Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-12
Murder Charged
Against Three
In Poison Case

GREENSBORO, Ga, March Ii
Mrs. ". w. Williams, who was held
in the Greene county jail on muir
der charge Thursday after a coroners
jury had declared the death last week
of her husband, W. W. Williams, a
prominent farmer, was due to poison.
ing by strychnine, will seek the de-
Tense that her husband committed
suicide, her attorneys said Friday.
With Mrs. Williams, the authors
ties are, holding Bonnie Williams,
a young son of the dead farmer,
and A. l., Campbell, Georgia rail-
road section foreman. Warrants
charging murder were sworn out
against all three defendants.
The coroner's jury reached it's ver-
dict in the case late Thursday, based
pm the finding of Dr. Edgar F. Ever
hart, an Atlanta chemist, who exam
med the stomach of the deceased,
and reported that traces of strycha
nine were found.
Bonnie Williams declined to make
any statement concerning his fathers
death He vigorously asserted that
both he and his mother were inno-
cent.
Mrs. Williams asked for her law
yers as soon as she was arrested.
After d long conference at the Jail,
the statement came from her coun-
sci that 1--WE expect to show that Mr..
Williams committed suicide by swal-
lowing poison"
Attorneys for the defendants said
they were ready for a preliminary
hearing. 1t was expected this would
be held Saturday morning before
Justice Edward Caldwell.
Woman Claims Innocence.
st had absolutely nothing. to do
with the, death of my husband" de-
clared Mrs. Williams in a statement
made from her cell. HE was taken
suddenly Ill after supper and COM
planned of pains in the stomach. Ben.
ME and I put him to bed and stayed
right by his side until his death, do
ing everything we could for him. l
know ] can prove our innocence"
CampbeIl's arrest in connection
with the death of Williams, it was
stated, grew out of recent charges
by the dead man that Campbell had
This was emphatically denied by
Campbell and Mrs. Williams.
1.-THE Williams family lived at my
house for a short time, and MI. Will
liams imagined something was
wrong" said Campbell. 81 regret
help myself. 1 won't have any trou-
BILE in proving that 7 know nothing
of this affair."
Greensboro and Greene county have
been stirred over Mr.. Williams death
and the unusual circumstances sur
rounding it. A COroner's investiga-
ton Immediately after his death de-
veloped nothing. Later, the body was
ordered disinterred The viscera
was removed and sent to DR.. Ever
hart at Atlanta, who promptly report
| ed that traces of strychnine were
found in tbs stomach---vThe~ arrest OF
| Mrs. W1lliams Bennie Williams and
Campbell followed.
Domestic Troubles
SuSplctOn directed at Mrs. Williams
was the result, it is stated. of domes-
tic troubles in the family which ex.
tended over long period These
| troubles were aired at length at the
first hearing before Justice Caldwell
witnesses declared that Mrs Will
iiams attempted to shoot her husband
more than three weeks ago when she
thrust revolver against his side
and pulled the trigger. The revolver
failed to function. it was said. and
second time, Williams is said to have
Wrested the weapon from her.
Prior to this. witnesses said. the
couple had been eStranged because OF
alleged relations between Mrs. Will
iians and Campbell.
Despite these differences, Mr.. and
Mrs. Williams went back together
and were living together at the time
Of the husbands death.
The alleged relations between Mrs.
Williams and Campbell, it was de-
clared, led to divorce proceedings be-
tween Campbell and his wife. At tho
final hearing of the case. Bonnie Will
1iams is said to have been the prin-
clpai witness for Campbell.
County authorities intimated here
Friday that still further arrests
might follow the commitment hear
ing on Saturday.