Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-11-15
Sebastopol Falls; Bolsheviki Masters of Black Sc;
POISON
TRACE FOUND IN
SHEPARD PROBE
Chemists S Findings Due
In Fort Valley-lo o Be
Kept Secret

MACON. Nov. 15.-Traces Of poi
son were found in the vital organs of
Fred D. Shepard, wealthy Fort Val
ley peach grower. by DR.. Edgar Ev-
erhart, Atlanta chemist, who made
partial report of his findings Satur-
day night to Mayor Harris and DR..
NJ. S. Brown, of Fort Valley, Solici-
tor Charles H. Garrett, of Macon and
L. P. Whitfield, Atlanta detective
working on the case, according to un-
official. but authentic, reports.
Whether Ahe poison was admins
tered or whether it resulted from
something Shepard ate or drank was
not determined and further examina-
ton and analysis is to be made this
week. Instead of meeting on Tues
dav. as planned the coroner's jury
Investigate Shepard's death will not
convene agai~ until Friday, it was
learned late Saturday night.
The further analysis of Shepard's
vital organs, it is hoped, will deter
mine whether the poison of which
traces were found, was administered
or whether it came there through
something he ate or drank.
The written report of DIR. Edgar
Everhart was to be delivered to DR..
M. S. Brown. at Fort Valley today.
That the contents of this report
will be kerr secret for the time be-
ing, probably until after the next
sitting of the coroner's jury, was in
dicated by Solicitor General Charles
II. Garrett and Mayor Harris Neal.
of Fort Valley.
No one will give out any state
ment on this report" said Solicitor
General Garrett. ''No one connected
with the case is authorized to state
the result of this examination by the
chemist. ANY statement that may be
printed is not only authorized but is
misleading People are speculating
on the ren2rt. and it's simply guess
work on their part"
A recent development in the poison
/ lnvestipation was contained in a
telegram received from DIR. r. F. Alb
ercrombie, secretary of the Georgia
State Board of Health. from a physic
ian in Erie Pa, suggesting that the
BODY of nr. Elmer's first wife be ex-
humed in Jacksonville and examined
| for poison.
| ~AN VI OtAC SSHuCT OI ITG Jele-
gram was not given out by DR.. Ab-
ercromble. He did not know the
doctor who sent it. Having no juris-
dlctlon IN the state of Florida or the
/ city OF Jacksonville. there was moth
ing he could do but repeat the sug-
gestlon to the state health officer of
Florida. whose office is located in
Jacksonville. The telegram was as
follows:
Have just read of Mr.. Shepard's
case. Would advise that the body of
DR.. Eli first wife. buried in
Evergreen cemetery, Jacksonville, be
exhume1 and examined the same as
Mr.. Shepard s."
This telegram was wired in full by
DR.. Abercrombie to the Florida state
health officer.
According to advices from Jack
sonville, the first Mrs Elmert died at
the Julien Apartments there on Sep
tember 22nd. 1917, and the cause of
death at the time was given as gastric
ulcers and anoina pectoris.
Member of Nobility.
i According to the statement given
! out there by County Detective Henry
Lilienthal. Drff Ralph R. Green, state
healt hofficer at Jacksonville, reeciv-
ed DR.. Abercrombie's telegram Sat
urday, with the contents Of the tele-
gram ser+ by DR.. VanValzale. of Erie,
Pa. to DR. Abercrombie.
The first Mrs. Elmer wa sa Miss
Leah Goldbelt. daughter of an Eng
lish lord and member of the Eng
lish nobility. whom he married in
England, the Jacksonville report says
S'e was taken suddenly i'll at their
apartment the Julien, on the after
CONTINUED on page 81