the
eruption of the Volcano Villariea,
near the town of Pucon, in Valdiva
province. The volcano is throwing
out quantities of lava and the mes*
sages state that considerable damv
age also has been done agricultural
lands in the vicinity as a result of
a series of earthquakes last week,
centering in the valley of Trancura.
Several rivers changed their courses
and Lake Villariea, which covers
about 250 square kilometers, over
flowed its banks. Entire hills have
been razed and many cattle killed
by landslides.
So far as is known, there has been
no loss of life either from the erup
tion or the earthquakes. The volca
no of Villarfea •is atesul' OQOBI 1 fldt
high.
Carolina Farmers
Favor Strict Means
To Reduce Acreage
YORK, S. C., Dec. 14.—At a meet
ing of the farmers of this county
here today, a petition was freely
signed, calling upon the bankers and
merchants to refuse credit for 1921
to farmers who refuse to agree to a
reduction of cotton acreage approxi
mating 50 per cent of their 1920
planting.
$5,000,000,000 Loss
In Country’s Crops
Shown in Report
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—The val
ue of the country’s important farm
crops tnis year is $9,148,519,000,
compared with $14,087,995,000, trier
value last year, the department of
agriculture announced today. These
values, based on prices paid to farm
ers on December 1 represent about
90 per cent of the value of all farm
crops. '
Germany and Brazil
Re-establish Relations
RIO JANEIRO, Dec. 15.—Dlplo
matic relations between Germany
and Brazil, which were broken in
Appil, 1917, were resumed today
when Goerge Alfred Plehn, German
minister to thia country, arrived
here. ’
CONSTANTINE
REACHES VENICE
EN ROUTE HOME
VENICE, Dec. 15.—(8y the Asso
ciated Pr^ss.) —Former King Con
stantine anff> Queen Sophie of Greece,
with their children, arrived here
early this morning from Lucerne.
In the harbor the Greek cruiser
Averoff and a squadron of smaller
Varships awaited the hour when the
king would go on board and depart
for Phaleron, the port of Athens,
where he is expected to arrive on
Sunday.
The trip from Lucerne to this city
was made without incident, Constan
tine his family remaining in se
clusion during the entire journey.
When the train reached Chiasso, on
the Italo-Swiss frontier, last evening,
the special car in which the royal
party was riding was detached from
the regular train and coupled to an
other train coming direct to this city.
The car on which a number of news
paper correspondents were traveling
was left on the original train and
went through to Milan.
A number of prominent Greeks,
among them Lambros A. Coromilas,
-G^eek-minister to"ltaly. —were here to
greet Constantine upon his arrival.
Billion Dollars
In Unpaid U. S. Taxes,
Treasury Official Says
WASHINGTON. /D.ec. 14.—The
treasury department estimates that
“more than $1,000,000,000” is out
standing in unpaid taxes because of
the government’s inability to audit
the returns. Dr, Thomas S. Adams, of
the treasury staff, testified today at
a hearing in taxation before the
house ways and means committee.
Because of the complex nature of
present revenue laws. Dr. Adams
added, the internal revenue bureau
has been unable to complete the
checking u]l of tax returns for 1917.
He saw no immediate hope of making
the audit current with the tax re
turns filed.
Low Tobacco Price
Explained by Board
WASHINGTON. Dec. 14. —Low o
bacco prices are due primarily to
three causes the federal trade com
mission says in its report to con
gress, giving the result of an inves
tigation ordered by a resolution
passed at the last session.
The first cause is attributed to
“lessening of foreign purchases -,ue
to unfavorable exchange rates and
the contraction of domestic credits
resulting in unfavorable financial
conditions.” 'The second explanation
is that “increase of quantity of .ow
grades for domestic absorption due
to crop conditions and farm
markets” and the third reason is .s
--signed to “purchasing methods by
large buyers.”
(MESTIffIIN
WORLD FOR 0.5. IS
ASKEDJYDANIELS
Secretary Insists on Contin
uation of Building Pro
gram—Borah Would Seek
Disarmament
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.—• Decla
ring that world conditions of “chaos,
disagreement and trouble" made con
tinuation of naval and aircraft build
ing by the United States imperative,
Secretary Daniels today, before the
houso naval committee, reiterated his
recommendation for an American
navy equal to any other in the world
and asserted that “the United States
must protect what it has.”
