Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-04-08
OFFICER FIRED
FIRST, PLEA IN
ENGLISH TRIAL.
Relative of Sumter Peo-
pie On Trial At
Albany

ALBANY, April 8-That r. S.
English, of Moultrie, on trial here for
the murder of Policeman Collins, did
not know Collins, and that the police
man fired the first shot, was the plea
of the defense as developed today
after the state had rested at II
o'clock.
I The trial, which has been the CEN
ter of great deal of interest, be-
gan yesterday. English is a relative
of several county people and his par
ents live in Dooly county, which
gives the case considerable interest in
that section. Major James Fort, of
New York, formerly of Americus, is
here to testify to the good character
of English while they were in the
army in France together.
W. S. Martin, one of the party
from Moultrie with English on the
night of the shooting, testifying for
the state, swore to the purchase of
whiskey on the road coming to AL
bany and to the party's visiting
houses in the red light district. He
saw Collins stop Asbury Newell, an
other one of the party, and ask about
the whisky, and also testified English,
while running away after the shoot
ing. told him, For Gods sake don't
give me away" and threw pistol
away near the cemetery.
Jack Horkan, also member of the
party from Moultrie, was the first de-
fense witness and was still testifying
when court adjourned at noon. He
said he saw Collins reach for his pis-
tol before the first shot was fired.
Taxi Drivers Story.
The first witness put up by the
state was w. Sam Norman, of Moul-
trie, who testified that he was taxi
cab driver and brought English and
three other young men from Moul-
trie to Albany the night of the
shooting. The other members of the
party were W. S. Martin, Jack Hork-
an and Asbury Newell.
Norman said that Horkan, he
thought, secured a jug containing
what he thought was liquor, between
Albany and Moultrie. All four of the
Young men took drinks at the time
and again after reaching Albany. He
left them on South street, he stated,
and came to the Plaza cafe, where
he stayed until he thought they were
ready to go home.
AS he drove north on Grady street,
he saw by the lights of his car five
men standing to the east side of the
street and recognized the four young
men he had brought here. There was
a stranger in the crowd, he said$and
this man had Newell by the hand and
something he took to be a flashlight
in his other hand. He was not certain
as to which hand held Newell but
remembered seeing the man, who
he learned afterwards was Collins,
irving to change something in his
hands and hold Newell at the same
time. The only shot fired, he said,
while he was there was from the di-
rection Of English. He testified that
he was looking at Newell and Collins
at the time.
AS soon as the first shot was fired,
the witness said, he threw his car in
gear, his engine being still running,
and rushed away from the scene and
did not see any of the party until
the next morning in Moultrie.
He heard six or eight other shots
as he left the scene, he testified.
Couldn't See Well.
Judge Cox, on cross examination,
drew from him that he could not see
the best in the world that night; that
he was sitting on the left-hand side
of the car and the five men were to
his right, and that the curtains of
the car were up The witness said
that Collins was in plain clothes and
that he did not know he was an
officer.
English is represented by Pope &
Bennett, of Albany, and Judge
f. f. Cox, of Camilla. W. W.
Dykes, president of the Americus
Rotary club, is a relative of the ac-
cused man, and he is assisting the de-
Tense, though not as an employed at
+ornev. Solicitor Bell is assisted by
Sam Kimsey, of Cornelia, Ga, for
mer member of the Georgia legisla-
ture from Habersham county, and a
friend of the deceased. H. A. Pea
cock. MAYOR of Albany, is assisting
the solicitor. but not as paid counsel,
rather representing the city govern
ment for which Collins worked.
The accused man is clad in the
uniform of his country, he having
been soldier in the American Ex-
peditionarv forces during the world
war. and having had an active part
in the fighting. He was a sergeant
in the war, and not a lieutenant.
as previously stated by some of
his friends. Collins also saw over
seas service in the war. Seated with
Englih are his aged parents, Mr.
and Mrs. R. s. English, Sr., of Dooly
county, and three of his brothers, be-
sides other relatives The father and
mother of the slain officer are here
from their home at Wellston. Ga, and
his brothers and other relatives are
in the courtroom.