The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-20
SLIM AUSTIN
PUT ON TRIAL
Faces Jury on Charge OF Kill
ing Leo Friedman on
Jan. is, 1920.

c. l. "Slim" Austin was placed on trial
Monday morning in the criminal court
charged with the murder OF Leo Fried
man which occurred Jan. l6, 1920 on
the afternoon OF the killing Mr.. Fried
man and Austin were engaged in an
argument about an automobile accident
when Il is charged Austin resented Mr.,
Friedman's version OF the accident and
struck the later twice. once on the side
OF the nose and once just over the lett
ear, The blows were struck with the
first but blood clot formed near the
brain from the one over the ear and
early the following morning Mr.. Fried
man died.
DIR. ]. II. Remington who held an su-
topsy on the head OF Mr., Friedman SAID
that the latters death was caused by
an external brow be had received which
caused an internal blood clot.
At the time OF his death Mr.. Fried
man was one OF the city's best known
and most popular automobile dealers ana
his business on Market street near
Eleventh was n prosperous and growing
one.
Austin at the time OF the accident was
n chauffeur and spent much or his time
and had most of his repair work done
at the Friedman office. Austin does not
deny striking Friedman but claims he
had provocation and that the blows he
struck were not with serious intent. The
trial will probably last throughout the
entire afternoon,
When the case was called Monday
Is being represented by Atty.-Gen
George w. Chamlee, Foster V. Brown,
Finlay and Campbell, and c. A. Noone
The defense Is represented by Senatos
James Il. Frazier, T. Pope Shepherd, n,
II. Williams and J. Il. Frazier, Jr. Mr.,
Brown is taking the lead for the state
- .l..z. 81
and cross questioning caused several 10
remark that he had lost none OF his old
time vigor which made his regime as
attorney general OF Hamilton county
hack In the SOS one Of the most bril-
liant i'm it's history, Friends and rela-
tves OF Mr.. Friedman were present ms
were the friends and relatives OF the
defendant.
The first witness called to the stand
Monday was Norman Raoul. who was
talking to Mr.. Friedman and Austin
when the assault occurred. Mr., Raoul
said he had gone to Mr.. Friedman's
place to get an insurance blank. con-
tainin~ questions about accidents. Allied
out He said that everything went well
until Mr.. Friedman was asked the posi-
tion OF n truck when II was struck and
when It later struck Austin's car which
was standing front Of Friedman's place,
TWO Blows Struck
The answer to this question. II was
stated. seemed to anger Austin and the
witness said that when Mr.. Friedman
repeated his answer Austin struck him
twice. one on the side Of the nose and
the other over the left ear. Friedman
then threw IN his hands II was charged
and said ~ am killed"
Mr.. Raou, stated Austin then said:
"Come on the outside and viii stamp
YOU through the navement." 7. was
then. NJ. Raoul stated. that n man
named B'ankenship came up with 2
niece Of iron and threctenei A.stin Y
he struck again. Austin. II i~ CHARGED
then left the building. but before doing
so stated that he had not hit Fried
man FOR what he hsd said " NAT time,
hut for some trouble they had hua be.
fore.
7. s. Blonkenship was next called
and he said he did not pay any alton
tion tn the first mart ~ 'h> trouble,
hut when he heard loud talking he
listened The vest NJ his rtatHm"nt
corrohorated the statement OF Mr.
Rnoul.
Dr. ]. IT. RevirSton was NEXT called
to the stand. and ne testified he sy
amined the hodv OF Mr.. Friedman NJ
the undertaking establishment, Dr.
Remington translated "a long list Of
Anstin'e blow had caused Mr.. Fried
MANS death He said he examined the
inside OF the head and found blood
clot above the err between the ''tnll
and the covering OF the bra'r. rhip,
he said caused the death Of Mr., Fried
man. the blood cot being caused by an
exterior blow on the head.
L. v. Willard, who was with Nor
man Raoui Mt the Friedman shop, tes-
titled in substance tn what was testi-
fed nv Mr. Raoul, Phillip Olive. who
took Mr. Friedman home, was the LIST
witness before court adjourned for the
noon hour. He knew nothing of the
accident except that he went by Mr.
Fr'edman's place OF business about
o'clock on the afternoon Of the trouble
and Mr.. Friedman asked him TO take
nun u ms n''ne W r ns pa''ro ., hndly
battered up. He left Mr.. friedman At
the side door OF the building where he
lived. Mr.. Friedman died early the
following morning