The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-09-16
WILL GREEN is FREE.
THE REMARKxBLE TRIAL ENDS IN
An ACQUITTAL.
Tho Defendant Kills Tom Estes and Then
WEEDS tho Observation-Disclosures OF
Those Witnessing the Affair.


"Gentemen of the Jury; have stood be-
| fore juries throughout the ocmulgec cir
cult for seven years as the states prose-
| cutting attorney, but this Is the most re-
markable case / have ever seem"
Thus spoke Solicitor General ii. Gray
| Lewis as he stood before a jury of twelve
men of Morgan county this afternoon,
making the closing argument in the case
| of the state against William o. Green,
charged with the murder of Tom Estes.
And the case Is remarkable one-re-
markable because of the fact that girl
should turn away from the dead body of
her father who had been shot by the man
of her choice. and. leaving the PROSTATE
form, enter into the solemn and sacred
marital contract with her parents slayer.
An unusual feature of this case is that
| one of the first men to appear upon the
scene and therefore one of the principal
witnesses is member of the jury, who
| came down from the jury box to the wit
ness stand to give his testimony.
Possibly the story of the tragedy and
the romance preceding ii are still familiar
| to the readers of Tho Constitution. and
| yet rehearsal of the material incidents
NAV not prove uninteresting. ON May II,
| 1925, by previous agreement. Miss Cora Is
| ties. the fifteen year old daughter of John
/ Tom Estes "A prosperous farmer OF Nor
/ gan county, who resided near the line of
| Newton, met William o. Green at the lit
| tie church at which the people of the neigh
borhood assembled for holding Sunday
school. After consultation the young
couple got into buggy and drove away.
Sam Estes. brother of the young lady.
in company with friend, followed, rode
quickly to the Estes home and informed
tine father that the girl had started off
with Green to be married.
Hastily getting into the buggy with his
son, the two Esteses rode in hot pursuit
OF the fleeing couple. Estes and his
aNrtV RnlF hn fsfg and .Vafaf MT no rsGI-
dence of Rev. j. NJ. Harweli. near New
bern, Newton county, but On the Morgan
side of the line. where they had gone to
bee married. The elder Estes sprang from
his buggy, walked up to his daughter and,
as witnesses have testified in this court.
said, Come on, Cora, aud go home with
I me"
Green thereupon drew his revolver and
shot tho old man dead in his tracks and.
turning. fired at tho younger Estes, who
lied Tor refuge to MIR. Harwelrs house.
The girl and her lover went in their
flight, and in less than forty minutes were
married by Justice James n. Mann, who,
of course, knew nothing of the tragedy.
Green He'd to Baldwin county, where he
remained unth "a few weeks ago, when,
In attempting To pass through Macon on
his way to Texas. he was captured and
brought to Madison and lodged IN the coun-
- jail. Ills case was set for this term
Of court and last Friday morning, Judge
John e. Bart called the case for trial,
Silence fell upon the great throng which
nlled the courtroom to ovcrfiowing.
Altssrs Foster * Butler assisted Solicitor
Gray Lewis. for the state. Messrs. George
* George and Hon. Robert Whitfield rep
resented the accused. Ia the selection of
jurors a little incident worthy OF men,
liou occurred. Rev. J. NJ. Harwclfs name
was called in the list of jurors Counsel
Tor the state made the statement that Mr..
HarNen had been "A witness to occurrences
leading To the tragedy ana had testified in
the corouer's inquest. The questions were
put 10 the juror. and he said his mind was
impartial between the state and the ac-
cuScd. and that he had formed no opinion
as to tine guilt or innocence Of the prison.
ar a. the bar. lie was taken on the jury
and the case proceeded.
The first witness called was the Rev. j.
NJ. larwell, who came down from the jury
box 10 tho witness stand. When question:
Ell 10y the solicitor general lac said in sub
stance that ne was seated IN his house,
near the boundary line between Morgan
and Newton counties. about o'clock sun
day afternoon, May II. 1875. lie heard bug
gies drive up, some LOUD talking, followed
10y two pistol shots. lie went out and
saw }. 4. Estes lying the ground and
sam Estes, his son. running away. Green
WAS standing near the deaG man and be-
side his buggy in which was Miss Cora rs
ties WAS sitting. Green got in his buggy
and the two drove away. The witness
turned his attention 10 the dying man, who
lay ON the ground almost Hat OF his back,
EaspnE FOR breath. sam Estes and
gro boy came up. The body WAS removed
10 better position where it remained UNI
til after the inquest, when il was taken 10
Mr.. patuck's. Air. IIarwcll saw a place
Ia sam Estes's vest where ban had
passed through. There was also hole in
pine tree where another ban had entered.
hon fr4asts a ans
general reputation as to character, the
witness said he had never heard of his be-
ing violent cor desperate man, but that
he had heard it said that he was bad
man." This was ruled out.
}. VI. Green testified that he had heard
j. r. Este say that. before Cora should
marry VIII Green aud live with him. he
would xiii both OF them. The witness had
never communicated this statement to the
defendant. 4 motion Ly the states coun~
sci 10 rule out the testimony OF this wit
ness was sustained. Numerous Witnesses
then testified.
a motion to Introduce the wife Of the
defendant rs witness was oVcrrulcd the
Judge saying she not competent
witness. Tie counsel for the defense held
= conference. after which the defendant
made his statement
The Prisoners Statement.
Pale. little nervous ard somewhat OK
cited William -. Green took the witness
stand and related the story OF the tragedy
Green said that he began his attentions
To Cora ESTES early last IAN. Her father
raise no objections to his visits until af-
ter they had been engaged some time
last spring. Green said he had ceased yis-
itins her at her home about one month
/ before the fatal day IN May, ana the last
I time he had been at Ilstess house Was
4 when he escorted hcr home from a party
! one night Notes had passed between them
f. and messages of love and tokens OF aifec-
ton were conveyed by mutual friends to
ana from each OF the young lovers. by ar
I raugemcmt they met at Sewells church
I on "a Sabbath afternoon, May 18th, and
4 Cora aBItcd 10 accompany him TO the Rev.
1 Mr. larwtllS, where the ceremony to
/ have been performed. She told Green that
/ her father had threatened 10 kill both him
and herself IN the event they were mar
1 ried. Green told her he would protect her.
! They elopel and were followed by her
! father and brother. Old man Estes fired at
| him first, Green said. and then the defend
/ ant shot him dead.
! Sam Estes picked up his fathers pistol
/ and said ''-- you. l can kin you!"
The prisoner added that he fired at Sam
| and Sam fed.
/ pev NJ Harwell was again nut on