The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-22
WASHINGTON ON
TRIAL FOR LIFE
Negro Charged With Murder.
ing 0. J. Carlson
Faces Jury.
WATCH is IDENTIFIED
Defendant Exhibits Little In.
terest in Court Pro-
ceedings.

VIII Washington, alias Henry
smith, colored, was placed on trial
In the criminal court Monday morn
ing charged with the murder of O.
j. Carlson, whose body was found
thrown over a cliff near Summertown
on Signal mountain several months
ago.
The defendant, who sat with his
counsel John Helmick, showed but
little interest In the. proceedings and
was apparently Indifferent to all that
went on about him Behind the de-
fendants table sat T. ID. Fletcher. at
torney for w. II. Simonds, who is
under indictment for forgery in con-
nection with the Carlson murder.
During the morning number of wit
nesses were heard, among, whom were
Patrolmen w. |. Black and Robert
A. Gregory, of Louisville, who ar
rested Washington in Louisville I'm
possession of the Carlson automo-
bile.
The most damaging evidence
against the defendant during the
morning was given by Mrs Elmer
Barker, wife of a near neighbor of
Carlson, who identified the automo-
bile Washington was caught with and
also watch which he pawned as be-
ing the property of Carlson. Mrs.
Barker said she knew the watch be-
cause she had handled it at the Carl
son home where she had visited and
had worked She knew the auto
mobile and certain things that were
in IT. she stated because when she
had last seen the car in Carlson's pos
session these same things were in the
car
Watch Identified.
A clerk from Fischel's identt-
ned the watch as one bought by
Carlson from that firm. This watch
mad been rawned by Washington. The
Louisville policemen stated that thev
arrested Washington because he was
trying TO dispose Of a Ford car for
$50, He said that he had bought the
car from Hassler brothers, and ex-
| hibited what is claimed to be forged
bill of sale for 1t. They stated the
negro was later released, but was re-
arrested when they telegraphed the
| automobile number OF the car to tho
Chattanooga detective department
and were advised that the owner OF
, the car had been murdered and were
! ''''NtOh W IltIu llt HtRIO. j HPY res
lsar,eSted him just as he was in the
act of leaving Louisville, they testi-
! fed.
w. r. Dyer and Sim r. Long testi-
fled to being neighbors OF Carlson
| and of having knowledge of his habits
| and haunts. They stated they were
members of the party who found
| CarlS0n's body. John Adams an
nj hpr moi Or hi ,NT W
knowing him. After the testimony of
the Louisville officers, court adjourned
Tor the noon hour.
The murder of O. j Carlson, a
highly respected citizen of Summer
town on Walden's ridge. was one of
the most cold blooded affairs of its
KIND in the history of Hamilton
county. The old mans body was
found caught in some trees where it
had been thrown from u 1,JOO-foot
bluff. He had been badly beaten
before being thrown from the
cliff, it developed. Soon after the
murder was Investigated w. II. Sim
onds was arrested on the charge of
forging a deed, whereby he came into
possession of all of Carlson's prop
erty. Later WASHINGTON was arrested
in Louisville with Carlson's car. Gen.
| Chamlee Is assisted in the trial of the
case by Asst. Atty. Gen. w. +. Nc
Gaughey. The case will last through
out this afternoon and Tuesday. The
trial jury is composed Of w. T. Hays.
foreman; J. +. Clark, John Key, C. T.
Tomlinson, +. ID. Cotter, w. o. Gull
len, r. A. MlIgen, W. f. Renegar, J..
A. Cobb, w. II. Lowe, c. l.. Ford, w.
q Smith