The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-01-24
A GREAT CRIMINAL TRIAL
THE HINKLEs NOW BEING TRIED AT
AMERICUS.
II Was Begun Monday The Story of The
Tragedy--A Brilliant Array of

Counsel.
On December 81, 1892, bloody TRACE
DIV was enacted on one of the business
streets of Americas, just as the day was
closing. which sent to instant death one
of the most prominent and popular
young men of the city, land consigned to
Jail to await trial for murder two of
the best known physicians of this part
of Georgia.
Four pistol shots rang out in rapid
succession just at the entrance of Drs.
J. B. & A. B. Hinkle's Office, and the
first to reach the scene of the killing
found DIR. J. J. Worsham lying upon his
face dead, shot through the heart, and
the two doctors (Hinkle) standing near,
as the chief actors of the tragedy.
Among the first to arrive were two
officers, who Immediately took the Drs.
Hinkle into custody. They at once de-
manded to be taken before Judge James
II. Guerry who was that week holding
court az Americas for Judge Fish, in
order to have bond arranged for their
release. As the police started with the
prisoners towards Judge Guerry's hotel
a bowling mob that had gathered as by
magic bagan to cry, 'Lynch them! hang
them They assassinated Worsham! Xii
them Burn themP'
Judge Query was found at the Allen
House, the prisoners taken to his room,
and their statement made to the Judge.
Hearing the cries of tie mob in and
around the hotel, Judge Query ordered
the prisoners at once to Jail for their
protection, as an immediate session of
Judge Lynchs court seemed imminent.
A carriage was called to the front en-
trance and started to take the prisoners
out, but they saw it meant death to tie
Drs. Hinkle and to perhaps others, and
so upon Judge Guerry's advice the pris-
oners were slipped quietly out the back
way, hurried around through an alley
and a side street, and were within a
block of the Jail when the mob heard
that the slip had been given them. A
rush was made foI the Jail, and race
began between the officers with the |
prisoners and the mob, to see which |
could first gain the entrance. The |
police won the race, but only by hairs |
breadth, and the prisoners were saved |
from the bowling fury of the mob.
Three fatal balls had struck Or. Wor-
sham's left side-one breaking the col |
lar bone and lodging in the spinal col |
umn; another SCATTERING the left shout |
passing through the heart
The coroners jury, after examining |
various witnesses, decided the killink to |
be murder, and thus this celebrated |
case begun it's career in the courts.
ORIGIN OF THE TRAGEDY.
The trouble that led to the killing |
originated from $65 lawsuit, in which
DR.. j. B. Hinkle was defendant, he be-
ing sued and pleading failure of consid-
Grafton on dental bill of DR.. W. P.
Burt for that amount. DIR. Worsham,
who was dentist, was an expert wit
ness summoned by DR.. Hinkle, and by
whom DR.. Hinkle expected to win his
case; but DR.. Worsham's testimony
caused the verdict to go against DR..
Hinkle. He accused WOrsham OfIhaving
perjured himself, and some hot words
had passed several days before the fatal
day and considerable i'll feeling had
been engendered, though nobody seemed
to expect any serious results.
EFFORTS TO GET BAIL.
Two unsuccessful attempts were
made to obtain bail from Judge Fish, of
the superior court, on the grounds both
of the feeble health of both the Drs.
Hinkle and the character OF the evidence
to the prisoners, but bail was
refused in both cases.
Since the last attempt TO obtain bail
the prisoners have lain quietly in Jail,
and 1t il said their health is now such
that they are both fully able to stand
trial, for which they announced ready !
when the case was called Monday.
ARRAY OF LAWYERS.
The array of legal talent ON both sides
Is very strong, and some of the most ex-
citing scenes ever witnessed In a court
house are expected this week. For the
State are Solicitor General G. B. Hud-
SON, one of the ablest prosecutors at the
bar, Hon. Robert L. Berner of FORSYTH,
and Coils. Edgar F. Hinton, E. A. Haw-
kins and w. K. Wheatley of the local
bar.
For the defense are Messrs. Fort &
Watson, Dodson & Son, L. j. BlalOck,
J. B. Hudson, Pilsbury & Winchester,
J. A. Ansley and Judge II. D. D. {
rwiggs the noted CRIMINAL lawyer of
Augustus, and Little, Wor.,eu & Wimbieh
Of: Columbus.
Both sides express themselves as con-
ident of success, and no effort will be
spared to win this. which is destined to
be one of the greatest legal battles ever
fought at Georgia bar.
WHY THE CASE Is PROMINENT.
The personal, protest. onal and social
prominence of both the principals a.ld L
heir victim in the tradegy, and their
influential connections, involving scores
Of people make, the case one of absorb
ing public interest.
The trial promises to be one of the
argest and most noted in the annals of
.he courts of this state, and will be watch
I'D with absorbing interest by thousands
fpeople,
Catarrh in tha Hand