Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-27
NASHVILLE ATTORNEY
IS SLAIN BY OPPONENT
Harry S. Stokes Shot and Instantly
Killed by Charles G.
Trabue.
CAUSE NOT AscERTA1NED
Tragedy Is Outcome OF Frequent
Clashes In Taxpayers Suit" In
volving Investigation of Manage
ment OF City's Affairs.

NASHVILLE. TENN. April 26.-
Harry S. Stokes. thirty-nine years old.
chief counsel for the taxpayers in the
'-called Taxpayers suit" involving
the investigation into the management
~ the city's affairs. was shot and in
stantly killed In his private Office at
1880 o'clock this morning by Charles
e. Trabue, forty-five years DID, recently
engaged as special counsel to represent
the city in the litigation. Two shots
took effect in the attorneys head. Th.
shooting followed quickly after Trabue
had entered the Office suite Of Stokes,
passing in through tn rcception-room.
speaking to the stcnographcr. and into
the private Office. Only the two at
torncys were In the private Office when
the tragedy occurred.
Mr.. Trabue left the private office the
way he entered When asked for A
statement later. he declined to make
one.
The killing stirred Nashville pro-
foundry. Since the long investigation
into the city's affairs began. Stokes has
been one OF the most conspicuous fig
urcs i'm the city, while Trabue has been
one Of Nashvilles most prominent
lawyers.
THARCE WATTS UNTIL
POLICE COME FOR HIM
1t was rumorcd this afternoon that
All associate with Trabue in the tax
payers case" has said that stokes
made certain remarks about ira: buc at
the close Of yesterdays hearing Of that
Gaze. and that Trabue was nearby and
overheard Stokess remarks. The case
had adjourned yesterday Till to-
morrow.
Immediately after the shooting Mr..
Trabuc walked out OF the office Of Mr.
stokes. He was met by a man on the
same noor OF the Office building. who
had been attracted by the shots. II
have killed Harry Stokes" said the
young attorney simply, and went on to
the Office Of y. Weaver, and sat down
TO wait for the police TO come Mr
Trabue was taken in custody by Chief
Of Police Barthcl
An immense throng OF people gath
cred about the building in which the
tragedy occurred, the news spreading
like wildfire and creating the greateat
excitement. squad of police were
sent to the scene promptly TO keep the
thronE OF curious people from .he
building.
Tho weapon which Mr.. Trabue turned
over to the police was .32-caliber
Colt automatic, from which three shots
had been fred.
Since shortly after It developed in
June last that books were missing
from the city revenue office, the tax
payers suit, chancery action. has
been in progress with occasional re-
ccsses. Mr.. Stokes has been connected
with tho case from the beginning
r. 10 ho,
two months ago. Much feeling mas
been ongendered in the prosecution of
II. Recently before the commission
hearing the evidence there have been
frequent clashes between the two young
attorneys The immediate cause Of the
tragedy, however, has NOT yet been
learned
SLAYER IS RELEASED
on BOND OF S:5,O0O
Trabue was released from arrest
late to-day on $4,000 bond. When ar
rnigned before a justice Of the peace
he waived examination, and was bound
over to tho Criminal Court Bond
quickly was arranged, several promi-
mont men whose wealth totals millions
Of dollars volunteering their services.
circumstance surrounding tho kill
ing had not been fully revealed to-
night Trabue has refused TO make
stenographers who were in adjoining
Offices say they heard no sound of ii
struggle.
Stokes was horn in Como. Miss. his
father. James i. stokes. being Mt one
time Speaker Of tho House OF Repre-
sentatives of Tennessee. His maternal
grandfather was Males McCihee, a
wealthy cotton planter of Pamela Coun-
ty. Miss, who. during the Civil War,
equipped and armed at his own ex-
penss an entire regiment of Confed-
crate troops. He WAS a graduate OF
etnunton Military Academy and Wander
bilt University and had practiced law
In Nashville a number OF years. He
is survived by his wife and twelve
year-old daughter.
Trabue Is one OF the most promi-
nent members Of the Nashville bar, and
has a large practice. lie is direc-
tor OF the Vanderbilt University
Alumni Association. and Ia related to