Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-04-07
INNES TRIAL IS SET
FOR THE MAY TERM;
COUNSEL APPOINTED
Judge John S, Gambler, Judge
J. K. Hines and C, |, Petit
grew Named by Judge Hill
as Lawyers for Defense

Victor E. Innes, arraigned in the GRIM
nal division of the superior court
Thursday, dramatically asserted his in
nocence of any wrong to the mother of
the missing helms girls or the viola
ton of any Georgia law. He asked an
early trial, and threw himself on the
mercy of the court asking that it APP
point counsel to represent him.
Judge Ben H. Hill appointed Judge
John S. Gambler, former justice of the
Georgia supreme court; Judge j. K.
Hines, special attorney for the state
railroad commission, and c. L. Petit
grew as his attorneys, and informed
him that there would not be another ses-
sion OF the court until the first week
in May, when the trial will probably be
set.
The Portland lawyer asked nothing
but a fair and impartial trial and de-
clared that he was confident that he
would receive one. Innes was brought
to the court room by deputy sherifs dur
ing the trial of a routine case. He was
given a seat inside the rail and talked
with deputies until he was called before
the bar. Then he made his statement,
which was short and dramatically force
full There were no members OF the
helms family I'm the court at the Time
and but few spectators.
INNES' STATEMENT.
Innes said:
az wish to declare before this
court and my Maker that I am alb
solutely innocent of any wrong to
this Georgia mother. who has been
making a righteous and supreme ef"
fort In seeking whomsoever has
placed n great sorrow in her life.
Her sleepless activity commands
nd
but I declare myself innocent of any
harm TO her or any violation or
Georgia laws.
THE law is glorious in that IT
presumes the innocence of defend
ant until guilt has been established
by competent evidence.
GEORGIA has been arraigned as
lawless but your governor has as
sured the governor of Texas that l
will receive a fair trial
"I am a stranger in your midst
and am financially impoverished. /
am wholly I'm the hands of your
honorable court, and 1 have no
fears. I only ask your honor that
my trial be held as speedily as the
convenience of your honor and the
attorneys in the case will permit.
lila zesaciMsisn.-LsIEi to-sasH- that
1 am financially impoverished and
unable to employ counsel, and VIII
be glad if your honor will name an
attorney or attorneys to act for me.
/ submit myself to the will of the
court with full confidence in it."
NAMES COUNSEL.
Judge Hill then said: II will name
two of. the most eminent members of
the Atlanta bar as your counsel Judge
John s. Gambler and Judge J. K. Hines.
As Judge Gamblers health has not been
of the best recently, 1 will name still
another eminent member Of the bar,
Colonel c. i. Pettigrew."
Il thank your honor" said lnnes; Il
feel deeply grateful
lines was then taken back to his cell
in the Tower. Deputy Sheriff Minor
notified the three attorneys named by
the court of their appointment. and all
three stated that they will accept the
appointment and will probably consult
with Innes during Thursday afternoon.
Innes also showed some indignation
over the visit of Weathers.
81 don't see how anyone could put
confidence i'm the word of a man who
would come here representing himself
as he did. why don't you make an
investigation to see why he is so in
terested?"
SAYS SHE is NOT MRS. MINIS.
Mrs lines from her ward in
the Tower, Thursday, emphatically
denied that she had ever been introduced
to l.. b. Weathers or anyone else as
Mrs. Margaret Minis, and asserted most
emphatically that she never heard of the
name until she saw il in print and that
she had never seen Weatners until he
visited the Tower Wednesday.
Mrs. Innes was dramatic in her de-
nunciation of the local realty man, who
was a confidante or the elder of the
missing helms girls, and who will be
one of the states principal witnesses
in the cases charging the Illnesses with
larceny after trust.
Referring to the Identification of her.
self as Margaret Minis" by Weathers,
Mrs. lines said: 81 don't see how a man
with a soul could so perjure himself"
Mrs. Innes told a Journal reporter
that the first time she ever saw or heard
of the name Margaret Minis" was when
one of the jailors at San Antonio showed
her a newspaper in which II was stated
that she was suspected by the Nelms
family of being the woman who posed
here as an aunt of Innes and was so
known to Mrs. Lois Nelms Dennis.