The Forrest City times., 1909-02-12
p. A. G0RMAN KILLS NEGRO,
Coroner's Jury and Public Opinion Relieve Him of Felonious Intent
 and Hold Him BlamclesS.

and Hold Him BlamelesS.
 About six o'clock Wednesday even ing q rumOr reached here that Mir. Paris German had shot and killed a colored man named John Loddic. near Nidener, in this county.
 MT German reached Forrest City about 7:3o pm- and surrendered to Dr. McDougal, deputy sheriff, and was taken before F. Hurley. !. P..who placed him under bond of one thous- and dollars for his appearance.
 on Thursday morning quite num- Der of the friends of MT. German and his father went with the coroner to the place where the killing occurred, and attended the inquest held over the body on the farm of Sheriif Will Hams, south Of Widener. The testi mony of witnesses. who were near at the time of the killing was to the ef- feet that nothing was seen or heard before the report of the pistol. except Paris called to the man to come out of doors, and that soon after the man went out and shut the door behind him the shot was heard and that Paris was seen to leave the place witt the pistol in his hand.
 
 made the following statement to the jury: 1'Loddie lived with me last year and the year before l had no trouble with him, and always got along with him peacefully. He left me about January lst. On Tuesday morning, February 9th, while l was at Forrest City, and without my per mission, he tore down calf lot on my premises, left the wire and posts seat tered in a way to endanger stock, changed the shape and size of the lot for his own use, and had also moved or stolen, some of my cotton seed was passing John Boyd's house about | , o'clock pm. on "Wednesday. Feb ruary 10th, and without any intention Of shooting him, called him out for the purpose of asking him about his in- reference with the lot. and about the cotton seed. A soon as he came out of Boyd's house, l saw that he was mad, and l stepped back some six or seven steps, until l was in danger Of striking the fence, or falling over 1 the river bank. Loddie continued to advance in a threatening attitude, and believing that my life was in 1 danger, l pointed my pistol to his l breast and it failed to lire. While l still backing with him advancing, and when he was only two or three feet from me, l pulled the trigger the sec ond time when it fired. and he fell. l then caught my mule which 1 had | diSmounted, and as soon as 1 could, sent Dr. Ferrell to do what he could for him. I had no intention or desire to hurt the negro, and his attitude and manner towards me was com pete surprise tQ me. bore no i'll will toward the negro, md was glad when he left me and went to work on Williams S place.
 This fair and reasonable statement, l which is strongly corroborated by all the circumstances in the case, and which was uncontradicted in any part, will undoubtedly relieve our friend Paris from even the suspicion of felo- nious intent in the matter, and will acquit him before the bar of public opinion. as it did before the coroners' jury which promptly discharged him. If any of the c0lored people in the neighbOrhood where the tragedy Oc- cured have felt aggrieyed. or that a member of their race has been un- l justly treated. they should now, after 1 hearing the other side. be reasonable and fair. and not continue to con- demn this young man for do ing what any one of them would have done under similar circum- stances.
 Both Paris and his father. Mr. Walter German. desire us to express their sincere thanks and gratitude for the many offers of substantial assist ance and of sympathy which have been shOwered upon them, and which have done so much to tighten the burden of their sorrow and sadness over the de- plOrable occurrence.