The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-06-23
SECOND TRAGEDY
IN LAWLER CASE
HUNTSVILLE LAWYER MYSTERJ-
OUSLY SHOT TO DEATH.
Strange Note FOund-Announces KILL
ing Case of Suicide Caused bv
picion of Completely in
Murder.

Huntsville, Ala, June 2O-Hunts-
vile was reused to high pitch of ex-
citement late today with the news that
>. 5. Peasants, an attorney of State
VIDE reputation, had been found shot
to death in his office here, leaving
what purported to be note saving
that the act was caused by suspicion
directed against him in connection
with the murder here last week of
Probate Judge w. T. Lawler. The
tragedy became known shortly be-
fore 1T was learned that Charles NJ.
Nails, clerk of the circuit court of
Madison county, had surrendered on
warrant charging him with COM
plicity in the murder of the probate
Judge. Nails and d. d. Overton both
were sought on warrants in connec-
ton with the murder. Overton had
not been found late today, according
to Sheriff Phillips, who left for Bir-
mingham with Nails.
The mystery surrounding the death
of Peasants was heightened by an
announcement by Mr.. Tate, who has
charge of the murder investigation
that at no time had any suspicion
been held by the officials towards
Peasants. 1t was explained that the
attorney was Republican in politics
and had taken no prt in the recent
Democratic primary, in which bitter
contest resulted in the late Judge
Lawler defeating Overton for the
Democratic nomination for probate
Judge.
Te body of the attorney was found
IN his office this afternoon by his
stenographer, Miss Kate Sandifer,
when she returned from lunch. 1t first
was thought he had been murdered
and such a crowd assembled around
the office that the militia on duty here
since Judge Lawler's body was found
last Saturday were placed on guard
in front of the building.
Acting Solicitor Tate suspended the
investigation into Judge LAWYERS
death and took charge of hasty ex-
animation into the cause of the attor-
ney's death. Shortly afterwards he
announced that a note had been
found near Peasants body apparently
written by Peasants, saying he killed
himself because he had been suspect
ed of Judge Lawler's murder. Later
Mr.. Tate explained that none of the
officials had held such a suspicion, and
he advanced the theory that the at
torney must have been mentally un-
balanced if he killed himself. Coroner
Poole said it apparently was plain
case of suicide and he did not think
an inquest necessary, but Mr.. Tate de-
clared he would conduct a rigid inves-
tigation, although the death bears
some of the earmarks of suicide.
Physicians who knew Peasants said
he was of a highly nervous tempera-
ment. Peasants was So years old and
unmarried. He is survived by his
mother, Mrs. Mary Peasants.
Chief Deputy Bates, in announcing
that Nails had surrendered at the
home near here of his father, C. T.
Nails, said that the elder Nails had
explained that his son was innocent
and was willing to give himself up,
but that he "feared the crowd" and
did not want to be brought to Hunts
vile.
The investigation in the Lawler
murder was expected to be resumed
tomorrow and to continue for several
days.
Will King and Ed Conley, negroes,
were arrested today and lodged in jail
here as witnesses. The arrests were
made at the request of Mr.. Tate, who
said tonight: "Our case is nracticall,,