Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-01-16
NO DECISION YET
IN CHAPMAN CASE
bUDGE LITTLEJOHN TAKES MO-
TION FOR NEW TRIAL UNDER
ADVISEMENT-T JURORS
WERE ATTACKED.

The second days hearing of the mo-
ton for new trial in the case of DR..
Charles K. Chapman, convicted of the
murder of Walter Wade, was .-fea-
tured by charges and counter charges
by counsel for the state and defense,
and ended when Judge Littlejohn took
the matter under advisement. A de-
cision is not expected to rendered
within several days.
The defense in its bill of objections,
which was read at the morning ses-
sion alleged that A. L. Thomas, one
of the jurors, accused of having sat
on the case while holding an opinion
prejudicial to defendant, said in the
presence of Mrs. T. A. Cole, a rela-
tive of DR.. Chapman, and Miss Sarah
Goodwin, that hes heard part of the
evidence at the first trial and that
from what he had seen and heard
he believed DR.. Chapman was guilty
of the murder, and that if he wasn't
tn whole bunch they had in Jail knew
something about t." An affidavit in
trduced by the attorneys for the de-
fendant and signed by w. w. Kenning-
ton purported to show Juror Thomas
had stated to him in conversation that
from what l have seen and heard,
every God damned one of them is
as guilty as hell"
In rebuttal of these statements the
state introduced affidavits signed by
P. S. Jennings, who was with L. A.
Thomas when the alleged remark be-
fore Mrs. Cole and Miss Sarah God
win was made, and Jennings swore
Thomas said to Mrs. Cole that ''it
looked liked the jury has it in for
them, that he heard that the last jury
stood ten to two for conviction, but
that he couldn't convict anybody on a
lewd woman's testimony" An affi-
Gavit signed bv ! A. Thomas, the
juror in question was introduced by
the state, in which Thomas denies ev-
er having made any such statement
as that imputed by him by w. w. Ken
asserting that he had never
seen Remington to know who he was.
The Thomas affidavits corroborates in
detail that of P. S. Jennings, who
was with him at the time the alleged
ltterance in the presence of Mrs. T.
A. Cole and Miss Sarah Goodwin, is
said to have been made.
Will Hines, one of the jurors, al
legged by affidavits signed by Bruce
and G.. A. Deavors, to have
said prior to the trial that he believed
DR.. C. X. Chapman guilty of the muir
der of Walter Wade. made affidavit
that he had never discussed the Chap
man case with Boutwell,, and that the
only conversation concerning it he had
ever engaged in with Daevors was in
Leslie and that himself, Deavors and
E. H. Hines, Jr, were the only per-
sons present. On that occasion, Will
Hines made affidavit he asked G. A.
Deavors, "if he thought they had the
right parties" referring to DR.. Chap
nan and the other defendants, then
in jail Deavors, Hines swore, re-
Piled, why there is no doubt in my
mind that they have got the right men
that killed Walter Wade, but l don't
believe they will ever convict them
in Sumter county; that they will have
t. move the case out of Sumter coun-
.y before they could get a jury that
would reach a verdict" An affidavit
signed by f. H. Hines, Jr., corrobor-
les the affidavit of Juror Hines as to
he conversation with Deavors.
L. A Forrest, the other juror, all
GSCu Wy dtlOlhC 1Ol 1JAs Chapman
% have held a fixed and preiudiced
opinion prior to and during the trial,
signed an affidavit denying this as
sertion in toto, and this introduced
by the state at the hearing during
he afternoon.
L. J. Blalock opened the argument
or DR.. Chapman, and Frank Hooper,
If Atlanta, delivered the closing ad-
'ress. other attorneys who spoke on
he motion were Stephen Pace, ]. A.
Iixon, julie FELTON, and John Allen
Fort for the state. and George D.
Palmer, of Columbus, for DR.. Chap
nan. The convicted man was not
present during the hearing, but sew
sral of his relatives. including his wife
md brother and sister, were seated in
he courtroom throughout tka day.