The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-03
BOY Who KILLED
CANTRELL FREED
Coroner'S Jury ExonerateS
Lad Who Shot to Save
Parents.
UNDER INFLUENCE LIQUOR

| jay G. Cantrell was killed Tues
day afternoon at Rising Fawn, Ga,
by Green Evans. l7-year- old son of
John Evans, at the Evans home. and
today a coroner's jury which investi-
gated the killing. held that as Can
trell. under the influence of whisky,
had caught hold of the boys mother
and used abusive language TO her,
young Evans shot in defense of his
family and his act was justitiable.
Mr.. Cantrell was well known
In Chattanooga. he is a brother OF
Fred Cantrell, OF this city, and was
generally liked and respected.
The dead man is said TO have been
drinking heavily for weeks time,
and to have become qunrrelsome and
contentious while in his cups. He
| lived, with his wife, In the Evans
home near Rising Fawn John Evans,
head of the family, was III in bed
with pneumonia at the time, Ac-
cording TO the stories told of the oe-
| curronce, Cantrell, III the afternoon
entered the house, and apparently
| mistaking Mrs Evans for some on@
else caught hold of her and began
curslng. Her husband, seeing that
| tho man was dangerously drunk.
! lenped out of bed and sought TO dc,
fcnd his wife. lie had n small call
bre revolver, which he fired once, IN
nictlng a flesh wound In Cantrells S
shoulder Even this did not sober
the latter
IL Is claimed that Cantrell then
took the weapon away from Evans
and tried to shoot him, Green Ev-
ans, tho son OF the family, heard the
| combat, dropped his work and
rushed to the room. There he found
| Cantrell aiming pistol nt his father
He snntchcd up shotgun and fired
| The discharge tore away part oi
Cautrell's head. and he died In
stantly.
Thus was added to the long list oi
| deaths which Illicit whisky has
| caused In the Chattanooga region th'
namo OF one who, when not under
| tho influence of alcohol, was unlver'
sally liked and respected by nj
| friends and nelghhors. The laXity o
law enforcement In respect TO tn
| selling and making of contraban'
llquor In Dnde county In notorious
Neither Evans nor his son attempte'
TO escape after Cantroll's death, bu
remained at their 'home. The wifi
OF the deceased was said 10 have
been In the Evans house at the time
| OF his death
Tho shooting is being probcd by
| sheriff Cross, of Dado county, and II
is possible that Evans cxonoratior
| by the coroner's jury will not kceT
| the matter from being presented te
| tho grand Jury of that county at it,
| next session.
A coroncrs jury which investigated
| the killing of jay q, Cnntrcll by Green
| Evans. t7-yonr-old son OF John Evans
al the Evans home near Rising Fawn
| Ga, Tuesday. cXonoratod both the ia
| thor aud son and returned verdict
that the shooting was Justlilnblo. The
! Inquest was conducted by j. II. Morris
| coroner for Dade county.
No arrests have yet been made N
connection with tho cnHc. Sentiment
throughout the community Is that lfv-
| ans and his son endenvorcd to protect
| the home from nn attack by man un.
der the Influence OF intoNlcants,
Cnntrell. who is said TO have been N
m ugly MOOD for about u week, is cred
| tied with having been the source OF n
good deal OF trouble. Nelghbora and
friends of the Evans family have been
! anticipating serious consequences.
Tho dead mans body was brought "a
| Chattanooga late Tuesday afternoon
by the Jack O'Donohuo company pre-
porcd for. burial and taken "wednesday
morning 10 Sparta for funeral and in
| tcfment. Fred w. Cnntrcll. Of this city,
u brother; a sister, Mrs Parker and
other relatives accompanied the body.
Cantroll was well known here, For tho
pnHt few years ho had been farming
near Rising Fawn and lived In the
house occupied by the Evans fnmily.
sheriff Crosa. OF pade county invcs-
| tlrutod tho shooting Tho grand jury
viii nkoly take II up when II conycnes
| again.