Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-14
Victim Denies Charge Made in
Attack on Guardians of
Peace Was DerOgatOry.
THE COST OF GOSSIP.

W. NJ. Johnson, who, by way of gos-
sip. had linked the name of a mar
ried woman with that of the other
man" found today that gossip is an
improbable venture. The other man"
happened to be a very good friend of
the family.
An incensed husband, armed with
billy, today sought Johnson, who
brought the womans name into his
conversations against the county po-
lice. and found him near the criminal
court room in the Thrower building.
Johnson was mauled and manhandled
with a billy, his lip split. his teeth
knocked out, his cheekbone laid bare,
his head severely cut. and he was
saved from probable death only by the
intervention of policemen nearby.
His assailant was w. H, .Gillem, a
druggist Of Eagan Park, whose wife's
name Johnson had mentioned in con
nection with Lieutenant John Oliver.
of the county police, in the attempt to
fa~ten scandal charges on the entire
force
one of his charges was that he had
seen Lieutenant Oliver take dinner in
a downtown restaurant with a married
woman. Mrs. Gillem. He repeated the
charge, and Gillem said today that he
magnifed ii as he went The husband
became enraged, and began to look
for Johnson.
Stalked Him Several Days.
GiIlem has been stalking Johnson for
several days, he said today.
II would have got him Sunday, if he
had not run" he said. He was in
Eagan Park, watching my house He
Las followed my wife on the streets
and annoyed her. He has been spread
ING his stories in Eagan Park"
GiIlem said that if it had not been
lor Policeman Jackson, who stopped
his attack on Johnson today, he prob
ably would have killed the man who
mad been talking about his wife.
He has been spreading lies" he said.
of course. / knew that she had taken
lunch downtown with oliver. He has
taken dinner at my house time ami
again. His family and mine are close
and We are friends. It was nothing
That he went to lunch with my wife
Nnen he met her downtown"
Glllem, who knew that Johnson
probably would be in the court house
today to see several Eagan Park resi-
dents who were witnesses in the case,
went to the ThroWer building to find
him. Taking his station in the hall, he
waited some time.
Ipap7-..,, ,,,-..,,,,.,,-.,.;~.,l n Do
Ne. of Eagan Park, came out Of the
criminal court room and Gillem stepped
forward to meet them
Struck Without Warning.
Without word, he struck Johnson,
ana continued his attack in whirlwind
fashion, beating his man about the face
and head with a billy. He seemed
crazed, and Policeman Jackson, who
rushed into the combat, had the task
Of his life tearing him off. Johnson's
face and head were covered with blood.
Johnson and w. D. Baker went to-
gether to the office of Charles Girar-
deau, justice Of the peace, with the in
tention of swearing out a warrant for
Gillem's arrest on the charge Of as
sault with intent to murder.
After the fight Johnson told seVerlI
persons that he had not talked about
the character of Mrs. Gillem in any
GeIOgatOrE way. and that his mention
of her was merely incidental to his
charges against the police force. His
first mention Of her name in connection
with his charges was when he tolu
County Commissioner Truman that ne
mad seen Mrs. Gillem and Lieutenant
Oliver together in restaurant.
N a nv tho =
stDHer of the statement at the tune.
and Johnson made it again, seneraliN
Iapeating 10 in newspaper offices. ID"
Georgian Tea med the name in that way,
but declined to print it.