The age-herald., 1900-09-20
SHOT IN THE NECK
 BY ONE VISITOR Jesse Thompson Had Callers in
 in the Night, HIS HOSPITALITY ABUSED And Marion Beardon is Charged With Shooting Him-Story of Mountain Banditti-Petitions- Dull in
 the State Courts.
HIS HOSPITALITY ABUSED

A story was told in the United States Court yesterday which illustrates certain phases of mountain life in the United States, and for absolute lawlessness and utter disregard of human life parallels some of the stories of the Italian banditt.
 Marion Beardon of Walker County, Geor- gia, is on trial for conspiracy. It seems that Ed Fowler, d bosom friend of Bear don, was engaged last September in the business of making whisky in the locality of Cooper Heights, in Walker County Georgia, without having taken out the nec- essary license from the government Jesse D. Thompson, farmer, undertook to con- duct Deputy Marshal Hanlin and another deputy marshal to the spot. The officers to his home in Alabama. Shortly after ward he received an anonymous letter warning him that he would be killed. Thompson evidently expected something of the sort, for he immediately proceeded to make his house a castle in fact, as well as in law. He cut four or five loop-holes in the sides of his house, laid in an extra supply of ammunition and awaited devel- opments.
 He did not wait very long. One night in November he saw a party of men crawling through the grass Indan-fashion towards his house. When the party. one of whom was Marion Beardon, got near, they per- ceived the barrel of Thompson's rifle pro- truding through a porthole. This was dis concerting, and they abandoned the arts of war for the arts of diplomacy. They an- nounced that they had come as friends Thompson thereupon withdrew his gun when one of the visitors immediately in- serted his and fired, and Thompson fell with ball in his neck Thinking him dead, the friends departed.
 Thompson was nursed by his wife. She finally ventured out and secured a physi- elan, who saved her husbands life.
 The Federal authorities were notified Of the circumstances and hunted the asSas- sins for months. In February three or them were arrested and brought here and given a preliminary hearing before Com missioner w. K Cornish. All but Beardon were acquitted. Fowler has not been ap- prehended, and it is thought that he has left the country,
 The case will be concluded today. There is strong crcumstantial evidence against Beardon.
 At the conclusion of this case the cele- brated case of Walter Notes and others accused of killing q government witness named ". A. Thompson in Talladega Coun-
 
 Bankruptcy petitions were filed in the United States Court yesterday by William Walker who owes s91.53 and has assets of s21.G0; Claude B. Duran, who owes $6256l and has assets of SS69 91: J. A. Clegg, who owes $202.70 with assets af $23; Frank Hor- ace Reed who owes $163.50 with assets of $44; John Williamson who owes $153 with assets of g; Oscar Fleming who owes $l1l with assets of $Sl.S5.
 Circuit Court
 In the Circuit Court the only suit filed was an ejectment suit brought by Mrs. Eil- da Burns against Aaron Marshall.
 The fall term of this court begins next Monday.
 City Court
 A decree of divorce was entered yesterday in the City Court in favor of Mrs. M A Burks against w. A. Burks.
 The following arrests were made yester- day Ben Westwood, violating State reve- nue law; Frank Dorsey, burglary; Will Pearson, petty larceny; Ella Brown adultery.