Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-12-22
ACCUSED FREED,
GRAND JURY MAY
Get POISON CASE
Solicitor Refuses To
Commit Himself On
Future Course

NAHUM Oec. ZZ.--r OllOWlug Lne
discharge of all four of the defend
ants in the Shepard poisoning pre-
liminary hearing here by Judge H.
A. Mathews at II o'clock last night,
it was indicated as possible that the
whole matter might be taken before
the Houston county grand jury at its
next session by Solicitor Garrett, al
though he refused to commit himself
as to whether he would continue the
case or drop the entire matter. The
grand jury investigation would be
the only further step possible for
the state.
AS to whether or not the case will
be investigated by the Houston coun-
ty grand jury, Solicitor Garrett re-
piled with the following statement:
"My connection with this investi
cation has been purely impersonal. /
have not sought to give any publicity
to myself or to the case. have
sought only to ascertain the truth.
am not grieving over the judgment
of the court, and would not be re-
joicing if it had been otherwise.
"I am satisfied that l have done
my duty. What the future handling
of the matter will be / have no opin-
ion to express. 1t will be shaped
largely by circumstances.
Il have no personal acquaintance
with either of the defendants, but |
have great confidence in the impair
tiality an courage Of the investiga
ton up to this point"
Dramatic Scenes.
All four defendants were dis
charged from custody at II o'clock
last night bv Judge Mathews, who
heard the evidence as a committing
magistrate.
Scenes that followed were the i
Mnost dramatic witnessed in the
8 Fcrowded courtroom in years. Men
and women cheered. Mrs. F. E. Ell
mer around whom her friends crowd
ed, shouted, Il didn't walk alone;
God was with me-" Then she reeled
backward and fell into the arms of
her LAWYERS. She was carried from
the court room in an hysterical condl-
ton.
The dramatic scenes as the four
defendants were discharged were the
climax of a series of dramatic events
that occurred during the afternoon
the most nerve-racking for the de-
PENDANTS and the lawyers.
Just before Solicitor General Gar
rett concluded his closing address
for the state, he laid stress upon the
fact that a check for $25 that had
been Given TO Shepard the day he was
taken sick was cashed at Abbeville
bv Ernest Hopson two days follow
ing the death of Shepard.
"He cashed it because his mother
didn,+ have a cent" shouted Mrs.
FIner "His mother had to have
money"
Mrs. Elmer Restrained
Mrs. Elmer, at that time, was on
the verge of a nervous collapse
Hands of the young women VINO were
seated close by her side. closed her
mouth and the solicitor commented
briefv "this is no place for an ex-
nIanation of that kind 1t should
have been made during the hearing"
Late Yesterday afternoon Mrs:
Iona Henry sprang to her feet and
branded as p ''lie" the statements OF
s. A. Num-, who was making VlVlo
picture of the alleged plot to poison
Fred D. Shepard
Rut these afternoon scenes were
nothing in comparison with the DEM
onstrafion following the courts de-
cis;on in +he case last night. While
the crowd was applauGing and cheer
ine and friends were rushing to her
side To embrace her and to congratu-
Iate her Mrs. Elmer tore her hat
from her head. thrust aside those
who ware irving to hold her and
shouted in a thrill voice: -. u,
"I did not walk alone Jesus olo
not walk alone in the 1aroen o5
Gethsemane, and ! hace not walked
alone for God with with me"
The woman's words drifted off IN
to incoherency and suddenly she top
pied over. IN. oo+od
al, ~ +ba defendants crowding
,ornd n congratulate them Law
NJ Sars wore congratulated. Solicitor
Cererol Garrett was congratulated
bv 'se, so,,aa - of the closest friends of the
accused persons VINO aoiuiS'eu =, - 'A"'
he mad done his duty well" m
The a fonr defendants-Mrs. Elmer,
Mrs. Annie Cults, Ms, Iona Henry
and Ernest Hopson-immedi.atelyg = be.
pan preparations to return to their
homes.
"r,m mighty proud to be out" said
Hsuu - go 90 She walked from the
conr+rooro c1,n. movco holding her husbands
spu''rV srU "wo,re going back to Fitzger-
aid tonight" .. +
Fldridpe Cults and ms wlIe wen. Wen.
to the Hotel Ianier and immediately
arranged to take the first train Tor
4ha So,,4h