Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-28
Atlanta Man Shot
By Ex-Chief of
Detectiue Force
John S, Highsmith, Promi-
nent Attorney, Seriously
Wounded by Newport LAM
ford During Auto Ride

Newport Lanford, former chief OF
the Atlanta detective department
shot and seriously wounded John S
Highsmith, prominent attorney of the
city, during an alteration that came
up while they were on an automo-
bile ride Monday night
The bullet fired by the ex-chief
struck Attorney Highsmith in the
abdomen, ranged upward and emerged
through his chest. Physicians at the
Grady hospital believe that he will
live. The circumstances surround
Ing the affair are so unusual that
keen interest has been aroused
throughout the city.
Mr.. Lanford, meanwhile, was tenn
porarily held at police headquarters
without bond, pending, the outcome of
Mr.. Highsmith's wound. He could
give no account of what happened. He
said he and Mr.. Highsmith drove to
Peters street in Mr.. Highsmith's au-
tomobile, met Frank Faucet and Os-
car Williamson. and the four started
out for a ride. He said he drank one
eggnog prepared for him by a Greek
on Peters street, and remembered
nothing more.
Faucet and Williamson were
held by the police as material wit
nesses. Faucet is scheduled for
trial Wednesday morning on a muir
der charge, having been jointly in
dicted with Ed Nichols some months
ago for killing Levi Williams, ne
gro taxicab driver.
Mr.. Highsmith is representing
Faucet in the matter of the murder
indictment. He and Mr.. Lanford are
said to have formerly had a sort of
partnership. They went to Peters
street Monday night to confer with
Faucet, who was out under bond.
Faucet and Williamson got into the
front seat of the car, with Mr.. High
smith and Mr.. Lanford in the rear
seat. They started out to see Walter
Jones. of 20 Anderson avenue, anoth-
er client of Mr.. Highsmith's, regard
ing some matter of legal business.
Men Skipped"
What transpired there is more or
less vague. Jones, 1t seems, was not
at home Mr.. Lanford directed Fau-
cett, according to Faucet, to drive
on" Faucet told him he couldn't
drive on, because there was ditch
In front of the car. Mr.. Lanford, 1t
Is said. insisted, and Faucet drove
the car through the ditch, got 1T out.
and proceeded to South Whitefoord
avenue.
Faucet says Mr.. Lanford had his
reyolver in his hand, and was ours
Ing and threatening to shoot ana
he got uneasy and decided to SKIP
at the first opportunity. ON arrlV-
Ing in a clump of woods on Admission
avenue. near South Whitefoord ave-
nue., Faucet says, he stopped the
car. told Mr.. Lanford he had to get
ont and turn on the gas from the
reserve tank, and he and Williamson
took to the woods and found some
large trees and hid behind them.
Presently, he says, they heard sour
lie. a shot, groans and curses, ana
went back and found Mr.. Highsmith
7bleeding from a wound in the abdo-
men. They picked him up and took
him to Grady hospital, not bother
ing to find Mr.. Lanford.
On arriving at the hospital, Mr..
Highsmith made a statement Monday
hight, accusing Mr.. Lanford of shoot
ing him without reason or provoca-
tion,
A party of officers went to find
Mr.. Lanford. They found him at
home covered with mud. two deep
gasbes in his head, unable to give
Ian account of himself. Some good
#Samaritan (name unknown had pick
6 ed him up near the scene OF tne
shooting and taken him to 342 South
Boulevard, where he lives. When ne
morning. a couple of officers es-
corted him to Grady hospital to get
the gashes in his head seWed up
One of them was deep and palnIul
and had to be bandageu.
Highsmith's Shooting
t"I begged Chief Lanford not &c
shoot me-" stated Mr.. Highsm1th AZ
Thine Grady hospital Iuesoay iiiol n ~
ing. He seemed wild man. anC
sffer Faucett and Williamson mac
gotten out of the car, Chief Lantoro
declared he was going TO XIII me
when he came at me L grained holc
u him and at the time the shot was
fired I had my hand on the gun. Hay
ing my hand on the gun proDaois
saved my life. Etc., too,
after the shot was 1lreu ! io ~,
+be gun away from him and mt MIN
over the head with it twice. Then
called GALE I Faucet and Williamson t.
come come out of the woods and take ms
to the hospital We left Chief Ian
ford in the street. ,r.,,,;4t
Tuesday afternoon M Eod ntgnsI Ran
ret bosnital. where he will probably
undareo an operation in an effort, t.
remove the bullet from his shoulder
C,ox. &c Wheat