The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-10-26
dies OF PISTOL
SHOT WOUND
Buford LESLEY Shot by CIeg-
gift Townsend at Wild
wood, Ga.
WHISKY CAUSE KILLING

Brought TO West ELLIS hospital Sum
day night shortly after being shot near
wildwood. Ga. Buford LESLEY. OF
Alton Park. died late Monday aiter-
noon, and Cleggett Townsend, son OF
ESQUIRE Townsend, OF wildwood COM
munty. was arrested here by Deputy w.
J. smith, in connection with the crime.
W, II. Cross, OF Dade county, dater
took charge Of Townsend. returned him
TO trenton and placed him in fail with
out bond pending a preliminary hear
ing some time Tuesday.
w Inc body OF LESLEY was removed to
rangements for the funeral await the
arrival OF relatives.
Information from authoritative
sources Is that Lessly, while walking
along the highway toward CHATTANOOGA
aroused suspicion because of a bundle
he carried on his back. Cleggett Town
sen, send, deputy; detailed to watch Less.
ley. followed him short distance and
then asked him to stop. LESLEY is
claimed to have showed fight and
backed away until he reached n suffi-
Client distance to run. Then Il was
that he was shot. Townsend stated
that most Of his shots were fred In
the air.
The officer. with his older brother,
Raymond Townsend, OF the Dade county
police. and Mllt Redding, special dep
uty, conducted a search for. LESLEY.
They We're about to abandon their
when cries for help attracted their at
tention. They found LESLEY some dis
lance from where he started to run,
He was hurried to Chattanooga In
the automobile OF r.. l.. Lee, of Wild
wood. and attended at West ELLIS.
Bundle Contained Liquor.
The bundle on Lessleys back con-
tanned a can OF liquor,
The three officers were watching for
some suspicious automobiles Sunday
night, and when LESLEY came along
with the bundle on his back he at once
drew the finger of suspicion in his d.
A stout denial that the Townsend
brothers and Reddlng were working
without orders to Search cars was en-
tered by Sheriff Cross. who charged
that the morning paper misgepresented
the facts. Cross has been sheriff of
Dade county for four years, this being
his second term. The sheriff took ex-
ception to a statement the morning
paper credited him with making in re-
gard to operations of the officers in
question.
Cleggett Townsend thought he was
doing his duty. Lee Forester, ordinary
Of Dade county, stated. Both Cleggett
and his brother, Raymond, and Red
ding reside in the Wildwood neighbour
hood. Mr.. Forester said neither Ray
mond nor Redding would be arrested
OFFICERS GUN SNAPS.
Later information regarding the
shooting 10 that when Ciegpett
Townsend halted LESLEY HI. started
to fire In the air to notify his
rssss from i Sm on the " sra ns that sp he
had Lesley In charge. The gun
snapped and LESLEY, thinking II
was unIoaded, started TO run. ciea-
pett called to him three times TO
halt, but he failed to heed the COM
mand. When LESLEY was about
fired. In his night the stranger
dropped the bundle on HIS shoul.
der, and cleggett, picking II up
and finding II to be liquor, took II
to the depot, where he locked II up.
Search was then resumed for Less.
ley, who was later located.
Residents of Dade county speak
highly of the three officers, promi-
nent citizen declaring he 10 intimately
acquainted with them and has never
known them to touch drop of liquor
Indignation was expressed at the sem
sational account In the morning pa
per. especially that part which credits
Sheriff Cross stating they had long
been holding. up people they thought
might have liquor In their possession
anu tIcn COufSIlliB luuOTa bO tdhcl "
their own use without any report Of
arrests ever being made.
Townsends Prominent.
This citizen, who holds a responsible
position here, declared the Townsend
family was one of the best and most
prominent in the entire county, Squire
Townsend being leading and influen-
tial citizen.
That Raymond and Cleggett Town |
send and Milt Redding were merely |
carrying out instructions given them |
was the declaration made.
Cleggett has been employed for the |
past two years at the Walsh & Weld |
ner boiler works and Is shipping clerk |
He is regarded as a faithful and con- |
scientious employe.
Law abiding citizens have complete
confidence in them, 1t was said. and
while deeply regretful that tragedy en-
tered into their work, feel that they
were performing their duty.
Sheriff Cross Is said to have gone be-
lore Ordinary Forester Tuesday morn
ng and made affidavit that he gave
tut no statement whatever to the
paper in regard to the shoot
ng.
The Townsend brothers and Redding
ire under the ordinary. and work on
lis instructions. Theft reports are
made to him.
------------------ 1