The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-10-30
HUSBAND MAY
Be PROSECUTED
Tom Gardenhlre May Face
Charge Completely in
Fathers Death.
UEST WEDNESDAY

Turning from his own flesh and
blood, joining with his wife and as
suring her that she was justifiable |
in the sight of God in killing his own
father. Tom Gardenhire may be pros
ecuted by his own brothers for al
legged completely In the death OF T.
s. Gardenhire. Sr.
Two of the brothers consulted w.
j. Counts. attorney for the family,
in regard to the prosecution OF young
Gardenhire. After talking with them,
Mr.. Counts advised them to walt until
their father had been buried before
they took any steps.
In the course of their conversation
with Attorney Counts the brothers, 1t
was stated, told Of Gardenhires trip
from Rome last week to see his IA
ther. He went to the factory where
his father was at work, and. accord
ing to the information furnished
Counts. told his father he had G me
to kill him IL he did not answer one
question.
The father asked him what the
question was. and Gardenhire Is said
to have then asked II he had wronged
the young mans wife. The attorney
was informed that the father there
upon made insinuations against the
character of the sons wife, but de-
MED that he had been intimate with
her.
Additional information coming to
Attorney Counts, 1t is stated, was
that Tom Gardenhire, Jr., said he
guessed he would have killed his
father If his wife had not done the
deed.
Young Gardenhire stated in the Of
nee of Mrs. Rachael Marshall, police
matron, Wednesday that his wife left
a note on the table at their home in
Rome asking him not to worry, as
she would be all right.
Gardenhire was shocked to think
that his own father had betrayed
him, he said. He felt that his wife
had done right to end his father,s
lifes nv
The preliminary hearing OF ME-.
Gardenhire is set for Fridays session
OF police court.
Coroner's Verdict Murder.
A jury empaneled by Coroner Jack
O'Donohue returned verdict
Wednesday afternoon to the effect
that the killing of Tom Gardenhire,
Sr., was premeditated The inquest
was held at Wanns establishment on
Mitchell avenue and only three wit
nesses were examined. They were J.
). Downs. who heard shots fred, and
Patrolmen Orville Bass and Frank
Burns, the officers who arrested Mrs.
Gardenhire. The jury was composed
of A. j. Booth, M. Fl. Douglas, Max
Brener. Fred Brooks, c. *. Brooks,
I. Kopetotski and w. r. Messenger.
Mrs. Gardenhire makes no denial
OF the shooting, but on the other
hand frankly admits that she fired
five shots at Gardenhire after going
to his home and talking to him. She
'es not deny that she concealed the
weapon in sack of bananas and
that she fired the first shot at close
range. Neither does she deny that
she came here for the special pur-
! nose of killing her father-in Jaw
| She says she will tell the whole story
to the court and jury.
Funeral services over the BODY OF
| Tom Gardenhire ST., were held from
| the residence Of L. r. Gardenhire
| 361l Avenue M, East Lake, Thursda,
! afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Rev. ]. N
Bull officiated. Greenwood cemetery
was the place of interment.
Mrs. Gardenhire said Thursday thai
| TWO days after she removed to the
country with her father -in-law he tolt
her young woman by the name of Bel
Bell jenkins brought suit for damages
| here few years ago and he took the
| girl to his home and saw that she
| was cared for until she recovered
Belle eJrkins brought suit for damages
| according to Mrs Gardenhire's accoun
of what Gardenhire tcld her. and on.
day when the girl and Gardenhire were
walking on the side of Mssionar,
ridge he struck her with brass knuck;
and when he saw she was dead he 20
some tools from house nearby, dur
grave, buried her and then tool
$l,600 from her pocketbook.
Mrs. Gardenhire said he told her tw,
stories about the crime and admitte,
after he had told the first one that h,
had not told the truth.
The records Of the circuit court shov
mat young woman by the name O
'~N.'N oNi hiiiS blOuBlll suit dBdHlSL TN
railway and light company for alleget
injuries received in an accident. Sh
was represented by Attorneys Ray an
Altaffer. The case was compromise,
Tor 500 and the young woman's par
was $72. After s28 had been levied on
1t is understood that she had only 81
left.
No one who was questioned remem
bered anything about the girl disap
pearing. Attorney Ray was not clea
about the facts in the case.
Mrs. Gardenhre said she though
Gardenhire's reason for telling her tn
story of the Jenkins girl was tina
something might happen to her IL sh
refused his advances.
Attorney T, Pope Shepherd has bee
retained to represent the accuse
woman and her husband.
Later, Attorney John w. Ray. whe
told OF Mrs. Gardenhire's statemen
I III.