Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-14
Nothing Matters Now, Says
Elton 7. Darden, Told of
c. M. Goddard'S Death.
"HE WRECKED MY HOME"
is DEFENSE OF HUSBAND
After Night of Torment, Pris.
oner Tells How He StaIked
Victim for Months.

With a great sigh of relief. Elton T.
Darden, in his cell in the police sta
ton, today greeted the tidings that c.
NJ. Goddard, of Stone Mountain, who,
he said, had wrecked his home and
whom he shot last night, had died early
this morning.
1T is a great relief" he said to po-
licemen who bore him the information.
"A great burden has been lifted from
my soul"
He sought to compose himself and
paused a few seconds. Then he con-
tinued:
Thank YOU" he said simply. you
have relieved me from the fortunes Of
hell. 1t is all over now: it is imma-
terial to me what happens"
Darden refused the proffer of his
friend to bring lawyer for a confer
ence.
Death News ouiets Him.
The prisoner a prepossessing man.
who says he is a graduate Of two
great universities, walked his cell
ceaselessly last night. his nerves plain
ly overweight and his reason appar-
emily on the verge of destruction. But
when the news that Goddard was dead
was brought to him he quoted and
talked freely to policemen
He told story of how he had staIked
Goddard for days, watching him. with
the knowledge that he had made ap-
pointments with Mrs. Darden. he said.
Darden declares that he had nerved
himself to the point of deciding to kill
his wife the man and then himself,
but had been swerved from his de-
sign by an impatient impulse which
caused him to give them the alarm
when he found them together.
His Shout Parts Pair.
Il watched Goddard yesterday"
Darden related. He was waiting for
the Kirkwood car, and I knew that he
was waiting for my wife. I could stand
the torture no longer and left him
waiting there, went to my employers.
borrowed 500, and bought revolver.
Then I went back.
I saw her meet him, and saw them
go together toward the Empire hotel.
First | thought that l would let them
go in, and then follow them.
If l had, there would have been
three souls in hell today.
But the thought of their associa-
ton unnerved me, and l shouted at
them. Maybe it was better that
didn't let them go inside
They took alarm. and the man
broke and ran in oned irectlon, my
wife in another, and / lost them. |
knew that Goddard had gone in a sa-
loon nearby, and l waited for him.
While l was waiting | thought of
all my wrongs. ] remembered that
my eighteen-year-old son had come to
me with a statement by Goddard. who
said that 1 was a damned coward. and
that he could go with my wife as much
as he pleased.
And when | saw him in the Union
station there was no mercy in nv
heart. l shot him as soon as 1 saw
him, and he fell to his knees
Showed Pistol Closer,
He begged for mercy, but I showed
my pistol closer to him as he begged.
and fired again"
Darden made no attempt to get away
after he fired the five shots into the
body Of Goddard, but stood revengeful-
ly over him, with the smoking revolv-
er in his hand, while the crowd, which
had fed at the first shots, began slow
" to reassemble.
The first thought of the crowd was
for the wounded man, who lay groar-
ing on the tiled floor, and several Of
the women in the station We're ready
to battle his wounds and to attempt to-
stop the flow Of blood until the arrival
of the ambulance which bore him TO
Continued on Page Two.