Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-18
SHEPARD'S SISTER
SAYS MRS. QUITS
TOLD HER OF PLOT
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| SH ~ NIkSs w ~
TOLD HER OF PLOT
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persuaded Shepard to go to the Hen
ry home in Perry, which he did, driv-
ing through the country by automo-
bile with Ernest HopSon and Mrs.
Henry.
AS to Shspard's Will
Mrs: Cults asked me how felt
Crandall, land I told her that she
wa his only heir aad so entitled to it.
This was before she had told me
about the plot After she had told
me about the conspiracy, Mrs. Cults
warned me to be careful, as the gang
might try to do me harm. She made
the same remark about my son, Fred
Crandall. She also urged me to keep
my visit secret and not to write,
telephone or telegraph her at any
time, put to see her personally If
wanted to talk with her again.
II saw Mrs. Cults several times
after that occasion and once she
showed me a telegram she had re-
cetved from John S. Hopson, who
was IN Macon and not in Jacksonville
as she had supposed. Mrs Cults
SNNA0 oAAS WOO oil tlu IIlaI the gang
was trying to get her out on the
HaWkinsville road to do away with
her, as she knew too much about the
plot to kill Mr.. Shepard. She said
she had seen a car that looked like
MRS. Shepard's passing the house
that morning.
Mrs. Cults said she was telling
me her story because Fred Shepard
had been a good friend to her and
she loved me because I was his sis
ter. I asked her If she would go
into court and tell her story and at
| first she refused, but afterward
agreed to do So"
Identities Alleged Will
Mrs. Crandall also identified the
allaged will of Fred Shepard which
was sent to her anonymously from
Marshallville during the period when
the states investigation was just be-
ginning TO- get started. Under the
Terms Terms, OF this document, Mrs. Elmer
Wouid get an annuity of S10O per
month and cash not to exceed $40, 900,
while the balance of Stewards es.
tate would be divided among his
nleces, nephews and his sister, Mrs
Crandall: Judge Mathews took a re-
d de1S JUST at the close of Mrs. Gran
oalis direct testimony.
Contention of Defense
To show that Shepard suffered
from complication of diseases
which caused his death June 1, 1926.
was the goal. toward which the de-
tense worked during. today's session
or the preliminary hearing While
the state continued to put up as wit
nesses physicians and others to tell
OF the circumstances surrounding
Shepard's death, the attorneys for
the defense by cross-examination
sought to break down the states
theory of mercurial poisoning by
showing that Shepard had for some
time been suffering from various all
ments whose symptoms were similar
to the symptoms of mercurial poison
ing. The defense also showed by one
witness that Shepard frequently
drank liquor, this being in support
of the contention that he may have
died from the effect of potash in
.'moonshine" whisky.
Attendance Falls Of
There was a marked falling off in
the. attendance of spectators at to-
days session. When Judge Mathews
called the court to order there was
only a handful OF outsiders in the
court room, although they continued
to drift in throughout the morning.
DR.. L. w. Nelson, of Marshallvil1e,
was the first witness put up by the
state. He said that a few days be-
fore Mr.. Shepard died he saw the
peach grower in Marshallville. and
that Shepard described certain symp-
toms of the illness from which he
was suffering. DR.. Nelson stated
that he gave Shepard a prescription
containing bismuth and deodorized
tincture of opium, a common remedy
for dysentery. The physician also
said Shepard was badly nauseated
and evidently quite i'll, but insisted
on going to Perry.
The symptoms exhibited by Shep-
ard were similar to those of case
of mercurial poisoning, said the wit
ness, in answer to questions by So
licitor General Garrett. No case of
mercurial poisoning from calomel
had ever come under his observation,
said the physician, who stated cal
omeI forms a mercurial salt in the
digestive organs under some cond1-
tions.
On cross-examination DR.. Nelson
said he did not suspect poisoning at
ard. he said, told him that the Illness
was caused by eating quantity OF
barbecued meat The symptoms
shown by Shepard might have indi-
Gated dysentery. the witness said. In
answer to questions by Judge Ross.
L. L. Brown, an Attorney or Fort
Valley. administrator of FREQ -
Shepard's estate and that Of his
father, Mr. Alfred Shepard. took the
stand and told of being with Shepard
four days before the latter's death:
He said that Shepard complained OF
feeling i'll.
Mr.. Brown started to tell Of re-
ceiving a telephone call from Mrs.
Cults asking him to come to Able
Vile, but Judge Mathews ruled TINS
answer out on the ground that there
was no proof that Mrs. Cults was the
person calling.
said Shepard drank liquor frequently
fixing it up with lemons.
Further questioning developed the
fact that Shepard had for some time
exhibited signs of an affection OF
the throat. but the witness declared
Shepard displayed remarkable physi-
Counsel for the defense sought to
show that Shepard suffered from
throat trouble. indigestion, dyson
terry. hernia, appendicitis. constlpa-
ton. varicose veins and hemorrhoids.
r. B. Meese, who liver near Perry on
farm formerly operated by Fred D.
Shepard as part of his fathers es-
tate. testified that he went with
Ernest Hopson, one of the defend
ants. to the home Of w. L. Henry
in Perry a few days before Shepard
died, finding Shepard i'll. that he saw
Shepard again next day and that the
peach grower complained of dysen-
terry.
Other witnesses testifying to prac-
tically the same facts were j. M.
Johnson. of Marshallville, formerly
overseer of one of Shepards farms,
and E. j. Martin, of Marshallville.
The latter said Shepard refused a
drink of whisky offered as a possible
remedy. Shepard said he had some
whisky in his grip but was afraid
to take any on account of his con-
dition, Mr.. Martin testified.