Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-01-19

indicted tor the murder of Engineer
Reed.
AS soon as I learned through the
county authorities that | was wanted
in Fitzgerald, l wired the sheriff that
If they would provide transportation
l would return to Fitzgerald without
sending for me or without extradition
papers. Mr., Roberts deputy Sher-
iff) came for me. On our trip Mr..
Roberts made several efforts to lead
me in to the subject of this shooting
ARRAY.
The only information l could give
him was what had seen in the press
and at that time carried an issue
of the Leader Enterprise in my pock-
ct which carried Fairfield's alleged
confession AT the time of our little
discussion on the train referred Mr..
Roberts to my source of information
and got the paper out and showed it
to him.
have now been confined in the
Ben Hill County Jail for three months.
During this time my wife was taken
sick and placed in hospital at Dav-
tona.
Through the efforts of my friends
and Judge Cover it was arranged for
me to go to Florida under guard to
visit my wife. Arriving in Daytona |
found her in a very serious condition
under the care of four physicians who
were awaiting my arrival to hold con-
sultation while she was still in very
serious condition I was taken away
from her and my boy and returned
to Fitzgerald jail.
| have suffered mental agony al
most beyond human endurance.
Now gentlemen of the jury, | wish
to make an absolute denial of all the
charges brought against me as | am
innocent of the charges.
Court Reconvened Monday
The court house was packed long
before court took in the morning to
continue the case of the State VS.. Fred
Stubs. 1t was noticeable that MANY
women were among the spectators.
The State created quite a stir when
Solicitor Wall announced upon the
opening of the case this morning that
the state CLOSED" Because it was
at the request of the state that the
court recessed Saturday to allow O.
c. Fairfield to testify, Fairfield being
one of the defendants now under in
dictment, and who it is alleged has
confessed to the entire transaction and
had implicated a number of others.
A. F. Johnson was called by the
defense and he swore that Special
Agent w. H. Fountain in company
with H. H. Fountain and w. J Nor
ris came to see him while he was
working in Abbeville, Ga, and asked
him if he knew anybody who was on
picket post on the night of July 5th,
1921, that if he did he would give
him $4,000 He said, Fountain told
him there had been some rewards of
fered and that he had just as we'll
have it as anybody else. Johnson
testified on cross examination that he
worked for the A. B. & A. about two
years ago, and at that time belonged
to the Union. Has not belonged to
it since that time.
The Court refused to allow Fred
Stubs to make an additional state
ment and A. J. Mcdonald leading
counsel for defendant stated that he
expected the defendant to DENY the
statement of w. H. Fountain, special
agent of the A. B. & A, that he had
confessed to him. But the court re-
fused to allow any additional state
ment.
Both sides then announced that they
had no further evidence to offer. The
arguments began at 1920 A. M. So
licitor Wall stated his intentions as
to the law of the case and announced
he would make no opening argument.
Judge J. r. Thomas opened for the
defense. H. J. Quincy of Della fol-
lowed Mr.. Thomas for the defense.
A. J. Mcdonald concluded for the de-
tense Solicitor Wall then made the
speech for the state.
The case then went to the Jury at
500 P. M.
To Try Fairfield
After having refused to testify Tor
the State Monday in the case of Fred
Stubs, Jointly indicted with ID others
for the murder of w. T. Reed, A. B..
& A. Engineer, asserting that he
would not corroboratc confession he
is alleged to have made, O. c. Fairfield
was to be placed on trial Wednesday
morning under one of the joint indict-
ments as announced by Solicito,- Gen
eral J. p. Will.
Fairfield's action Monday caused
one Of the greatest surprises in court
history here, when he refused to re-
peat the reported confession which he
is said to have given Solicitor General
Wall, several grand juries and other
persons.
Much delay was caused on account
of Fairfield's alleged illness. and when