Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-11-30
Police Are Investigating
Shooting Of Il. B. Smith
Sunday, By Citlxen Officer

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Investigation of the killing of A.
B. Smith, of 10 Corrupt street, by NJ.
V. Ragsdale twenty-five years old,
of 208 Payne street, membe of the
citizen police, at Corrupt and Mariet-
ia streets Sunday afternoon, was
continued by the police Monday.
Ragsdale claims he shot in self-de-
tense when Smith attempted to es-
cape arrest and turned on him in
the attitude of drawing a pistol
Ragsdale will be given a hearing in
the recorders 49, court Wednesday
morning. In the meantime he is be-
ing held at the police station with
out bond.
w. B. Smith, a brother of the
dead man, has engaged the services
of Attorney Hamilton Lee to assist
in the prosecution of Ragsdale.
Ragsdale went to the police sta
ton shortly after the shooting and
surrendered to the chief. Written
statements were obtained from both
Ragsdale and Hutchinson and a num-
Der of witnesses were interviewed.
Patrolman Hutcheson's statement
corroborated that of Ragsdale in ev-
cry way.
Mrs. Smith, wife of the dead man,
was not at home at the time of the
shooting. When she returned a short
time later she was met at the car
by a number of neighbors who in
formed her of the tragedy. She was
SO overcome she had to be carried
into the house.
Mrs. G. C. Moon. who is said to
have requested the investigation, suf-
fered a nervous shock following the
shooting and had to be taken to het
home, 81 Plum street.
Smith survived by his wife, two
children, Reuben Smith, twelve
years old, and Travis Smith, ten
years old; two brothers, E. L. Smith
and w. B. Smith, his father and
mother, Mr. and Mrs. w. ]. Smith,
and two sisters, Mrs. w. B. Wilson
and Mrs. Alma Hutcheson.
Ragsda1e's Statement
Ragsdale's statement to the chief
of police is as follows:
About o'clock Sunday afternoon
1 was in the Moon service filling sta
ton. Mrs. Moon wanted case
made against a drunken man. She
told me about it. In few minutes
Mr. Hutchinson came in and we walk
ed out on the sidewalk. Smith came
out of a house on the corner of Cor
put and Marietta streets. He had
an ak in his hand. Some lady on
the porch and a girl wrestled with
him and took the axe from him. He
came down on the steps and across
the street to Mandy PannelPs store.
He hung over there and she told
him she was fixing to close up in
order to get rid of him. Then he
went back home We went over to
his house and told him he was I'M.
der arrest for being drunk and dis
orderly. He wanted to know if we
wanted to look for any liquor. Mr..
Hutcheson told him yes. We found
some in a grape juice bottle, about
teacup full. l found a tin can
with a small amount in it, and
gallon jug with about a tablespoon
full in it."
Jerked Loose
1--WE went with him to his closet
to get his coat, then came back
through the house to the front and
when he got in front he jerked loose
and ran back into the house, slam
ming the front door, and ran into the
front room and out to the back yard
in between the houses. ran in the
front to the side of the house and
hOllored to him to stop. In place
of him stopping he drew his hand
back toward his hip underneath his
coat and started toward me- [ then
hollered to him to stop and slipped
just about the time 1 shot. 1 did
not know where I hit him.
HE ran back between the houses
on Marietta street, then back toward
not know 1 had hit him. He fell at
the corner of Marietta and Corrupt
streets. 1 guess he lived for about
five or six minutes. He never spoke
after he fell. After he fell L I'M
fastened his shirt and looked all over
his chest and body for a wound, but
could not find any. 1 did not know
went to call for wagon and a big
search for any weapon. 1 brought
a cupful of the whisky in a grape
juice bottle down here that 1 got
out of his safe drawer"
Ragsdale was formerly a bailif f
shot and killed a negro on street
car on Marietta street He claimed
self-defense, stating that the negro
advanced upon him with knife,
and the case was mol pressed in the
superior court.