Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-22
GUS FELLOWS
IS ON TRIAL
AGAIN
SOLDIERS ACCOMPANIED HIM
TO BANKS COUNTY THURS
DAY M0RNING-NEGR0 HAS
BEEN IN JAIL TWO YEARS.

Gus Fellows, who has been confined in
the Fulton county jail for the past two
years of alleged crimes which were said
to have been committed in jackson and
Banks county, and who was at one time
sentenced to hang and whose case was
afterwards mol pressed by the Judge OF
the superior court of Jackson county, was
taken to Homer, Banks county, Thursday
morning under an escort of Atlanta troops
TO answer to the charge of assault with
intent to murder.
Captain Harry Anderson, of the Capital
City Guard, Captain F. L. Smith and
Lieutenant F. NJ. Hadley with thirty en-
listed men left early Thursday morn
ing with the prisoner. Sheriff f. NJ. Hen
derson, of Banks county accompanied the
party. The Banks county superior court
is in session and Fellows will be
placed on trial. owing TO the feeling
against the negro in that county the
sheriff thought IT was best to have troops
along and Wednesday he wired Governor
Gambler to send Fellows to Homer with
a detachment of troops. The governor
demurred, however, because he thought
a request should be made for the troops
and besides the sheriff should come him
self or send after his prisoner.
The detail of soldiers were instructed
by the governor TO remain until after the
trial and to bring Fellows back to jail
here. In 1900 Fellows was arrested for
an alleged criminal assault upon young
woman of Harmony Grove. He was tried
three times and was sentenced to hang.
The supreme court reversed the case
twice. however, and at the last hearing
the Judge ordered the case mol pressed,
on account of the scant evidence. All this
time Fellows was held in jail here for
fear of a lynching party. AS soon as the
case was mol pressed a warrant charging
him with wife beating was sworn out by
Banks county authorities and he was held
in the Tower A prominent citizens of
Banks county went on the negro's bond,
however, and he was released. Since his
release on that charge he has been charg-
ed with assault and intent to murder on
his wife and 1t is for that offense that
he is to be tried now. Governor Gambler
received information some time ago that
il was the desire of some to lynch the ne
gro. and when the sheriff asked for troops
he promptly sent them with the man.
The following special from Lula to The
Journal gives another version of the at
fair:
Especial Dispatch to The Journal.)
LULA, Ca, Sept 1S.-Gus Fellows, who
has been confined in the Atlanta jail for
safe keeping, arrived here this morning
in charge of Sheriff Henderson and
guard of thirty soldiers. They left i'm
mediately for Homer, where Fellows Will
be put on trial for the murder OF his
wife.
In october. 1900. Fellows wife was found
unconscious, having been severely beat
with a stick. One of her arms was broken
and she received other injuries which re-
suited in her death soon afterwards.
circumstances pointed to her husband
Gus Fellows. as the guilty party. He
evaded the officers, however, and the first
heard of him afterwards was when he
was arrested by the sheriff of Jackson
county for a criminal assault made on
Miss Hood. near Harmony Grove. 1t is
believed he committed this crime while in
hiding from the officers of Banks county.
He was taken before Miss Hood and iden-
titled and tried in jackson county for this
crime and convicted. He, however, Sc
cured a new trial. N which the jury fall
ed to agree, and was then turned over to
Banks county TO answer the charge of
murder. Feeling is very high in both
Banks and Jackson counties against Fell
lows. as they do not think he has re-
ceived his just deserts in the Harmony
Grove case.
Gus Fellows Fined Fifty Dollars.
Gus Fellows, the negro who was escort
ed by troops to Homer. in Banks county,
Friday. was found guilty of assault and
battery in the superior court and was sem
fenced by Judge Estes TO a fine Of $50 or
three months on the changing.
The negro was charged with assault
with intent to murder. and having been
previously tried on the charge of assault
in jackson county II was thought by
Governor Gambler that it would be best
to send troops to protect the man.
Captain Harry Anderson and the detach-
ment of soldiers returned that night bring
ing Fellows with them. He will be kept
in the Jail here until he begins to serve
his sentence in the changing or pays his
fine.
The trip was rather an expensive one so
far as the state was concerned, as the
cost of transporting the troops to and
from Banks county and the pay Of the
soldiers on duty will amount to several
hundred dollars.