Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-12-07
JUDGE SCORES
ALLEGED ED0FFE.R
TO SETTLE. IN
LASSITER CAS,
Proposal To Settle Prosecution
Outside Court BY Payment 0f
$1,000 Comes Out
COMPOUNDING FELONY.
SOLICITOR DECLARES
Court Excuses Gil Frosn Testify
ing, Virtually Ending Prosecu-
tion But Holds Case 0pen


A sensation occurred in Superior
court today when the case Of J. w.
Lassiter, former county road super
mtendent, was called and Solicitor
FELTON, made the charge in open court
that an attempt had been made to
compound felony ii chat a PROPOSAL
had been made by the girl on whose
charge the indictment was first re
turned a year and half ago to set
tie for $1,000.
The charge against Lassiter was
that Of assault with intent to rape.
The girl, who has since married, was
in court and, through her attorney
demanded that she be excused from
testifying, After a heated hearing.
in which she was placed on the stand
and questioned By Judge LittleJohn
and the solicitor, and arguments by
counsel on both sides had been heard,
Judge Littlejohn ruled that sne need
not testify.
"But if | find" said the court,
blushing with deep indignation that
such matter should come before
him, Nthat 50 much ag farthing has
been paid by this defendant or any
one representing him to this girl OF
any member Of her family, ! am go
ing to reopen this case and compel
her to testify"
After ruling that the girl would
be excused from testifying against
Lassiter, the judge asked the solici-
tor IL he were able to proceed with
the case without her evidence. The
solicitor stated that he could. not and
the case was passed.
Refuses DiGraissal.
Judge Littlejjohn was asked by the
defense to pass an order Of dismiss
sal of the defendant, which he re-
fused To do, but informed Lassiter's
counsel that the defendant might go
without bond; that he was through
with him so fur as this case was COM
cerned, except chat he would leave
the indictment on the record undls-
posed Of 80 that in case the know
ledge came to the solicitor Or him
self that any settlement whatsoever
had been made with The girl 81 her
family the case would be reopensd
and prosecuted.
This disposition Of the matter was
taken to mean that the Lassiter case
has virtually ended, as the girl was
chief witness for The state IN all OF
the cases, it is understood. 1t is be-
ieyed likely the solicitor viii nolle
pros two other companion indictments
pending against Lassiter.
| j. e. Sheppard appeared for Ito girl
1 in the case and !. A. iIiXon for Las
sitter The matter Of the alleged pro-
posal Of $1,000 ia settlement Of the.
case between Lassiter aud the girl
was brought out by Solicitor Nelton
who announced that he had been al-
preached for approval Of such an arr
rangement, He said he had refused
to give his approval, and that such q
i settlement would be compounding q
felony
! Mr. Sheppard, who had demanded
that the girl be excused from appear
! ing as d witness in the trial, declar-
cd that such proposal had been con.
sidered, that the solicitor had been
consulted to obtain his view Of it,
aud that when his consent was not.
obtained nothing further had been
done.
/ Courts View Sought.
/ Judge Hixon declared not penny
Ihad been paid, and that settlement
had merely been suggested and tila
views Of both the court and the so-
Ilicitor sought in advances. He de-
clared willing to give bond that rot
a penny would be paid IN the future.
The grounds offered by Mr.. Shop
pard for the girl not wishing to testI-
fly were that her evidence might in-
cirmif1atc herself, and therefore
could not be compelled and that the
character Of the evidence would be.
1such as to damage her good name
and standing in the community.
Judge Hixon, for bassiter, insisted
itha Judge Littlejohn pass an ordef
dislnissing the Indictment Ile iit-
formed the court that be had demand
led trial for Lassiter at the lasss terra,
fthat the defendant had an offer of i
Iposition with the state III road build
Z
ling which was being held open fess
him until January Oh disposal of fsssu
4 indictment, but that this nositiaIa
fwould not be available with the in-
dietments, still hanging over the de-
Efendant.
/ The Lassiter case has been pei1aifss
CONTINUED On Last Page.