Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-19
Staying Of BROWN
LAID To THOMPSO
BY CORONER JURY

DECATUR. Ga. March 17.-That
Ernest Brown, the young DeKalb
county farmer. who was shot and
killed last Tuesday evening, came to
his death as the result of a gun
shot wound in the breast at the hands
of Homer Thompson. also of DeKalb
county, and who escaped immediately
after Brown was shot. was the YER
dict Of a Dekalb county coroner's
jury following the completion of an
inquest Thursday morning
Thompson and his wife still were
at large Thursday and all efforts to
locate them have been fruitless.
Warrants have been issued for the
arrest of Thompson and his wife,
and county authorities Throughout
Georgia have been notified to be on
the lookout for them. 1t is said that
the pair escaped in a Ford automo-
bile Immediately after the killing.
Reports as to the direction they took
vary. Some are to the effect that they
went southeast along the Georgia
railroad, and others that they started
In the direction of Atlanta.
Testimony of Henry Peterson. a
farm hand for Thompson who has
been arrested and held as a material
witness. was introduced at the in
quest, as also was that of a little
negro girl. The girl said that she ac-
companied Mrs. Thompson to look
for Brown and that they went to two
houses without any success.
Heard Pistol Shot
The girl said that when they ap-
fn1 NI1NE
Thompson stopped about 100 yards
down the road and sent her on to see
if Brown was there. The girl said
she found Brown and told him Mrs.
Thompson wanted to see him down
the road She said Brown left and
joined Mrs. Thompson. The, girl said
that she then went to her home and
little later heard a pistol shot.
about 800 yards from her home.
Peterson testified that Thompson
came home about 1880 o'clock Tues
day night and asked for his wife. He
said that Thompson was told that she
had gone to little negro house about
800 yards away and that Thompson
Immediately started for this house.
Peterson said few minutes later
he heard a pistol shot, and that he
saw Thompson running toward the
house. He said that Thompson ana
his wife came to their mouse: eol
SOoI SAAN~- -
automobile. ..,.4
No other witness was introduced at
the inquest, and following PETERSON
testimony, the jury returned It's YER
dict. eo41or of the
fugitive. said the pair came 20 ms
house Tuesday night and tolo MN Nun
about the shooting, claiming tlae
wang Brown accosted Mrs. Thohp-
SON on the road and that Thompson on
shot in order to protect her, a,,isnS "a
elder IThompson declares he adYlsed
TIC so- to surrender himself ana
t hat he does not know where they
Henry Peterson. a hired man on
the THOMPSON farm, is held at De
catur as a material witness. : Al Az
other material witness is held in the
nerson of Verna Carmichael, one OF
two little negro girls who stated
Mrs. Thompson gave them oollar
each to take a message for her 10
Brown. 1t was in answer TO TINS
message, it is claimed, young Brown
met Mrs. Thompson. of-
ficials are investigating the past OF
the Thompsons interesting nght on
their history wasNthrown by MIS-. ..
A. Mitchell, who occupied mousse OH
the same farm.
Mrs. Mitchell said the Thompsons
used to board with her at 2O7 rum
lin street, Atlanta, and that she, en-
tered into an agreement with them
to buy the farm in Dekalb county
and work it jointly, sharing the prof.
it's $3.50. Thompson, she salo'
married last June.
~ Brown Laid to Rest
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Thompson are
said to have been married before
THOMPSON to a Miss Ellison, who now
is said to be married tc a man named
Jones: Mrs Thompson to man
named C. Otto Putnam, who, 1t IS
said, was killed in Decatur street
pool room several months ago.
DeKalb county officers express
their belief that Mrs. Thompson was
not divorced from her former hus-
band when she married Thompson.
They say further that Thompson has
twice faced the charge of assault
with intent to kill and was acquitted
each time. One trial, they say, was
in DeKalb county and one in Newton
county.
The funeral Of Ernest Brown was
held Thursday morning at II o'clock
at Wesley chapel, with interment in
the churchyard. Mr.. Brown is sNr-
vived by three brothers, J. J., G. W.
and J. P. Brown, and S. M. Archer,
of Luthersville.
A peculiarly tragic feature Of the
shooting was the fact that he was
engaged to be married to Miss Rhoda
Williams, a young lady of Ingleside,
Ga. the wedding to have occurred
next Sunday.