“No one knows the future rela
tion* of the nations of the world,”
said Mr. Daniels. “It would be a
blunder almost equal to a crime for
the United States to enter into an
alliance with any two or three na
tions, eithei to suspend or curtail
naval building or for any other pur
pose. It would certainly make for
suspicion among the other nations of
the world. I profoundly believe that
the United States canriot afford to
take a five-year ’naval holiday’ as It
has been rumored England and Japan
will suggest to this country. I wish
that w» couFd have a world agree
ment that would settle disputes with
out recourse to arms, but until that
comes and comes surely, we ought
to carry out our naval building pro
gram.”
Koontz’s Testimony
In support of the belief that the
United States could not agree with
Great Britain and Japan to stop the
building of armament, the secretary
allowed Admiral Koontz, chief of
naval operations, to quote .figures
showing the relative first line
strength of the three nations.
“If the three nations should stop
all' construction now the United
States would have a first line
strength of 468,000 tons, Great Brit
ain 864,650 tons and Japan 326.020,”
said Admiral Koontz.
Secretary Daniels referred to-the
fact that an alliance exists between
Great Britain and Japan.
While Mr. Daniels was testifying.
Senator Borah, of Idaho, introduced
in the senate a resolution requesting
the president to enter into agree
ments with Great Britain and Japan
to reduce naval armaments.
Completion erf the present build
fhg program, vpth the addition of a
few vessels to round out the fleet,
will make the United. States su
preme, Mr. Daniels said, unless a
vast amount of construction is un
dertaken by another nation.
”I’proclaim myself a pacifist,” said
Mr. Daniels, “and I make these rec
ommendations regretfully. But until
a world agreement on disarmament
comes surely and has been in opera
tion long enough to assure its estab
lishment, we must continue our
building.
“It ’ would be a blunder worse
than a crime for the United States
to enter into an agreement with two
or three other nations to stop building.
It would create world suspicion, in
stead of world stability. Unless
we enter into an agreement with all
the nation/* of the world we must
be prepared to protect our great
coast line and all our island posses
sions by a preponderance of naval
strength.”
Mr. Daniels claimed President-elect
Harding in a speech at Norfolk shar
ed this view.
“I think it is rather fortunate -i.at
his mind runs along with mine,”
the secretary said.
Mr. Daniels said that he does not
propose any immediate appropria
tions for the new building program,
because of the incompleted state of
the present program and the fact
that the condition of the treasury
prohibits any appropriations for a
new program.
To round out the present building
program Mr. Daniels recommended
the construction of two huge subma
rine cruisers, five mine laying sub
marines, one airpfane carrier, five
cruisers anrrtwo gunboats.
Senator Borah in his resolution
took the exact opposite of Mr. Dan
iels’ view, citing the recent declara
tion of the Japanese delegation of
the League of Nations assembly that
Japan cannot reduce armaments an
til this country does.
The naval building programs of
these three great powers would be
reduced annually for the next five
years by fifty per cent of the esti-
(Continued on Page 6, Column 3)
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$1.50 A YEAR.
mm EXPERTS
SEVERELY GRILLED
IN smo CASE
State Plans to Call 42 Wit
nesses —Defendants, Hav
. ing Scored Point Tuesday,
Appear in Cheerful Humor
.. by ED H. BRADLEY
(Staff Correspondent of The Journal)
MACON, Ga., Dec. 15.—That Fred
S. Shepard, ■wealthy Fort Valley
peach grower, whose mysterious
death June 1, last, has developed one
of the most sensational cases in the
history of the state, came to his
death from natural causes, and not
by poison administered with criminal
intent, is the contention of the four
defendants 'now under arrest charged
with Shepard's murder.
This was developed today at the
preliminary hearing before Judge H.
A. Mathews on the applications for
bail of Mrs. Elmer, former wife of
Shepard; her sister, Mrs. lona Henry;
her son, Ernest Hopson, and Mrs.
Annie Cutts.
Dr. Edgar Everhart, an expevt
chemist, of Atlanta, under cross-ex
amination by Judge- John P. Ross
for the defense, stated that some au
thorities claim that calomel when ex
posed to sunlight turns to corrosive
sublimate, or bichloride of mercury.
