Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-14
W. H. GilIem Yields Billy on
Man He Charges Detained
Wife'S Name.
LINKED WOMAN WITH
POLICE LIEUTENANT
Victim Denies Charge Made in
Attack on Guardians of
Peace Was Derogatory.

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 a
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 mauhandled
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. II. 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
fasten 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. Giuem. He repeated the
charge, and Gillem said today that he
magnifed It as he went; The husband
became enraged, and began to look
for Johnson
Stalked Him Several Days.
Gillem has been stalking Johnson for
several days, he said today
Il would have got him Sunday. If he
had not run" he said. He was in
Eagan Park, watching my house He
has followed my wife on the streets
and annoyed her. He has been spread
ing his stories in Eagan Park"
Gillem said that if it had not been
his attack on Johnson today, he prob
ably would have killed the man who
had 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 ana
again. His family and mine are close
and we are friends. It was nothing
that he went to lunch with my wife
when he met her downtown"
Gillem, who knew that Johnson
probably would be i'm the court house
today to see several Eagan Park resi-
dents who were witnesses in the case,
went to the Thrower building to fni
him Taking his station in the hall, he
waited some time.
Johnson. accompanied by W. D. Ba-
ker. of Eagan Park, came out of the
criminal court room and Gillem stepped
forward to meet them.
Struck Without Warning.
Without a word, he struck Johnson,
and continued his attack in whirlwind
fashion, beating his man about the face
and head with 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 We're 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 warrant for
Gillem's arrest on the charge of as
sault with intent to murder.
After the fight Johnson told several
persons that he had not talked about
the character of Mrs. Gillem in any
derogatory 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 told
County Commissioner Turmar that he
had seen Mrs. Gillem and Lieutenant
Oliver together in a restaurant.
No notice was taken by the commits
sioner of the statement at the time,
and Johnson made it again, generally
repeating il in newspaper Offices. The
Georgian learned the name in that way,
but declined to print it,