Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-21

years This blow to his tale did not
daunt Fisher in the least. He still
stuck TO his assertion that they went
there that morning and delivered the
furniture.
Another OF his statements which
gave tangible cause for disbelief was
that he had seen no crowd on the
streets April 26, which was Memo
rial Day, either while he was waiting
at Marietta and Forsyth streets from
about l until 3 O'Clock in the after
noon or while he and Shirley accord
ing TO his story, were driving across
Peachtree street and down Decat ur
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. 1t is claimed that this alone
brands his story as ridiculous as there
We're large crowds on the street.
| Stll another discrepancy which the
police say is in his story is that he
first said that he met G. w. Burke,
agent for Attorney Luther Rosser. on
Friday night in Birmingham. Before
the detectives he declared that the
first time ne saw Burke was last Sat
urday night when Burke met him on
the street and brought him TO At
anta. Burke also is declared to have
said that he met Fisher first on FriS
day night
Burke Did Talking.
Fisher was questioned very close
ly about who had talked to him in
Luther Gossers office. He said that
Rosser and Reuben Arnold had not
| cot To hi oil l,,tF hat
had done most Of the examination.
They told me up there that | would
have a hard time down here If the
detectives got hold of me-" he naively
told Langford,
Fisher gave all OF his replies in
| calm. almost disinterested voice
When he charged Shirley with Poing
to the pencil factory to meet Mary
Phagan he jered his thumb careless
| ly toward Shirley who sat the Other
side or a table.
| You did it; YOU now you did it, lie
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 a 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
it, you drunken bum" shouted Shir-
ley, his eyes lighting UP with a dan-
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
II waited about an hour and a halt
for shirley started the 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 >: 80 and
3 o'clock.
Eve played hell in general he
said to me. Then he said l had bet
ter get out Of town"
Fisher again paused, and looking
Shirley straight in the eyes for ;he
first time, said.
That's straight. MIR shirley. and
, II you'll tell the truth you'll admit
IT,"
Once more Shirley arose in "A
threatening attitude, but took his seat
again.
Il didn't want to get out of town
, and told Shirley So, but he threatened
me and said ! would have to get out.
, We drove to the Unon Depot and he
, purchased me a ticket for Eniiay. He
, gave me $25. He went In the car
with me and left me. II | hadn't have
, been afraid of him | wouldn't have
some away. | stayed In Ellijay 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
threatened me. Shirley-you know
YOU did" and the strange man SHOOK
his head in n dogged manner
, shirley sent me some letters with
, money in them. Two he sent con-
r tanned s25 each. Another one con-
|tdlneu ".
1--WE told the truth and in all come
, out sooner or later" declared Fisher
with the air Of a philosopher
Efforts TO shake the mans story
were without results. He would an
a sNer most any question In an unCon-
Cerned way and refused 10 be tangled
up by the questions put to him by
: Graham, the chief and by reporters
, You are telling a most wondrous
= tale" said Graham, but YOU had be-
. ter tell the truth before YOU get sent
: to jail for criminal Libel"
( Denies Using Drugs.
Z Il know what libel is" retortet
o Fisher, and YOU can't send man t.
- prison for telling the truth
e What kind of dope do YOU use
morphine or cocaine" someone shot
at him
q None said Fisher.
( You look like you did" said one Of
q the detectives
= That's because 1 need a drink-got
o. one? he replied.
I And undoubtedly he did need on,
d He had been given all the whisky ne
wanted while in the hands OF the A.
torneys, and was reluctant TO leave
G such a nice abode His face needed
4 a hours work by barber and a bath