Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-11-15
PAVING MAY BECLERK OF COURT
HELD UP IN THE GOES To TRIAL ON
CITY SOME TIME MURDER CHARGE

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. Nov 15.-The
famous trial of David d. Oyerton. for
mer clerk of court, has opened at
Huntsville.
The finding of the body OF Probate
Judge w. T. Lawler in the Tennessee
river near Whitesburg Ferry. Ala. on
the morning of June II, 1916, was fol-
lowed by the suicides in the next week
OF Shelby Peasants, a Huntsville at.
torney, and Robert Phillips, sheriff of
Madison county, who, it is alleged, kill
ed themselves because they believed
they were suspected in connection with
the Lawler killing.
In May preceding the murder. Judge
Lawler was elected probate judge over
David D. Overton and Sac Drake. in
what was one of the bitterest political
campaigns in this section of the state.
The election was contested and an in
vestigation into alleged violations Of
the election laws was ordered. A spec
ial grand jury was about to report the
day the body of Judge Lawler was
found
Judge Lawler disappeared from
Huntsville the night of June IA. He
left his wife at chautauqua meeting,
telling her he was going to meet
man" down town. 1t was alleged he
received note from someone to meet
him at the courthouse. When he part
ed from his wife this was the last time
he was seen alive. The first intima-
tion friends of the jurist had of his
disappearance was the next day when
his automobile was found in front of
the courthouse.
Two days before the body was found
Sheriff Phillips received an anonymous
.ote saying something" could be found
in the slough of the river near Whites,
turg Ferry. The body was found
weighted down in the slough with
heavy heavy railroad irons and tied
With bailings wire. Bullet wound
were found in the chest and the skull
Lad been crushed with some blunt in
strument.
The news of the murder spread si-
multaneously with the report that
David d. Overton had disappeared and
crowds of men and young boys gather
ed about the streets of Huntsville, and
hints of lynching were circulated. The
fear of disorder grew to such proper
tions that the state militia was ordered
here, and two companies of guardsmen
remained on duty for about a week.
On June 20 the body of Shelby Pleas
ants was found in his Office. He had
killed himself with a pistol, and left
note saying he could stand the
strain no longer" Three days later
Sheriff Phillips killed himself by shoot
ing in bedroom in the city Jail. In a
note to his wife and children, the Off
Ger stated he could not stand the sus-
picion" any longer. 1t is alleged the
sheriff had been severely censured and
was accused Of allowing Overton to es-
cape.
After the three tragedies, search for
the missing Overton was commenced,
and the man-hunt was carried into
practically every Southern state, and
parts of Canada.
In the meantime, c. NJ Nails, who
succeeded Overton as circuit clerk of
Madison county, when the latter re-
signed in January, 1916, to enter the
race for probate judge, was arrested,
charged with completely Two days
previous, Percy Brooks, ferryboat
keeper on the Tennessee river, was
taken into custody. Detectives charg-
ed that Brooks was discovered trying
to paint out blood spots on the Whites
burg bridge.
Overton was arrested Sept. %, 1916,
near Smithville, Tenn. Though he adj
mitted antagonism had existed between
himself and Judge Lawler, he main
tains that he was not connected in any
way with the murder of the jurist.