Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1922-09-29
DR.. E. A. Copeland
Kills DR.. MS. Wilkins
AT HAITIEsBURG FRIDAY NIGHT.
Claims SeIf-Defense And Was Released
Next Day Under $1,000 Bond.

Dc. h. A. Copeland OF Piave, shot
DR.. NJ. S. Wilkins TO death on the
stair landing at the latter's Office
over Century Drug Store. firing four
shots the first OF which struck Viii
kins on side OF temple. one shot 90.
ing into wainscoting of the building.
one in Wilkins thigh and another in
muscle of an arm.
Two other men, formerly living al
Pave, namely: II. p. Muse and E. Il
Humphrey, were in Wilkins Office
he was a dentist-when the shooting
occurred just outside the door DR.
Copeland had been summoned to
Hattiesburg shortly after Z o'clock
bv Wilkins over loug distance, and
be also sent message same way in
few minutes afterwards, to the two
men above named TO come 10 his Of
fee, according to records of the long
distance telephone company, shown
by court process.
All three above men were placed
under arrest without resistance im-
modiateiy after the shooting by pc
llcemen who rushed up the stairs af
ter nearing the shots. Wilkins was
PROSTATE on floor his head partially
IN pool of blood, and he died in
few minutes after being rushed to
hospital for operation His remains
were carried to the family home in
Hattiesbnrg after being prepared for
burial and there bis wife aud two
children, girls, aged Z and 3, viewed
the body which was later carried by
train TO Waynesboro and IRON there
out to the community in Washing
ton County. Ala where both Cope
land and Wilkins were raised togeth-
er, being boys intimate in their re-
ation and have been SO since both
have lived at Pave. Miss, from
which place wilkins only lately re
moved to Hattiesburg.
DR.. Wilkins was brother of Bud
Wilkins. the saw mill-man of Pave.
Copeland S version of the affair as
given to tie officers was that he bad
been summoned over there by long
distance phone by Wilkins and came
in his car and Wilkins got up with
HIM down town and rode to the OF
fee OH the running board of car.
Then they went up the stairs when
Copeland says Wilkins leading the
way turned on him with pistol in
hand at the landing near bis Office
door and says doc ] am going to
Kill yon. Copeland grabbed and
showed Wilkins p stol down and
pulling his own fred the shots which
killed wilkins.
Copeland's wife was with him aud
remained in the CIR when he went
upstairs She was very much over
come when learning OF the tragedy
and STAYED at the home of friend in
IattIesburg that night. DR.. Cope
land was released next day, Sa5ur-
day. at about 10 O'Clock on 81 600
bond. His attorney was Ex-Judge
r. w. Heidelberg, his bondsmep, G.
E. Stevens of Hatliesburg and DIR.
w. D. Copeland OF Sandersville and
others. Humphrey and Muse were
released Saturday night on making
$1,000 bond each, e e Evans oil
EIatties burg and Sam Mccormick
signers. DR.. Albert Copeland of
Leland as well as the other brother
DR.. W. d Copeland OF Sandersvllle,
we're in hattiesbnrg Sunday with
their brother and besought him to
90 home with enc or the other of
them till the trouble qnicted down.
but be insisted that professional du
ties called him back to hls practice
at Piave to which place be returned
Sunday afternoon. This is about the
substance of the particulars as found
in the daily prints from the state
ments OF DR.. E. A. Copeland, the
officers making the arrest etc. with
the additional information that Muse
and Humphrey were brother-in- laws
and that Humphrey had threatened
Dr. Copeland while living at Piaye
but had later seemingly made
! friends. Both Muse and Humphrey
stated that they were in office wait.
ling to have dental work done. :
hardware man ia Hattiesburg stated