Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-16
,riendshin and that most Of his visits


friendship and that most OF his visits
had been forced.
On being questioned by Mr.. Pal
nler as to why she thought there
would be a tragedy if she had told
her husband of the alleged forced
attentions upon her by Mr.. Coart,
Mrs. McNiece asked Mr.. Palmer,
"Wouldn't you do as much for your
wife?"
She stated that the first time she
ever told anyone of the alleged at
l.tentions of Major Coart to her was
six days after Mr.. McNiece had been
shot and that then she related the
story to John H. McGhee, of Tai
bottom, when he told her that Coart
had referred to her as a bad woman.
She denied that she had ever told
Major Coart or anyone else that
Mr.. McNiece was untrue.
Mrs. McNiece was the third wit
| ness called to the stand, after the
| solicitor had outlined what would
| be the theory of the prosecution.
| No statement was made by counsel
| for the defense as to what they ex'
| pect to prove, but it was irltimated
| here late. Monday that considerable
| depen- ence is being put in the
weight the> defendants statement is
| expected to have!
Sheriff's Testimony
| Sheriff John w. Watkins was the
first witness called. He testified as
to how he, the first man to reach
McNiece after he had been shot
| found him lying in the corner of his
office, after he had passed Major
Coart just outside the door; that he
asked Mr.. McNiet why he had shot
| himself, and that he replied he had
| not; that Major Coart did it; that
| he then asked why Major Coart had
shot him and he replied that it was
| a personal matter, and he did not
care to discuss it. He asked the
sheriff to rub his arm which he
| though was paralyzed and that he
be hurried to the Piedmont SAM
irium in Atlanta; that assisted by
t. marshal, he placed Mr.. McNiece
on a table and by that time doctors
and others arrived and he went tC
| find and take cha. ge of Major Coart
| Recalled to the stand later, Sheriff
Watkins stated th-.t Mr.. McNiect
did not have any weapon that hi
saw. Questioned as to what the
| dead man had in his hand, the sher
| iff stated two pieces of pencil, which
| he exhibited. He said that Mrs
Coart had not been to the Jail tt
visit her husband and, on objection:
by the state, he did not answer a!
to whether Holmes Frederick, sol
of Mrs. Coart, had visited the pris
oner at the Jail.
DR.. Floyd McRae, second witnes:
called, testified as to the cause o
Mr.. McNiece's death. which he at
tributed directly to pneumonia du
to the wound. He also testified con
corning the nature of the wound ant
the range Of the bullet, which, HI
said. entered the throat and rangeC
slightly downward and to the right
He said he never discussed thu
cause of the trouble between Majol
Coart and Mr.. McNiece with TIL
later, who had told him he did no
care to discuss it. He stated tn
wound could have been inflicted b.
Major Coart standing anS the de
ceased sitting in a chair, when TT
prisoner was asked by Mr.. Paine
t. st,nd up for the purpose of j
ing the doctor testify on that point
curt recessed shortly after
o'clock until s o'clock Tuesday morn
ing. The grand jury, which hac
been in session throughout the day
made the general presentments o
that body late in the afternoon, ant
the Jurors were dismissed.