The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-06
Murder Mystery In Georgia Town Is Added to List
 In Famous Case
LAWYER IS FOUND DEAD
 WITH BULLET IN BRAIN
Authorities Are All at Sea In the Mur- der Case and Coroner's Jury Rem ders Verdict of Death By
 Unknown Persons.

McRae, Ga, April 5.-That Pope Hill, prominent attorney of Macon is the third victim of an assassin in the now ceie- brated Dodge land case, is the belief of the authorities of this county. The coro- ner's jury after a careful examination declared this afternoon Hall was 'mur- dered by parties unknown"
 Hill was found dead in the office of local attorney at o'clock this morning, bullet hole in his brain and a revolver with an empty chamber grasped in his right hand The condition of the office indicated desperate struggle. The stove had been turned over, the coal scuttle was crushed, and the furniture was broken as though by fight.
 On the floor was an unfinished motion in the Dodge case drawn by the dead attorney which he had come here to fle., Hill arrived here at noon Sunday and went to a friends law office to work on the case. A little while later Hill went to the home of the proprietor of hard ware store and said he had received some threatening letters, over which he was worrying and wanted revolver. He was so insistent that the hardware man opened the store and Hill purchased the revolver which was latterly found clasped in his stilled hand.
 Bullet Pierces Brain.
 Hill returned to the office and was not seen alive again. Hills body was found on the floor this morning. The bull let entered the right eye and had pierced the brain. From bloodstalns on the wall he must have been shot while standing. The first idea of suicide was later con tracted by the fact that no powder burns were visivle on Hills fact, and every in dcation of a desperate struggle in the office was had apparently begun while Hill was In the midst of his work pre- pairing the motion for the court today.
 When the body was searched a note addressed 10 him at Macon was found It was written in childish hand and said:
 Pope Hill You must cease interfer- ing with us, or you'll go broke.' A rude ly drawn skull and cross bones was the signature.
 The authorities believe he received other threats after he arrived here Sunday which impelled him ti buy the revolver. It was found, too, the authorities said, that after his arrival Sunday he wrote woman in Warrenton, Ga. regretting that he could not spend Sunday with her, but promising to call on her later in the week. He was much interested in the case which was to have come up today and spent much time in preparation.
 Trail of Death.
 The trail of deaths and injuries in the Dodge land suit began in 1891. In that year Capt John c. Forsythe, who repre- scented the N. w. Dodge estate, was as- tnd A rtxy f..;,, men were sentenced to prison for life for the crime. Soon after this Lucius Will Hams, one of the claimants attorneys, was killed and for weeks the entire coun- ty was in @ state of great excitement. Since then there have been numerous en- counters growing out of the case in which the participants received gunshot or stab wounds.
 The Dodge lands cover something like 100000 acres in Pulaski, Dodge, Telfair and Lawrence counties. The title rested on some ancient ownership Many squat ters settled on different parts and there was trouble every time an eviction was at- tempted. The Dodge heirs were kept busy protecting their title and dispossessing squatters.
 New Claimants Case.
 Pope Hill had been retained to represent a new claimant whose name has not been made known, and when MT. Hill arrived here Sunday he carried cerain documents and deeds which he proposes to offer to the court today to sustain his client s claim. During the past few years he had made a special study of the case and had been over almost every acre of the land The case seemed nearly settled recently and then the new claimant appeared.
 Hill was forty vars of age and was a member of the law firm of Harris & Har- ris. and leaves a widow and one child. His friends and business associates are employing detectives and claim they will run down his murderers if money can do 1t.