The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-01-29
CHATTANOOGA
FACING DEATH
Moon InterveneS to Save the
Life of Jeff Lank-
ford.
HELD AT CAMP MEADE
Soldier Charged With Killing
Corporal With Bread
Knife.

Discovery by member of congress
from another state that a friendIess
Tennessee soldier is confined at
Camp Meade. Nd. near Washington,
under death sentence. and interven-
ton by Congressman John A. Moon.
OF the Third district. may save the
life OF Jeff w. Landlord. of Chatta-
nooga, a private in Company I. Sew
enteenth infantry. Landlord. hardly
over 20 years OF age. is charged with
killing Corpl. Robert e. Nelson. Of
Forrest City. Pa. and a member OF
the same Organization, on Oct. 20,
1913, at Camp Meade.
Son Mrs. Mary Lsdford.
JET Landlord is the son of Mrs,
Mary Lediord. 2707 Nineteenth street.
Ridgedale, and an employe OF the
Thatcher Spinning mills. Mrs. Led
ford stated Thursday that her son
enlisted In the army at the begin
ming OF the war. but had forgotten
the exact date. She Is the mother OF
three other children--Ed, Willie and
Oracle Ledford, having been married
twice.
Il have done everything in my
power TO get my son out OF the army
and have this awful sentence re-
moved" she told a News reporter
Thursday. II have written to Prest-
dent Wilson. but have received no re-
ply. have taken IL up with the war
department, and they told me the
case was about TO be reviewed, and
could tell me nothing definite. Ny
son has never given me a bit OF
trouble and is one OF the best boys
10 be found anywhere. have not
given up my fight, / still have hope"
Congressman Moon, who is in the
city. was seen by Mrs. Ledford
Thursday morning and promised
every effort within his power to get
the sentence reduced from a death
penalty to imprisonment. and II pos
slble to discharge from the service.
20 trouble between the enlisted
man and his corporal originated over
the handling of bread for the mess.
IL appears that commissioned OH
Ger had. on the day preceding the
HtructionH, and when Corpl. Nelson
later gave Landlord conflicting or
delh. the enlisted man failed 10 obey,
III feeling developed No a result OK
thu incident and tie following ANx
wirrn 4 similar situation arose. th6
men became involve IN . personal
alteration, each using the weapon
nearest at hand, which happened to
be bread knife. Landlord. who was
slashed about the face so badly that
he will he SCARED for ths balance Of
his life. fatally stabbed Corpl. Nell
son.
Extreme Penalty.
court martial was convened and
Landlord received the extreme SEN
tence. The fact that he had killed
his noncommissioned officer an the
result OF refusal TO obey orders
weighed heavily against the Chatta-
nooRa boy.
He has been confined In the bar
racks nt Camp Meade since the KILL
ing fifteen months ago. and even now
does not know the outcome of his
trial. A few days ago a member OF
congress. who had gone TO the bar
racks TO SEQ n constituent, met young
Landlord. and being impressed with
his manly bearing. inquired why he
was confined. Moved by the first
sympathetic voice he had heard since
being locked UP. the boy told the
story OF the killing In a straightfor-
ward manner. The youth did not
know then. and does not know even
yet, that he has stood In the shadow
OF the gallows. His newly found
friond notified Congressman Moon.
OF the Chattanooga district, and the
latter has asked that thg case be re-
viewed and that adverse action be
withheld until new evidence can b6