Americus times-recorder., 1917-01-10
HOLLIS FORT TELLS JURY
WHAT DEFENSE TO SHOW
i'm TRIAL OF DR.. CHAPMAN

Hollis Fort. one of the attorneys fol
DR.. c. X. Chapman, on trial for the
murder of Walter Wade, told the jury
when he outlined the case for the de-
tense shortly before the noon recess
that he would show Mrs. Yeartie How
ellis testimony to be fabrication even
worse than the crime of Wade's mur.
der. He said the defense would show
Mrs. Howell had decoyed young girl
to go with two men for illicit purposes
and they went out on the Smithville
road, being there about the time An
drew Jackson swore he saw Mrs. How
ell near the Americus Construction Co
Fort said the defense would show Mrs
Howell and Miss Bridges returned to
their home about o'clock the night
of August 18th, that Mrs. Howell slept
in the back room of the house and Miss
Bridges in the hallway. He said they
would show the father of Miss Bridges
was awake until after 10 o'clock and
could have seen any one going out OF
the house.
The defense said it would show
young Chapman and John Ethridge,
with Mrs. Howell and Miss Bridges
took the automobile ride referred to by
the state in April, instead of August,
and would show the change of time
was made by Mrs. Howell and the de-
tective in the case
Fort said he will show the party
could not have rode out Lee street, be-
cause of it being torn up at the time
for paving. Fort took up the charge OF
the defense that Mrs. Howell's life has
been series of improper acts, going
back in his statement for Is or 16
years. He charged Mrs. Howell with
being detective in the case and said
she was receiving S. per day. He said
hat Mrs. Howel's livelihood had been
gained during her stay in Americus by
the sale of her body.
Next Fort took up W. !. Johnson's
and he said that the de-
,ense would show him leaving Ameri-
,us at 2 p. M. August 18th, going to
Albany, eating supper there with the
rainmaster of the Central of Georgia
and returning on the train
here at 10:40 p. m. He re-
erred to testimony which would be in
in regard to JohnsOn's pass
md it's entry on the books of the road.
He said Johnson went on to Macon,
back to either Americus or
Smithville, when he caught the early
train for Montezuma, where
le ate dinner.
Fort next took up John Ethridge and
;aid that he would show Ethridge left
Americus August 18th and did not re-
urn until August Goth. He said Eth
'idge was at Damascus on account of
he illness of his father, who later
lied. Fort referred to a telephone
the call being pit in the morn
ng of August 18th, and Ethridge did
he talking on the night of the 18th,
,eing eighty miles south of Americus.
Walter Johnson was next mentioned
~ the defense, who said that they
would show his whereabouts in regard
o coming to Americus from Leslie
with H. A. Stewart and H. A. Harp.
Fort said Johnson left these men at
Frankie Stanton's house, and called
hack early in the morning for them af
-er they had been asleep at Lois
Reeves house. Fort referred to John
son taking two negroes back to Leslie
with him. they having come up earlier
the night with Wade.
Fort next said that he would show
H. A. Harp had an engagement some
time after 10 o'clock that night with
Judge Ware G. Martin, of Leesburg,
who was here and that Harp register
ed and spent the night in the Windsor
hotel.
The defense next said they would
show DR.. Chapman, the defendant, and
bis son, Charles X. Chapman, Jr., were
at home on the night of August 18th,
after o'clock, when they saw Wade
snd another party at their home.
Fort took up DR.. Chapman's connec-
ton with the search and said that the
defense would show DR.. Chapman was
the first person to identify the body Of
Wade. He said also that they would
prove Mrs. Wade gave an alarm by
of Wades absence on Fri
day morning. Next Fort referred to a