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

d1abolical scheme to fasten the
crime on an innocent man.
Graham was undecided Tues
day as to whether Fishers SEN
sational story was merely the
vaporings of a disordered and
crazy intellect or the outcrop-
ping OF a genuine conspiracy
that had gone wrong through
the inability of Fisher to tell a
convincing story.
think we will know all
when we find this man Hicks.
who Fisher says was his con-
slant companion in Parksville,
and later in Birmingham" said Gra-
ham. Hicks played a mysterious
part in the affair. Fisher himself ad-
mitted that Hicks did most of the
talking when they went to the office
Of Chief Bodeker. Hicks appears to
have told most of the story and FISH
er merely cororborated it.
There also is the possibility that
Hicks suggested the story to Fisher
from day to day, and finally built IN
In Fishers mind the structure Of the
ridiculous tale he has told in Bir-
mingham and here in Atlanta a. story
which was startling enough as a sim
pie and direct accusation. but which
broke down the instant the man was
forced to give any alleged details.
slackmai Is Suggested.
we are working on several pos
sibilities. One is that there was q
conspiracy against Shirley. If there
was such a plot it may have been
engineered alone by Fisher. Hick.
may have been a party TO it. In this
case 1t was simple blackmail.
There also is the possibility that
flsher or Fisher and Hicks were
merely tools in a conspiracy and that
the real conspirators are men higher
up. If this is the case, Atlanta will
nave a sensation the like OF which II
has not experienced in years On the
other hand, the whole story NAV be-
simply the rawlings OF a drunken and
besotted mind. Fishers own relatives
say that he was an extraordinary liar
when in his cups.
Ordinary conditions were reversed
FIunCGayF p1A e
walking the streets a free man. Fish
er, the accuser, was occupying a cell
in the police station. A charge OF
criminal libel has been preferred
against him, but there is some aues-
ton as to whether this charge can
be made. to stand in view of the fact
that so far as is known Fisher made
no written charges against Shirley.
Lawyers in general have expressed
themselves as believing that no
charge beyond SANDER IAN be pre-
ferred against him because all Of his
charges were verbal
Fisher will be arraigned before Jus
tice Of the Peace Pickett. probably
Wednesday.
That the Fulton County Grand
Jury will be asked to investigate the
origin of thee accusations was the
statement made by Graham.
This action was decided upon fol-
lowing lengthy conference between
Shirley, Graham and Chief OF De-
tectives Lanford It's purpose VIII be
to determine whmether Fishers story
was the result of a conspiracy against
Shirley or simply the result of a,
drink crazed mind
A rigid probe to the foundation OF
the story will be asked. Persons
named by Fisher as his associates
since his departure from Atlanta will
be questioned, especially those with
whom he had dealings Just prior to
the time ne appeared before Chief OF
Police Bodeker in Birmingham and
made his startling statements.
If the investigation shows that 9TH
srs had a hand in the accusations
against the furniture dealer, fSey viii
be prosecuted together with Fisher