The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-02-02
COURSEY ACQUITTED
Of the Charge of Murder of
Joe Wallace.
VERDICT IS WHAT WAS EXPECTED,
The Young Man Was very Happy Over
the Result and Received His Con.
gratulatiOns with a Smile.

The case against Mr.. Us. Coursey,
charged with the murder of Mr.. Joe
Wallace, came up Wednesday of
last week and was concluded Friday
morning by the jury returning
verdict of ''Not Guilty"
The jury was composed of the
following gentlemen:
w. T. Strickland, ]. r. McTyre,
I. H. McCleskey, Barney Edwards,
N. B. White, j. I. Huff, Jr., Ed
mund Gam, G. w. Manning, w. H.
Devices, B. A Osburn, j. L. Butler,
and z. 7. Terrell.
1t will be remembered that on
one Monday last August, a difficult
ty occurred near Middleton in this
'county, the participants being Mr..
James Jacobs, his sons, Frank and
Charley, and his son in-law, Mr.. Joe
Wallace, on one side, and Mr.. Wal>
ter Wildwood and Mr.. ]. s. Coursey
on the other side.
A previous quarrel had taken
place on Sunday afternoon between
Jacobs, his family, and Milwood,
and the latter took refuge for safety
in Mrs. Carriers house, the doors of
the house being closed to keep
Jacobs from laying violent hands on
Wildwood, where he remained all
night. Threats were made by ia
cobs that he would get hold of Mill
wood the first opportunity.
Wildwood not returning home the
previous night, Coursey, bis room
mate and partner ill farm work,
went to Mrs. Carter's to see what
was the trouble.
On returning the two young men
had to pass Jacobs house. Jacobs
on seeing them coming went out
with stick in his hand and wanted
to know of Wildwood if he had come
to settle that difficulty. Wildwood
made no reply, but Jacobs raised
his stick, and Coursey, as peace
maker, caught Jacobs by the arm to
prevent the assault. In the means
time the two Jacobs boys, Mrs. ia
cobs, Joe Wallace and his wife came
upon the scene, and the most of
them began an attack on Coursey.
Wallace struck Coursey in the back
with wagon spoke, one Of the boys
used hoe en- Coursey's head and
face making two bloody gashes, and
the other boy hit him with a rock.
COursey turned loose Jacobs and
grasped the wagon spoke and took
it away from Wallace and struck
Wallace on the side of the head and
Wallace dropped to the ground
dead.
During this part OF the fight, Mr..
Jim Jacobs was pursuing and using
his stick on Wildwood, who has a
cripple hand. wildwood was on the
retreat, but pulled his pistol and
fired three times, shooting Jacobs in
the abdomen, but he didn't know
he was shot and kept after Millwood
until he run off out of sight. The
wound was not fatal. He recovered
and appeared last week at the trial
as a witness against Coursey.
Col. D. w. Blair, Hon. John E.
Motley and Hon. A. s. Clay defend"
ed and made speeches in behalf OF
Coursey, and Col. Attaway, of Cal-
ton represented the State for Solici-
tor Brown, who assisted in the
management of the case.
Judge Smith gave clear and
impartial charge and the jury retir
ed about half past 10 o'clock at night,
They deliberated for short while,
and when court convened Friday
morning they were ready to render
their verdict of "not guilty."
1t was generally believed that
such would be the result by those
who had heard the testimony and
speeches. Coursey has been in jail
since last August and he was very
happy to regain his liberty.