The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-22
LIFE sENrENcE FoR WALDEN.
Ne Was Found Guilty OF the Murder
of George Dixon.


Wfightsville, Ga. sept 2i-Ths case
against Jerry Walden. for the murder OF
George Dixon. VAS resumed this morn
INK Tho evidence against Walden was
very damaging
The first witness called for the state
vas w. J. Rainea. lie testified 10 the
general conduct of the defendant on the
night Of the murder Mrs. Dixon went to
the hcme OF the witness ana asked him
20 come over aud see Whist was the mat
ter with her husband. Witness said that
Walden was very Indifferent 10 the sur
rounding circumstances. walden was slt-
ting la the back Of the house when the
witness arrived. and had made no attempt
TO wash the blood or Dlxon's face. 20 as
TO SEES what was tho matter Defendant
carelessly lighted a cigarette while wit
ness was seeing what could be done un-
der the circumstances. Defendant did not
90 for any help or send for physician.
Witness recognized the track Of defendant
leading or 10 the woods. where he threw
the AK with which the murder was commit
ted Defendant came out and stood By
track. which was barefoot Defendant
at the time was barefooted. aud made a
track nearby.
The next material witness was Mr. W
W. Anthony. clerk Of the Superior Court
OF this county. tie testinsd 70 the defend
ants sworn confession the day after the
commission Of the crime. The confession
says that the defendant helped Mrs Dix
on TO commit the crime. that defendant
nd Ht.A 81 t..a4
mate for about a month or six weeks. and
that she induced him to assist In the CON-
mission OF the crime.
The next material witness was Prof. G.
~ Woodward. who WAS going up to At
lan,a on the same day that the prisoners.
walden and Mrs. Dixon were being taken
10 Macon by Sheriff }. W. Rowland for
safe-keeping Prof Woodward said that
Walden told him that he had assisted
Mrs. Dixon IN the murder: that defendant
told him he expected 20 die. aud wanted
a Bible. which was given him.
MaIden's story of the Crime.
The defendant made his statement, say
ing that he assisted In the crime. hut did
20 through fear Of his life. thar Airs
Dixon on the night of the murder. a.
o'clock. came 20 his bed Call slept In one
large roOml aud took him hy the hand
waking him. and told him. Now is the
time 10 Kill -, which defenuanf prompt
~ refused 20 do. Then Mrs. Dixon told
him that n he did not do SO she would
holler rape" aud that her husband
would jump up and kin him. And under
this fear for his own life. he took the ax.
which was placed IN the house. snd
struck Dixon the first blow la the stom-
ach; then gave the Ak 10 Mrs. Dixon.
who struck an the mortal blows.
Hon y. r. Rawlins. solicitor. ard
Mcssrs j. X Hawkins 0f Gibson and r.
l.. stephens Of WriEhisville represented
the state. and Hon. John r. Cooper of
Macon for the defense
The state made out a very strong case
against Walden. and Col. Cooper attacked
principally the confessions made az dif-
ferent times. that they were the result OF
fear. The jury retired last night al SAD
o'clock and brought IN a verdict this
morning az $50 O'Clock OF guilty. with rec
ommcndation OF life imprisonment. The
verdict has the approval OF the public
generally.
walden was at once sentenced 20 life
Imprisonment In the penitentiary.