Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-21
FISHER STICKS To STORY
UNDER FIERCE CHILLING
Of LAWYER AND POLICE

noon or while he and Shirley accord o.
ing TO his story, were driving across
Peachtree street and down Decatur
street and then to the Union Station.
! He said that ne noticed no crowd
on the streets at all other than would
naturally be on any Saturday after
| noon The progress of his wagon
/ never was stopped at any time he
! was driving from one place to an
| other. II is claimed that this alone
| bra nds his story as ridiculous, as there
were large crowds on the street.
| Still another discrepancy which the
! police say Is in his story IS that he
first sale that he met C. w Burke,
| agent for Attorney Luther Rosser, on
| Friday night in Birmingham. Before
| the detectives he declared that the
| first time he saw Burke was last Sat
| urday night when Burke met him on
| the street and brought him to At
| lanta. Burke also is declared TO have
said that he met Fisher first on Err
| day night.
Burke Did Talking.
Fisher was questioned very close
| Is about who had talked TO him In
| Luther Rossers office. He said that
Rosser and Reuben Arnold had not
| talked to him at all, but that Burke
lad done most of the examination
They told me M there that | would
have a hard time down here IL the
detectives got hold OF me" he naively
told Langford.
Fisher gave all Of his replies in q
calm. almost disinterested voice
When he charged Shirley with going
to The pencil factory to meet Mary
Phagan he jered his thumb careless
~ toward Shirley who sat the other
side of table.
You did it; YOU now you did H." he
said to Shirley.
You lie, you skunk. you know d
well YOU lie." retorted Shirley and
he started from his chair in a menac-
ing manner. Detectives grabbed Shir-
ley and averted a fight.
This dramatic scene was enacted
when Shirley was brought to head
quarters to face hie accuser. Quiet
was restored and Fisher was ordered
TO tell his story in the furniture
mans presence.
The Saturday Of the murder Shir-
ley and ] drove down to Broad and
Marietta streets in his wagon. We
had delivered bureau to "A Mrs
Holloway on Bellwood avenue. We
stopped near the corner and Shirley
said he wanted me to hold the horse
while he went to the pencil factory,
where he had a date, he said, with
Hattie the pet name for Mary Pha-
gan" Fisher paused and Shirley WAS
on his feet in an instant.
Called Liar and Bum"
You're a measly liar and I'll prove
1t. you drunken bum shouted Shir-
ley, his eyes lighting up with dar-
gerous fire. "Why don't you tell the
truth and quit lying" Shirley. half
mad with rage. was almost dragged
into his chair by Charley Graham, his
attorney.
Fisher was told to continue
! Il waited about an hour and a half
| for Shirley" started tire man again.
| his eyes roaming about the room. as
! though in search for a place he could
! look where no eyes would catch his
| gaze. He got back between 9 40 and
| 3 o'clock.
I've played hell in general he
said to me. Then he said | had bet
ter get out OF town"
Fisher again paused, and looking
Shirley straight in the eyes for The
first time, said:
That's straight Mr. shirley. ana
II you'll tell the truth you'll admit
IT."
once more Shirley arose in a
threatening attitude. but took his seat
again,
II didn't want to get out of town
and told Shirley so. but he threatencd
/ me and said ] would have TO get out.
/ We drove to the Unon Depot and he
/ purchased me a ticket for Elliiay. II,
/ gave me S25. He went in the car
I with me and left me If | hadn't have
heen afraid of MIN | wouldn't have
( gone away. | stayed in Elijay two
| weeks. then came back to Atlanta
| Il stayed here two weeks and then
/ went to Copperhill. Tenn, because
| Shirley wanted me to and because he
/ threatened me. You know you
! You did" and the strange man SHOOK
! his head in a logged manner.
Shirley sent me some letters with
money In them Two he sent con-
( tanned s25 each. Another one con-
tanned S.
I've told the truth and it'u all come
out sooner or later" declared Fisher
with the air of philosopher.
Efforts to shake the mans story
were without results. He would an,
sNer most any question in an unCon.
Cerned way and refused to be tangled
up by the questions put to him by
Graham, the chief and by reporters.
You are telling a most wondrou'
tale said Graham. but YOU had bet,
ter tell the truth before YOU get sen
to jail for criminal Libel"
Denies Using Drugs.
Il know what libel is" retorte,
Fisher. and YOU can't send a man /,
prison for telling the truth"
What kind of dope DO YOU use
morphine or cocaine someone "shoi'
at him.
None said Fisher.
You look like you did" said one %
the detectives,
That's because | need drinks
one he replied,
And undoubtedly he did need on,
He had been given all the whisky h,
wanted while in the hands Of the ~
torneys, and was reluctant To lesV,
such a nice abode. His face neede,
hours work by barber and batl