Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-15
"Wife'S Confession That She
Was Goddard'S Crazed Me-"
Walls Darden.
PRISONERS DAUGHTER is
MOTHER TO YOUNGSTERS
Little Naomi, Rocking Cradle,
SobS Defense of Mother
Whom Father Accuses.

Elmer T. Darden sat moodily in his
cell at the county Jail today awaiting
a hearing Monday on the charge Of
numbering c. NJ. Goddard while his
wife is at the home in Kirkwood
watching over the helpless little chill
dren and asserting her innocence Of
the charges Of infidelity which her hus-
band alleges LED up to the tragedy in
the Union station Thursday night.
Il love my wife" said Darden 20
Chief of Detectives Lanford; love her
more passionately and devotedly than
any one on earth. ] have loved, it
seems. all my life, and love her to-
day as much as ever"
He seems to have broken down some
under the high nervous tension, and
some Of the eXulting over the death
Of the man he shot and said IL he
didn't kill him then he would when he
saw him gain has given place to con-
sideration for his wife and the helpless
little ones at the home in East ave-
nue., Kirkwood.
II have been married nineteen years"
he said; nineteen years Of happiness
surrounded by happy, loving family
a paradise on earth"
Tells of Happy Life.
And now this" he continued bitter
iy. This man came between us IN
til four months ago the lives OF my
wife, my children, and me, happy with
them, had flowed along like an I'M
troubled brook. knew Goddard: we
all knew him and thought he was
friend, a neighbor.
zone day, about four months ago,
noticed thing which caused me to
become observant. l had reasons TO
believe that, in my absence, Goddard
was paying attention to Mrs. Darden.
"One night l could stand it no long
er. I confronted her and asked her
plainly what Goddard was to her. I
love him. she replied. Just three words
they made my life a torment
And then followed her declaration
each word cut me to the quick-T love
him more than love you, more than
love my home, more than everything.
He is mine
''Then followed the separation. Since
lanta. and every day the determination
had grown stronger to meet this man
face to face and coolly and deliberately
kill him.
says Wife Defied Him.
When I saw Goddard and my wife
together Thursday afternoon I accosted
my wife.
What does this mean" said
pointing to Goddard
What does it matter to you" she
said. and she walked away with him.
And l stalked him and killed him tha !
night.
And today love her as much a. 7
did nineteen years ago when she be-
is the mother Of my poor little chill
dren."
At Stone Mountain the family Of
Goddard are gathered around the bier
and will this afternoon follow to the
grave the aged mothers favorite child,
and in her sorrow the mother Is sure
her boy could not have done -hs
things Darden has charged him with
In the meantime Nttle Naomi Darden
is watching over the home In East ave
nue.. Kirkwood. that, until the night
of the shooting-although the children
say their father was seldom there
was as happy a home as would be
found in days journey.
Girl Rocks Little Cradle.
When Mrs. Darden is away from
home which is necessarily often the
Ia st few days, Naomi holds three roll
licking youngsters in check and rocks
the Dardens' three-months-old baby to
sleep. grooming the songs that are by
no means unfamiliar to her young ears.
Except Naomi, the children do not real
lie the seriousness Of the position Of
their father, but they say they have
no affection for him. Even pretty little
Naomi. his favorite child, has turned
against him.
He has never used mother right"
she sobs, and just hope he stays in
jail"
Mrs. Darden has been 10 the city
several times from her home in KIRK
wood to confer with her eldest daugh-
ter. Mrs l.. c. PesTce. as TO whether t