Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-11-08
VITAL ORGANS SENT
FOR EXAMINATIONS,

OF persons from all parts OF houston
county flocked to this city Sunday
to inquire for themselves into the
facts in connection with the death of
Aired D. Shepard, wealthy peach
grower, which is now being investi-
gated by a coroner's jury.
These visitors went to the ceme-
terry and saw where Shepard's grave
had been opened, the body exhumed
and then returned to the grave again.
The armed guard which had been
maintained at the cemetery was with
drawn Saturday night after the body
was re-buried.
The most important development
Sunday was the departure of DIR. M.
S. Brown for Atlanta. He will de-
liver the viscera to the State Chem
ist, DIR. Abercrombie, who in turn
will determine whether, or not there
was arsenic or mercurial poisoning
in the vital organis of the dead man.
The vital organs were placed IN
glass Jars, each being sealed yester-
day afternoon when the autopsy was
performed; and the coroner's jury
placed these jars in custody of DE-
Brown for delivery to DR.. Abercrom-
bic.
DIR. Brown made the trip to Attain
ia in an automobile.
To Report Friday.
The State Chemist will be one
of the most important witnesses be-
fore the coroner's jury when that
hodv reassembles here on Friday al
ternoon, November IL, to resume the
investigation of Shepard.s death
Although the body of Shepard was
embalmed and placed in metal cas-
ket which was sealed, 1t Is declared
that the embalming fluid Will not IN
terfere in the least with the state
chemists work. The laws OF Geor-
gia governing embalmers do not per-
nit the use of arsenic or mercury
or similar poisons in the emoalInlng
fl,1id. II is declared. Solicitor Gen
eral Charles H. Garrett, stated iast
night that he had obtained the lot
mf1la of the embalming fluid used IN
this case and this also was pelhg
turned over to the state chemist.
According to Solicitor Generai
Garrett. the autopsy of Saturday al
ternoon revealed facts as to the con,
dition of the body that confirmed
the testimony of DR.. Brown before
the coroner's jury The testimony
showed that the bowels were not
locked. that there were black spots
on the intestines and other symptoms
Indicating that Shepard was VIC
tim of a deadly poison, such as ar
senic, mercury or potash.
Poisoning Indicated
In his testimony to the coroner
INV Dr Brown stated that there
were two or three forms OF poison
which produced the same symptoms
as observed in the condition OF Shep,
ard when he was called in. he SAID
that il these poisons were given IN
Graduated doses it would produce tne
same symptoms, cramping pains Ill
abdomen. COLLAPSE and death.
DIR. Brown told of being present
at the operation at the Macon nos
nital and of looking inside the ap-
donninal cavity. He referred to spots
on the intestines. "a
Shenard was about Al years old;
His father. Alfred Shepard, is SAID
to have left an estate worth 9z'vvo,tt W.
600, the bulk of it beng IN tns % wsso
and in Mexico, though he had large
holdings in Houston county. -
For numDer oI yeoAo
death the elder Shepard RESIDED E sey-
eral months each year in Fort val
lev with his daughter, Mrs. George
N. Crandall, who, with her three
children and Fred Shepard, are, SAID
to be Alfred shepard's only heirs
Fred Shepard is said to have recelV,
ed s2,OO0,O00 in stocks, bonds ana
oil and ranch holdings left HIM oY
On Dec. 81, 1919, Fred Shepard
married Mrs. L. Hobson, of Perry
the county seat of Houston county
and he and his wife were living Wlth VIII
relatives of the wife in May, 1920,
when Shepard was taken violently
i'll with pains in the stomach and in
testines. He was rushed to the vii
liams Sanitarium in Macon May ~
and an operation was said to have
revealed that the stomach, intestnes
and abdominal walls were fearfully
inflamed. He died June l and was
buried at Fort Valley.
Wife Previously Divorced.
About six weeks later Mrs. Shep-
ard was married to DR.. E. F. Elmer,
of Jacksonville, Fla. Doctor Elmer
is said to have been visiting the