Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-11
CAN'T RECALL KILLING
DR.. FORD, THE DENTIST
|Mahan, Held for Murder, Does
Not Remember Tragedy on
Sunday Night

An inquest will be held at 2 o'clock
Monday afternoon by Coroner Donehoo
in an effort to ascertain a motive. II
there was one, for the killing of DR.
George A Ford, dentist, who was shot
to death Sunday evening at o'clock In
the doorway leading to his bedroom in
a rooming house over the Gorley Bland
Drug Co, at Luckie and Barlow streets
Mike Herbert Mahan, the alleged Stay
err, a clerk for the Southern railway
who lives at 696 South Pryor street, told
the police late Sunday night that his
mind was an entire blank as 20 the trag-
edy, that he did not even know the man
he was accused of killing, that he knew
no reason for his being in the rooming
house and that he never owned pistol
in his life.
The police say that Mahan was ar-
parently intoxicated when brought to
the station.
The police stated Monda yafternoon
that they had information, which would
be disclosed at the inquest to the eff
feet that Hahan had made number of
trips to the rooming house where DR..
Ford lived, but that they are yet with
out any information that would snow
that DR.. Ford and Mahan had met each
cther previous to Sunday afternoon.
theory of the police is that Mahan,
in probably an intoxicated state, got
into Or. Fords room by mistake, that
Dr. Ford took exceptions to the stran-
gers visit and that a quarresl followed
which ended in the shooting.
General Clifford L. Anderson, a friend
of DIR. Ford's family and a college mate
of DR.. Ford, will appear at the inquest
to represent the interests of the dead
man.
DIR. Ford, according to Mr.. Anderson,
was born and raised in Macon, Ga. He
had lived in Atlanta for about four or
FIVE years. For the first several years
of his residence in this city, he con-
Quoted dental parlor in offices at the
corner Of Forsyth and Walton streets.
II am surprised to hear that DR.. Ford
was killed said General Anderson Mon
day He was a quiet and reserved
man; a man who would harm no one.
He was a gentleman both by birth and
training"
Although Dr. Ford inherited money
from his father and mothers estate, it
was said that he had limited means
when he died His only living relative
is a sister, Mrs. Zebulon Walker, Of
Canton, Ga.
So far as known there were no eye
witnesses to the Staying. E. D. Win
gard, a clerk in the employ of the A 3.
& A. railroad, who was in his room ad-
joining that of DR.. Ford, when the shots
were fired told a Journal reporter that
he heard DR.. Ford and another man
quarreling; heard one of them curse the
other, and then heard two pistol shots.
Just before the shots Wingard says he
heard DR.. Ford shout: "Oh, please don't
shoot me-"
After the two pistol shots Wingard
declares he heard the pistol click three
additional times but that there was no
Immediately TO the stairway, descended
report. Wingard said the slayer ran
to the street and fled.
DR.. Ford was dead when Wingard
reached him. Only one of the bullets
from the 3S-caliber revolver took effect.
This bullet entered the breast of the
victim penetrating the heart. The
other bullet presumably went wild.