The chemist had previously testified
that he found traces of bichloride
of mercury in Shepard’s viscera,
which were taken from his exhumed
body November 17 for chemical an
alysis. Dk Everhart declared, how
ever, that the conversion of calomel
into bichloride of mercury by action
of the human digestive organs has
not been positively demonstrated.
This phase of the defendants’ case
was developed rather exhaustively by
Judge Ross and General Walter A.
Harris, counsel for Mrs. Elmer, who
quoted medical authorities to Dr.
Everhart in support of their theory.
The defense also emphasized the fact
testified to by Dr. Everhart that
Shepard’s body was first exhumed
November 7 and a chemical analysis
showed no traces of poison.
When court was recessed to 3
o’clock, Dr. John Atlanta
pathologist, had testified only briefly
concerning his examination of Shep
ard’s vital organs at the time the
body was exhumed a second time,
declared that the viscera was
w6ll preserved. He said that the
inner lining of the alimentary can/,
was badly corroded, indicating the
action of a corrosive poisoning.
Solicitor General Charles H. Gar
rett, in charge of the prosecution,
indicated before the opening of court
that he would depend almost entirely
upon oral testimony instead of afli
davits, Judge Mathews having ruled
yesterday that affidavits could not
be substituted for oral testimony in
the preliminary hearing of this case.
The court’s ruling threatened to
cause a postponement of the heal
ing, but by agreement of counsel on
both sides, it was decided to go ahead
this morning at 11 o’clock summon
ing the state’s witnesses, who had
been expected to appear only through
the affidavits.
The four prisoners, their attorneys
and their friends, of whom they had
many in the audience Tuesday, were
plainly pleased with Judge Matthews’
decision. It was conceded generally
that the defense had scored in the
first skirmish of legal wits. Attor
neys ‘for the defense asserted confi
dently that their clients would win
the right to bail.
State Has Forty-two Witnesses
Before announcing ready, the so
licitor general called the names of
forty-two witnesses for the state,
incU|ding more than fifteen from
AblWville and several from Perry
and Fort Valley. Most of the wit
nesses were present, although it
was explained that some could not
arrive until later because their
subpoenas were not issued until
last night. The witnesses answer
ing to their names were sworn and
ordered sequestered.
All four of the defendants ap
peared in ' the courtroom several
minutes before the opening of the
hearing. They were apparently in
excellent spirits. Mrs. Honry wore
a new red velvet hat, adorned with
a pearl buckle, while Mrs. Elmer
had on a fancy black veil, which did
not hide her features.
The courtroom was packed to ca
pacity, the crowd being even larg
er than yesterday.
After the preliminary details had
been completed the state proceeded
with the introduction of testimony,
calling as the first witness Dr.
Edgar Everhardt, connected with
the state Chemist's office in Atlanta.
Dr. Everhart was the expert mak
ing the chemical analysis of the
viscera from the body of Fred D-
Shepard. He testified at the coron
er’s inquest in Fort Valley Novem
ber 27. immediately after which the
four defendants werj arrested on
warrants charging murder.;
Dr. Everhardt described his opera
tions in making a chemical analysis
of the Shepard viscera, testifying
that earlv in November he received
from the authorities the kidneys,
spleen and liver taken from . Shep
ard’s body on its first exhumatiop
Making a chemical analysis of these
organs, he found no poison, he said,
but on November 17. wfifen the body
was exhumed for the second time,
he made an analysis of the esoph
agus, intestines and bowles, find
ing traces of mercury, bismuth and
copper. He declared that his an
alysis showed that the mercuric
salts had been administered to
Shepard in solution, while the pres
ence of hydrochloric acid indicated
that the mercury had been in bi
chloride form.
Scouts Calomel Theory
Dr. Everhart, answering questions
by the solicitor general, said that
he had never found a case in which
calomel, which contains a form of
mercury, has changed into bichloride
by chemical action in the human
body. Some authorities, he said, held
that such a change could occur. If
such a change should be brought
about, declared Dr. Everhart, even a
large dose of calomel would produce
only an infinitesimal quantity of bi
chloride. Under cross examination by
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