Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-12-19
BAILIFF FOUND DEAD;
MURDER SUSPECTED
Lanlady OF Lodging House Is
Held by CorOner's Jury.
STORY OF THOSE IN THE HOUSE
Police RsIivs DOdssn Was Killed in
House and His Body Thrown Upon
Poreh--coroner's Jury Secures SEN
satIonal Evidence from Witnesses.

satlonal Evidence from Witnesses.
Atlanta, Dec. 1S.-The dead body
OF John G.. Dodgen, a baillif, who
lived at 121 West Pine street, was
discovered early Sunday morning on
the rear porch Of a lodging house at
5Oh Marietta street, with bullet
hole in the back OF his head,
That a foul murder has been COM
mitted Is confidently believed By the
police and detectives, who alleged
that there Is evidence TO show that
DOdgen was murdered inside the
house and his body thrown out upon
the porch 10 mislead the officers Of
the law.
Mrs. Willie Stamper, who occupied
the house. Is Under arrest, end she
admits that she fred one shot through
a closed door to prevent an Intruder
from forcing his way into the hall,
and that Dodgen was Killed by the
shot as he stood on the outside.
Two other women, Mrs. Bessie b.
Carr, OF 10 Bush street, and Addie
GOss, OF 90 Tennelle street. were
also taken into custody, as they we're
Ia the house at the time of the shoot
ing.
Robert A. Jordan, who was also In
the house. and who admitted that he
knew something Of the killing, was
held by the police for the coroner's
inquest. which took place Sunday af-
ternoOn.
All four OF these people were Or
dered held for further investigation
by the grand jury.
Outside OF the three women and
Jordan there were only two Witness
es who could throw any light on the
afialr and their evidence was cOntrer
dietory IN several particulars.
According to the story. told by the
inmates OF the house. Dodgen and
probably other men went TO the rear
door which opens on a porch from
which leads a flight Of stairs 10 the
street. The lodging house Is on a
second floor over vacant store. The
women say that when an effort was
made by the man or men on the out
/ side 10 break down the door. Mrs.
Stampor called out 10 them 10 desist.
giving a warning that n they did not
she would shoot. A. they continued
/ 60 beat upon the door she secured a
/ pistol and fired one shot through the
/ closed door.
They thought they heard men run
ming away and not believing that any
body vhs hur they went 10 bed. and
knew nothing % the dead man on
the porch until Sunday morning.
when they we're notified BY a negro
cook
/ The theory 81 the police h that the
man was murdered IN the house, and
they base this on tho TESTIMONY %
ire special raiiroad ofBeer Who heard
two shots. and saw the fash - the
second and 20 a ueErO who thoaEht
ne heard ,hroe shots. and discovered
a maa running from IL houpc
nosiier this TIE ogneerp say tha,
thcre BAD bcsg blood freshly washed
frum the eoor - Oue - tie MONS
and a womaa's Eartrsnt vas fouht
whiCh borc uumisiakabie eyidcnccs q
| hlood.
n the theory % tAs cnccrs q TIE
las y true. thea the htlug occarred
in tse folloWiHE vay;
noigvn sect 10 the hoase 20 80
one ~ yhe uemcn tis sns refused
atmitiance. hgi catered aayAoE .
Thsre ocurret q aEhf % saus kias
b. ne middle roam sst potren sat
49, be- me eack % ne host Ths
tyiuE mas vat traEEce % ne rrar
tassg ast hrevn one ara 80 porca
seere hr acsa tita Tke oGeerl
believe yhat The uas ne 49, seen
sy a special pf'ruaf rGFer go sar
uitness az gas isgsest.