Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-18
SAY DR.. CHAPMAN
WAS ABSENT WHEN
WADE WAS KILLED
Americas Mans Attorneys
Produce Affidavits Saying
That Woman Named Billie
Brown Was the Slayer

Attorneys for DR.. c.. K. Chapman,
a former prominent Americus man,
who is serving a life sentence in
connection with the murder of Wal
ter Wade in 1915, Thursday morning
contended before the Georgia prison
commission that DR.. Chapman was
not even present at the time Of the
killing.
They introduced affidavits from
four persons who claimed to be eye
witnesses to the killing of Wade in
1915 in the house of Lois Reeves in
Americus, all declaring that they saw
Wade killed by woman inmate of
the house named Billie Brown; saw
the body removed from the house
also that DR.. Chapman was not pres
emit at the time Of the killing.
The attorneys further declared
that F. F. Sims. detective appoint
ed to guard Mrs. Yeartie Howell, the
principal witness against Dr. Chap
man. had told Attorney w., P. Wal
lace and others. just prior to the
third trial. that Mrs. Howell would
change her testimony in favor Of DR..
Chapman for the sum of $4,000.
Applies to Johnson, Too
The same testimony in favor of DR..
Chapman will. according to attorneys,
apply in the case Of w. I. Johnson,
who was jointly indicted with DR..
Chapman and also is now serving a
life sentence in connection with the
Wade murder. The prison commits
sion took up Johnsons plea for Glenn
ency along with that of DR.. Chapman
Thursday morning.
Wade was killed in 1915 in Ameri-
Gus in the house of Lois Reeves. In
dictments against DR.. Chapman and
six or seven others followed. The
first two trials of DR.. Chapman re-
suited in mistrials. He was convict
ed on the third trial, sentenced to
life Imprisonment and already has
served several years.
DR.. Chapman was convicted large
ly on the testimony of Mrs. Yeartie
Howell. 1t was lust before the third
Wallace, that Sims, the detective
assigned to guard Mrs. Howell, ap-
preached him and others with the
statement that the witness would
change her testimony for $4,000. 1t
also was claimed that improper pic
lures of Mrs. Howell were offered for
sale.
Mr.. Wallace said that he was I'M
able to ger thefalleged offer of Mrs.
Howell before the court at the third
trial, and consequently had been I'M
able to present it's until this time
Afddavits Produced
Aff1davits to the effect that Wade
was killed by Billie Brown and thai
Dr. Chapman was not present were
introduced from Thelma Strickland
Ike Flasher and two negroes, Andrew
Dudley and Shellman Johnson, all of
whom claimed to have been eye-wit-
nesses. The Stricklandf woman is
said to have made her statement
Just before she underwent an opera
ton and at time she believed her
condition to be critical
There were dramatic scenes at the
conclusion of the Thursday morning
hearing when Mrs. Emma Chapman,
a sister of DR.. Chapman, cried that
all charges against her brother were
false. She and DR.. Chapman's moth
err, Mrs. j. P. Chapman. were pres
ent.
The clemency plea Of DR.. Chap
man and Johnson was opposed by
Judge j. A. Hickson, of Americus
lie was presented by Attorneys Frank
Hooper, B. j. Fowler and w. P. Wal
lace