Americus times-recorder., 1919-10-28
MRS. CODBEE TO-,
RESIDE HERE IF
GIVEN PAROLE
Daughter, Living Here,
To Care For Her,
Dorsey Is Told

ATLANTA, Oct. 28.-Following
the hearing on an application for a
parole for Mrs. Edna Perkins God
bee, at which her daughter, Mrs.
Sarah Griner, of near Americas, and
Rev. Silas Johnson, also of Ameri-
Gus, appeared among others in her
behalf, it was announced today that
Governor Dorsey will not render his
decision for several weeks. It will
be necessary for the governor to ex-
anime the records in the case, !
which were submitted to him along
with the arguments which were
heard yesterday.
Judge John T. Allen, of Milledge- /
vile, and A. S. Anderson, of Millen, !
made the principal arguments in !
Mrs. Goddess behalf. Others ap-
pearing besides Mrs. Griner and Rev.
Silas Johnson, were her brother, J.
G. Perkins, of Millen; her son, King
Godbee, of Millen; Mrs. Jessie Bar
geron, of Augusta; and Moses B.
Pitcher, member of the house Oh
representatives from Richmond
county.
Pardon Recommended.
In the spring of 1914 Mrs. Godbee |
shot and killed her divorced hus-
hand T1dro yNoI+oz TaJhoo onJ |
his subsequent wife, in the post
office in the city of Millen. She was
tried for killing the wife and was
sentenced to, life Imprisonment She
has served at the state prison farm
at Milledgeville since July of that
year She appealed to the prison
commission for pardon during the
administration of Governor Harris.
The commission unanimously recon-
mended that the pardon be granted.
Governor Harris did not act upon
the recommendation Her appeal |
was presented to Governor Dorsey
who informed her lawyers that he
could not see his way clear to grant
pardon, but would entertain an
application for parole. Hence the
present petition.
Judge Allen showed the gover-
nor that the release of Mrs. God
bee, either through pardon or pa
role, has been recommended by
Judge Henry Hammond, who pre-
sided over her trial; eleven of the
twelve jurors who tried her, the !
twelfth being dead; by the grand
jury that indicted her; by every
official of Jenkins county and the
city of Millen; by majority of the
members of three legislatures.
Story of Her Wrongs.
In his argument Judge Allen stat
ed that Mrs. Godbee is obliged to
have major surgical operation to
save her life; that her daughter, !
Mrs. Griner, will take care of her
the balance of her life; that Mrs.
G5odbee was emotionally insane at !
the time of the tragedy, and ought |
10 have been defended on that !
ground, but was not; that Judge !
Hodbee squandered her fortune,
Killed her brother and then divorced |
her after her money was gone and
her relatives were estranged be-
cause she took his part for killing
her brother; that his subsequent !
wlfe was extravagently spending
lhe remnant of her fortune and in
Ventlonally and deliberately humili-
aVlng her on every possible occasion;
'hat she killed Godbee and his wife
while In a state of insanity caused
Oy her misfortunes, disappointments
and grief.
Judge Allen further showed that
dozen of the nearest living rela-
CVes of Judge Godbee recommend
parole for Mrs. Godbee, and that her
son and daughter, who are the chill
1ren OF Judge Golbee, stand with
ner y asking her release from
II 'uld Have Been Pardoned."
lnsel stressed the recomenda-
II the prison commission for a
III n and emphasized also the fact
3D. majority of the present and
wo previous legislatures have
oned for pardon in her be-
ga Attorney A. s. Anderson,
mel per Of the house from jenkins
SON ", who also spoke 1T the hear