The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-09-20
YOUNG MAN BROUGHT FROM
NORTH GEORGIA TO LEES
BURG JAIL.
FRIENDS RALLYING ROUND HIM

When Train Passed Through Smith
Vile Scores Pressed to Shake His
Hand. Charges and Counter
Charges Are Made, and Case Will
Be Hard Fought.
Robert Kennedy, young man
who was reared at Bronwood, in
Terrell county, has many relatives
and friends in this section, and
charged with the recent tragic death
Of Mrs. Maud Childers at Smithville,
was brought from Carrollton by
Sheriff S. B. Smith of Lee county
Thursday, and lodged in Jail at Lees
burg.
1t is said that when the morning
Central train bringing him from Car
rollton TO Leesburg arrived at Smith
Vile friends crowded about Kenne-
dy. and expressed belief in his ability
to clear himself of the charge
against him. Many there are who
do not believe that he administered
the fatal dose.
The alleged statement accredited
to Kennedy to the effect that while
he did not administer the strychnine
to Mrs Childers he knew who did,
and the further statement that he
could not bear to see the woman he
formerly loved the wife of another,
has been denied both by the prisoner
and Sheriff Smith.
Many Reports Have Been Afoat.
When Mrs. Childers, a bride of
six months, died several weeks ago
in Smithville under suspicious cir
Cumstances it was the verdict of
physicians that she was the victim of
Strychnine poison secretly admins
tered
Circumstances indicated, in the
minds of certain citiznes of Smith
vile, that the young husband was
the guilty party. That he put stryeh-
nine in some medicine his wife was
taking, went away on a short trip
and returned to find her dead was
charged by some.
But in spite of such rumors the
crime was not fastened on the young
husband. He and his young bride
mad lived happily together, and no
motive could be advanced that
would have led him to commit the
murder. His relatives upheld him
IN his denials that he had admins
tered the poison that killed his wife,
and with the purpose of clearing him
II possible of all suspicion, as we'll
as to track down the perpetrator of
Vne deed, detective named Petrie
was employed to investigate the
case, and the arrest of Kennedy, who
was employed at a saw mill in Heard
county, followed.
Relatives of Kennedy. it il said
are indignant over his arrest. They
say that no motive can be attributed
TO him for the preparation of
Sucn crime The fact that he was
an admirer of Mrs. Childers before
HeT marriage, when she was Miss
1'lcnardson, is admitted, but friends
Say mat no motive can be connected
herewith.
Childers left home on the morning
Oh his wife's death, going to Lees
Vurg' from there coming to Dawson,
anu tnen returning to Leesburg,
"neFe he received a telephone mes
sage informing him of the desper-
a'e illness of his wife. The reports
mat Chtlders had considerable life
Insurance upon his wife are emphat-
'caly denied by his friends, who de-
'Iare the life insurance stories are
wholly untrue.
A preliminary trial has been set
lor Monday afternoon, the 18th inst,
a1 Leesburg, and battle royal will
We fought by strong legal talent.
ooHcltor General J. r. Williams,
0l'J Court Solicitor 2. S. Childers
ana j. B. Hudson, all of Americas,
Will appear for the state, while At
,orneys Raglan Long and c. H. Beaz-
'ey OF Leesburg and Hollis Fort of
amerlcus will appear as counsel for
Nsonedy. A great throng will at
Lend the heariDu
Cnilders' friends will try to bring
ABOUT the conviction of Kennedy,
WON they have had arrested under
u's terrible charge. Will not Ken
1euy friends, in retaliation as we'll
70 lor his own vindication, attempt
" snow that the young husband
4Uo"s more of his wife's death than
"aS yet been told?
T., n view of the very intense feeling