The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1921-06-09
Fight For Life Now
On at Lexington
Mental Condition
Of DIR. J. w. Peacock
Described at Trial

,,,,.oraI Witnesses Testifying. in Be-
haIf of ThOmasville Doctor Who
Killed Chief TayOr Say He Was in
Strange Mental State on Morning
of tragedy. =
Lexington, June 6.-Wltnesses tesc
4;fz,ing here this afternoon in behalf
IN IN HDr2J. 1r2 w. Peacock, of Thomasville,
',an. y" on trial charged with the murder
~ Chief of Police j. E. Taylor of
'rbom asville, Apri 16, declared that
4hn defendant on the morning prior to
Ne tragedy was in strange mental
.4ate: that he was apparently suffer
;3o from burns on the top of his head,
',ack and hands sustained while try
mo to get his two automobiles out
,f his barn which, was destroyed by
fire at an early hour on the morning
nf April 16. Witnesses for both sides
asserted that Peacock, following the
tragedy, said that he killed Chief
Taylor because he set fire to his barn.
The state offered the testimony OF
10 witnesses, beginning at o'clock,
and concluding at 4:4O o'clock. Those
+astjfying were either at or near the
sccno of the homicide. The state put
hefore the jury Of Rowan citizens a
cIean-cut case, showing that Chief
savior met death at the hands Of the
defendant, DR.. J. w. Peacock. The
Geefnse as soon as the state rested
called it's witnesses and when court
adjourned at $50 p. m. had examined
= half dozen. It will continue upon
the convening of court tomorrow
morning at $3.50 o'cock. Exceptionally
rood progress was made today, -the
first dav of the trial.
Warner First Witness
Andrew Warner, a world war Vetef-
on who was talking to Chief Taylor
when the first shot was fired, was the
first witness for the state. Warner
said that he and Taylor were standing
on Salem street, on the opposite sldE
of the street from Peacocks office
when the first shot was fred. He tol6
of hearing the report Of a gun, ant
turning, saw blood flowing from the
chiefs face. He didn't know who free
the shot. TAYLOR, said Warner, threw
his hand up to his chest, and, slight
turning, hollered: "Oh!" He thel
went into Pearce's grocery store sol
Salem street. Warner declared tha
he decamped and didn't see the re
naming parts of the tragedy. .
DR.. Peacock's Testimony
The nnurderd of Chief Taylor, o
Thomasville, gives his testimony a
follows:
shooting and had killed Taylor ate
7 went to the telephone and attemp1
ed to call my wife," said DR.. Peacoci
"The last thing l remember oe1ol
the shooting was seeing John Lam
beth and Mr.. Huff.
The defendant did not know WhS
x11loyo hp
his office on the morning OF the non
icide.
Dr.. Peacock testified that he coz
+r9ctn5 tuberculosis when he was
vears of. age, but that his condltlc
had improved. Last fall he w;
stricken with influenza and since the
his heath had not been good, ne sal
THE defendant testified that ne n;
M malice whatever toward Chl
Taylor. 4 ,o nm
said the defendant was IN regard
increasing his salary. II mace d III III
lion % as q member of the council tn
The chiefs salary be increased. La
.1or was suspended by the mayor a
at the next meeting l seconded m
tion that he be reinstated. That "
some time in March"
HWhat did you subsequently
with regard to the chief?" asked 90
!. aPrker, Of the defense. i,
HI,ater I made a motion at amour
roeting that the chief be asked Tor
rncionation." That was after we
investigated Mr.. Taylors feco
There was nothing personal In 1t
was absolutely sincere IN max
the motion" replied the witness
"The next morning, SAID III; T
cock, "Chief Taylor met me ana d
ed me why | had 1t In 1oF nm hlln' ~.
DR.. Peacock said he had done W!
ba nod done as his duty as an
Tbo defendant stated that seve
versions had been to him and SAID
chief was evidently threatening n
-.Dr Peacock also stated that
Thursday before the killing +: Z;
ons informed him that Chief Ia!
had said eff I didn't stop work
against him | was going west
''19ri Dr. Peacock testified that j
Moore asked what the doctor
done to Taylor, requesting that
ANYTHING had been done to stop II
the, chief threatened to break up
physician's home. :,
The witness also swore on the 81
that R. E. Zimmerman informed
Of 70 one of Taylor's alleged threats
sI feared him worse than l die
rattlesnake." said the prisoner "
questioned by his attorney.
"Knowing the man as did |
afraid. I knew he was brave enc
to do anything he said he would
ANTD WORSHIP