The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1915-02-25
ALL SIX Men were
TURNED LOOSE WEDNESDAY

mo evidence was found 81
had been held
4 The warrants against J. G. Webb
Roy Jones, and Roy Black, tbs
three men from Sumptes county
4 who were arrested as suspects last
Thursday evening, February Is, IN
connection with the murder Of A.
1 D. Oliver were withdrawn Wednes-
day and they were released. They
had been in Jail here since last
Thurday and were the first to be
arrested. Suspicion fell on them
because they were alleged to have
lost through dealings with Oliver
while be was operating bank at
Smithville. The warrants were
withdrawn at the req lest of Solicit
or-General j. r. Williams, who
stated that no evidence could be
found to warrant holding them
further.
The friends of the three young
men were positive that they had no
connection with the murder.
The other three men, q. w,
Chance and Minter Kennedy, OF
Smithville, and Claud Chance, Of
| Macon, were also turned loose after
an all-day session Wednesday, pre-
sided over by Judge Harper, Of
Americas.
Minfel Kennedy nd Claud
Chance were never placed on trial,
1.-The Solicitor.General requesting
THAT in view Of the facts brought
tout in the trial Of q. w. Chance
and the fact tlat the evidence
showed that be was in Smithville
1T tie drug store at the time Of the
murder of Oliver, was sufficient to
prove the innocence Of Claud
Chance and Minter Kennedy also.
Witnesses in the trial Of 6. ".
Chance testified that Mr.. Chance,
his son, Claud Chance, and Mjnter
X annedy were also seen in Smith
Vile at the time the murder was
committed. The gun in question
never was identified positively as
the property Of Minter Kennedy,
al.d the sheriff testified that the
car that turned around about 200
Yards from the scene Of the murder
had 4 non-skid tire. T'heecar own
ed by Claud Chance had four plain
tires, .4
The State introduced many wit
nesses but none seemed to be able
to identity tile assailants or to give
any direct evidence against the
three men charged with the crime.
The defense proved beyond any
do,,ht that Wf.5G. w: Chance was
ii the drug store at s m!thville at
the time the murder was commit ;
ted.
The city was ciowed with visitors
Wednesday to hear the trial.
The friends Of Messrs. g.. w.
|Chance, CIaud Chance and Minter
Kennedy are gratifed at the result,
feeling confident that the outcome
would be the complete generation
of the three men.
SUMTER MEN WELCOMED HOME.
Americas, Ga, February Pa
Accompanied by scores Of friends
who went from Americas this
morning to attend their commit
ment trial at Beesburg in connec-
ton with the Oliver tragedy, Roy
Black. ]. G.. Webb and Roy Jones
returned here this afternoon great
Ily pleased at their completete exon
Grafton Of any connection with the
homicide.
The young men feel considerably
aggrieYed at having been compelled
to remain in Leesburg Jail week
when all we're abundantly prepared
to establish alibis on the night OF
the murder.
Many ladies had heen summoned
to establish the fact that Roy Black
was in Americas last Wednesday
evening, while the other young men
we're at their respective homes.
To several Americas people,
Banker Oliver last fall confded the
lfact that he had never received his
discharge in bankruptcy, and for