Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-04
J. c. SPIER KILLED
IN COLD BLOOD, HIS
BROTHERS DECLARE
w. G, and R. ], Spier Deny
Story Of Fatal Shooting as
Told by DR., V, B, Bishop and
Son. H, A. Bishop =.

That the killing of ]. G. Spier by DR..
V. B. Bishop and H. A. Bishop Sunday
afternoon at Angler avenue and Bedford
place was a cold-blooded frame up
and not an act of self-defense was the
statement Monday of w. G. Spier and
DR.. r. j. Spier, brothers of the dead
man. The Bishops said Spier tried to
shoot II. A. Bishop, and that they had
to shoot in self-defense.
The killing was the elimination of a
family feud of six years standing. 1t
occurred about 4 o'clock Sunday after
noon in the presence of Mrs. J. G. Spier,
the estranged wife of the dead man;
Mrs. H. A. Bishop, Mrs. V. B. Bishop,
Dorothy Spier, six years old, daughter
of the dead man, and Elsie Bishop, two
years old.
According to H. A. Bishop, the party
had left his home. 23O East Pine street,
and were waiting for a street car to go
to the station. where Dr. Bishop was to
catch train for his home in Burwen,
Ga, when Spier brushed by them and
tried to seize Dorothy, his daughter, at
the same time pulling a pistol from his
pocket. The shooting and killing Of
Spier followed in self-defense, said
Bishop.
After the shooting Bishop and his
father surrendered to police officers,
and are now under the surveillance of
the police pending a hearing before Re-
corder Johnson. The bullet-riddled
body of Spier is at Harry G. Poole's,
awaiting funeral and interment at Can
ton, Ga, Tuesday morning.
According to II. A. Bishop, trouble has
been brewing between Spier and Mrs
Spier for the past sax years Recently
Mrs Spier filed a suit for divorce
against Spier, which was scheduled for
a hearing in Fulton superior court jan
uary 10.
Sunday afternoon, said young Bishop
Spier rode past the Bishop home, on
Pine street, twice in an automobile.
Later when the whole family was wait
ing for the car, said Bishop, they were
Mortified to see Spfer rush from around
the corner of Bedford place, run up to
where they were standing, seize little
Dorothy Spier, and, drawing a S2 auto
matte revolver and holding Dorothy be-
fore him as a shield, back away from
the group with the gun leveled at young
Bishop.
81 don't think Spier was trying TO
kidnap Dorothy" said Bishop. But
do think he intended using her as
shield while he killed all of the family.
FIRED FOUR TIMES.
81 drew my revolver, but was afraid
to shoot at first for fear of hitting Dor.
othy. Mrs. Spier ran up to Spier, de-
spite his drawn gun, and grabbed their
little girl away from him. AS she did
so. fired four times. each-bullet taking
effect in Spiers head"
Then DR.. Bishop who was also armed,
drew his revolver.
"Spier fell to the ground. with the
pistol still in his hand. He raised it to
fire at me-" said young Bishop land.
as my bullets were gone, pulled knife
and started for him. But my father then
fired the shot that ended Spiers life.
Bishop said that Spier and Mrs. Spier
had been separated for the past six
years. and that Spier treated his wife
terribly Bishop said that Spier had
threatened several times in the past to
"kill the whole family"
The shooting caused great excitement
on Angler avenue Sunday afternoon. De-
tectives and plain clothes men were sent
to the scene, where they found DR.. Bis
hop and Bishop waiting in a drug store.
The two men surrendered to the police.
Dr. Bishop left for Burwen in charge
Of Detective Cochran; young Bishop was
allowed to go in the custody Of Patrol
man Appnng. Wnen Ut DlSHOp COIHeS
back from Burwell, where he said he
will find threatening letters from Spier
and other proof of Spier's hostile atti-
tude during the past six years, hear
ing will be held before Recorder john
son.
Mrs. Spier who is a teacher of pri-
mary grades in the public schools of
Burwell during the winter and a music
teacher in the summer, has remained at
the residence of her brother on Pine
street.
Spier. who did not fire the pistol
which the Bishops said he leveled at
them. was shot three times in the right
temple, once in the left temple, once In
the left chest under the arm, and once
in tire left side of the abdomen. The
right side Of the face around the three
bullet holes is spattered thick with
powder marks. showing these shots were
fired very close to the face.