Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-13
VASON's CASE EXPECTED
TO co TO JURY TODAY
Defense Finishes and Solicitor
Ed Williams Begins Ar
gument for State

The case of G. X Vassn charged with
| assault with intent to murder Thomas
B. Fielder, which entered it's second day
of trial in Judge Ben Hills court Thurs
day morning, was expected to go to the
jury Thursday afternoon.
The defense rested it's case shortly
before II o'clock, and the court anounc-
ed a recess for an hour, after which So
licitor Eb. T Williams began his argu-
ment for the state. He was followed
by Attorney Ben j. Conyers for the de-
Tense.
The testimony of c. 5. Arrow, state
game and fish warden; the statement of
T. II. Burrus representative from Nor
gan county, to the effect that he was
not with Vason at the time Fielder was
cut and the statement of Vason in which
he declared that Fielder must have cur
himself. were the outstanding features
of Thursdays trial.
c. $. Arrow, state fish and game war
wen, testified that he had been attract
ed to the hallway by the controversy
between Mr.. Fielder and Vason.
Mr.. Arrow said that he saw Vason
put his right hand in his pocket, point
his finger at Mr.. Fielder and say: I'm
going to kill you" Mr.. Arrow added
way, but that he saw no knife. The
me nforged their way during the scuffie
into the room occupied by Governor
Harris as campaign quarters. 1t was
in that room, according to Mr.. Arrow
that Mr. Fielder said Boys I've been
stabbed"
The trial of Vason was resumed
Thursday morning at o'clock before
Judge Ben Hill, of the Fulton superior
Il s-;.
since 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, at
which time the state announced it had
completed its list of witnesses.
The first witness for the defense was
| 7. II. BurruS, representative in the
house from Morgan county. AIR. Burrus
said he and Vason had been intimate
friends for a number of years, both
having been raised in the same county.
Mr.. Burrus said that Vason had fire.
.quently visited his room at the Kim
ball house during the session of the Leg
islature and that on the night of the
stabbing Vason and several other men
had visited him. On that night, Mr.. Bur-
rus said, his room number was 115. Mr..
Burrus admitted that the men in his
room had been drinking.
The witness said that he left Vason
in the lobby of the Kimball house be-
fore o'clock, when Vason approached
I MIN ana ASKED MIN lOE the key 10 MS
room. Mr.. Burrus said Ne went out to
supper and saw no more {, Fason until
after Fielder had been stabbed.
VASON ON STAND.
When Vason took the stand he re-
ferred to the cutting &c Mr.. Fielder as
the most unlucky coincidence he had
experienced in forty-eight years. He de-
clared that he could not believe that
his knife stabbed Fielder, and stated
tnat during his struggle with the at
torney he thought Fielder was making
an effort to pull pistol from his hip
pocket.
Vason testified that he first met Eel
der in 1905 and that their relations
had been pleasant. He recounted sew
eral instances i'm which Felder's courtesy
and kindness We're marked.
He stated that he took several drinks
in the KimSall house on the night of
the cutting and after going downstairs
started upstairs once more to kill that
last drink"
On his way up. he testified, he met
Charley Stewart, representative from
Coffee county, and asked him if he had
seen Fielder. In front of room lis he
met Fielder, who abused him in no I'M
certain terms. said Vason.
Vason then declared that he called
Fielder coward and they struggled.
"Mr. Fielder must have cut himself with
his own knife" said Vason.
Immediately after the testimony of
Vason, Attorney A S. Bussey, of Ash