The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-04
FULTON COUNTY MAN SHOT.
TWO EXPLANATIONS OF THE
SHOOTING IN CIRCULATION.

TWO EXPLANATIONS OF THE
SHOOTING IN CIRCULATION.
One of the stories Is That He Had
Won over the Wife of the Man
Who shot Him and WAS After His
Dauehter-V ounded Mans Family
Claim the shooting Was an Out
come of the Purchase of IA Farm.
Atlanta, Ga, July 3-Marion L. Roberts
wealthy and well known citizen OF fu'-
ton county was shot and dangerously
wounded at Morrow's station, in Clayton
county. yesterday afternoon by Columbus
Fuller. a well known farmer of that sec
ton.
Roberts was brought to his home near
Fort Mcpherson. where ne is lying in a
precarious condition.
Fuller assigns as his reason for shooting
Roberts that the latter had robbed him OF
his wife, and planned the ruin Of his
daughter.
OF course, there are two sides to the
story, and Roberts family claims that the
shooting was caused by in-feeling grow
sing out of the purchase of the Fuller farm
by Roberts some years ago and that Full
Ter adopted this cold-blooded and coward
ly method of getting revenge.
The shooting was done with a shotgun,
and the attending physician said that he
picked more than thirty slugs and shot out
of Roberts neck and face.
Green b. Roberts father of the wound
49,, ,,-o,e =, yJoy-tD,, o97tptxf to-1av
10 swear out a warrant for Fuller and
says that he viii prosecute him to the end
Of the law.
The wounded man was suffering so much
that his physician thought it best that no
one be admitted to his room, but his
father gave the following statement of the
shooting: Il believe it to have been
concerted plan To kill my son, and more
than one is implicated. From present in
Adications I think there viii be more than
one arrest firmly believe there was a
plot to murder him. You can add" he
said, in conclusion. that all that money
and genius can do viii be brought to bear
10 punish his assailant."
Fulton is at his home near Morrow, and
has no intention of evading arrest. This
was learned from a relative to whom he
gave his side of the affair
Very few people were willing to discuss
tn eaffair but in a general way it was
learned that Fuller Will make a very start
ling defense.
II was reported that the immediate
cause of the shooting was Roberts throw
ing kiss TO Fuller's daughter. Accord
ing to this report, Fuller was sitting on the
porch of his home, which is not far from
the Roberts place, when Roberts passed
by. As the latter came by one of the
girls threw a kiss to him. and Roberts
threw one TO her When this occurred
Fuller is said TO have fired.
According to another report Fuller did
not see Roberts throw a kiss to his
daughter, but had heard of It.
But there is another side to the story.
It is known that Tor some time there las
been very bad feeling between The two
men. The trouble dates beyond the Sc
paration of Fuller and his wife year
ago. He has regarded Roberts as TO
blame for this separation and for a long
time the alleged intimacy between Rob
erts and Mrs Fuller, charged by the lat
ter's husband, had been the subject of
gossip in the neighborhood. People freely
Ventured to prophesy trouble. Yesterday
it came, but there was even a fresher
grievance.
Fuller is said to have stated since the
shooting that his attempt TO take Rob-
ert's life was due TO advances made 10
Last year Fuller filed a suit against Rob
erts in Fulton Superior Court for $4,000
damages alleging that Roberts had alien
ated his wife's affections. The story as
told by the petition of Fuller was highly
sensational one. He represented that
soon after he went with his wife and
children to live on the farm of Roberts
that the latter began TO ingratiate him
self in to Mrs. Fuller's affections, visit
ing her frequently when he was away
from home He charged that his
wifes conduct forced MIN
40 leave his home. she being turned against
him by Roberts, who was a much wealth
Ter and much more polished man.
Divorce proceedings are now pending be-
tween Fuller and his wife. In the contest
over their children, which took place be-
fore Judge John S. Gambler some months
ago, the judge awarded the little ones to
the father.
Roberts is married and has four small
sops. His wife was the daughter of Col b.
A. Shepard of Houston, Tex who was
president of the First National Bank of
that city. He left an estate valued at $780,
600, which was divided among his five chill
dlen
Mr.. Roberts home near Atlanta Is a
beautiful place.
MORE PATIENTS FROM TAMPA.