Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-18
COART FOUND GUILTY.;
GETS LIFE SENTENCE

this week for the murder of A. B.
McNiece, county school, superin.
tendent, October II, last, heard
these fateful words just before 10
o'clock this morning with calmness.
His sister, Mrs. A. A. Williams,
wife of DR.. Williams, of Columbus,
who had sat with him throughout
the trial, collapsed, and other rela-
tives were deeply affected, creating
quite scene in the courtroom.
Coart was cool and tried to comfort
the women.
Judge Munro shortly afterward
sentenced the former army officer
to a life term in prison.
George c. Palmer and Judge Rem
der Terrell, chief counsel for the
defense. asked a poll of the jury.
Solicitor, Mclaughlin complied with
the request, and each man said that
"guilty, with recommendation to
mercy" was his verdict.
j.. E. Matthews was foreman of
the jury. Other members We're: j..
T. Cook, W. M. Fowler, w. F. Mat
thews, T.. r. Burt, Alvan Moran, R.
L. Mcbride, j. r. MacDaniel, W. A.
Beverly, John Brady, J. H. Fow-
Ter and l.. H. McCrary. All of the
men are farmers, most of them eld-
erly men, and practically all resi-
dents Of districts some miles from
the city. J. H. Fowler and w. NJ.
Fowler are brothers.
With interest keyed to the highest
pitch Of tenseness in the outcome of
the trial, eager throngs of friends
and relatives Of both prominent
western Georgia families involved in
what has been one of the most SEN
sational murder trials in the history
, OF this section had waited about the
courthouse for a verdict or some
news from the jury before whom the
case had been under elaboration
since Thursday night at 6:55 o'clock,
until $50 o'clock Friday morning,
when announcement was made that
it had reached verdict.
COart Aids Sister
Within a few minutes Judge Mum
70 called order in court and the
jury filed in, those interested in both
sides Of the case maintaining appar-
emily perfect confidence.
( The verdict was read by Solicitor
C. Frank Mclaughlin, and deathly
quiet prevailed for two minutes, then
the sisters, Mrs. A. A. Williams and
Z Mrs. Hopkins, of Columbus and
i 5Chinley, respectively. together with
other relatives who had sat with
the defendant through the trial,
burst into tears, and Mrs. Williams
sank limp and helpless to the floor.
The prisoner was the first to his
feet to minister her first aid. There
was lapse Of several minutes, and
Judge Munro passed sentence, which
was received only as a formality.
The jury was discharged after a
poll had been taken, as requested
by Judge Render Terrell, counsel for
the defense.
New Trial Motion
Immediately preparations We're
made for the filing of a motion for
new trial and the date set for the
hearing of that motion is June II in
Columbus.
Judge George ?. Munro began
charging the jury in the case Thurs
day afternoon shortly before
o'clock Immediately after the conclu-
sion by Judge Render Terrell, for
the defense, of more than two solid
days of arguments by A. J. Perry
man and Gus Persons, of Talbotton,
who spoke Tuesday afternoon for the
defendant and the state, respec-
lively; George c. Palmer and Frank
c.. Mclaughlin, of Columbus, who
sroke Wednesday for the defense
and the state, respectively, and HeW'
lett A. Hall, former state solicitor
general, of Newman, and Judge Rem
der Terrell, of Columbus and Green,
Vile, who spoke Thursday for the
state and the defense respectively
Judge Terrell, in his concluding
argument for the defense, made
what was pronounced a most elo'
ouent and f1owery address in which
he eyaded most of the bitter denun
Citations for which it had appeared
to some the foundation had been laid
i'm view Of the rather UNUSUAL and
strange nature of the case. He con
tended for the conviction of his eli
ont for murder or his acquittal be
fire the jury, and criticized most Sc
varely and minutely, though not sc
barshly, the testimony of Mrs. A. B
nJcNiece. and assailed the state TO:
not bringing j. H. McGehee to the
stand.
Mr. McGehee, the brother-in-laN
of Mrs. Coart had appeared-to have
had an important part in the early
investigations of the case. Mr.. Hal
dared the state to show any othel
motive for the killing than that Sc
nm by the defense. "the debauchins
Of the defendants wife and the pro
lection of his own life"
Attacks Dying Declaration"
Judge Terrell questioned the au
thenticity of the dying declaration
of MIR. McNiece and referred to j
o. Pinkston several times as thu
imam of mystery" in the case. HI
made a vigorous attack on, wha
Col. Hall and the solicitor had out
lined as the law in the case. HI
referred to his client as a man. of {
brilliant mind who was as familia
with the law as applied to his case
or more so, as his contemporaries
He attacked what he characterize
as the inconsistency of Mrs. Nc
Niece's testimony, which he main
tanned showed on the face of
that she visited the Coarts at thei
home six times after the defendan
had made what he characterized a
an assault and attempt to attacl
upon her in that home.
In addressing the jury in the case
JUDGE Munro gave the regular
charge in a murder case and twenty