The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-05-11

Columbia, May 11.-Richland coun.
ty grand jury returned true bills to-
day against J. w. Jeffords, Ira Har-
rison and Glenn Treece, charged with
the murder of j. c. Annette, Jeffords
business partner. The trial is ex-
pected to start this week.
Frank M. Jeffords and Ira Harrison
were held as principals and Glenn
Treece as an accessory in the death of
j. c. Annette by the coroner's jury
investigating the killing last night
the verdict being reached after a few
minutes deliberation over testimony
that had required approximately two
hours and half to be heard. JEFF
fords was a partner of Arnette's in
the operation of the Elmwood filling
station at the corner of Elmwood fill
ing station at the corner of Elmwood
avenue and Main street, where the
crime was committed, while both Har-
rison and Treece were employees of
the filling station. The three men
were arrested by city and county off,
GERS early yesterday morning, the first
arrest being made within three hours
after officers were advised of the
crime. Harrison and Treece were
found at their residence, 1929 Hamp-
ton street, while Jeffords, who lives
at 110S Price avenue, was taken into
custody on Main street just in front
Of the filling station.
The coroner's jury recommended
also that the trio be tried at the earli-
est possible date and Solicitor A.
Fletcher Spigner announced last night
that as far as he was concerned the
three men would be tried next week.
All witnesses at the inquest were
placed under bond for their appear
ance in court at $3.50 o'clock this
morning when they will be asked to
testify before the grand jury, so TAX
ing the first step toward speedy
trial of the three cases.
The jury's verdict in full follows:
1--WE find that ]. C. Annette came
to his death at the hands of F. M.
Jeffords and Ira Harrison as. princi-
pals and Of Glenn Treece as an acces-
sorry TO the crime.
4And we further recommend that
these men be tried at the earliest pos
sible dste. ss
The case against the three men, me hfIs-sa Al
presented before the coroner's jury
is bottomed largely upon the testi-
nony Of offers as to admissions they
said were made by Harrison, Treece
and Jeffords following their arrest
Yesterday morning, all three men, off,
GERS said, having voluntarily admitted
completely in the death of Annette.
This secondary evidence serves
particularly to bolster up Harrison's
and Thrace's statement of the motive
of the crime, as retold by officers
at the inquest. The two men, officers
testified, said that about two weeks
ago, the trio, Jeffords, Harrison and
Thrace, plotted to take Mr.. Arnette's
life, Jeffords, Harrison and Treece
told officers, having promised each of
his two confederates a third interest
in the filling station and third of
the insurance money, which would
have been paid Jeffords upon Ar
nette's death. Treece, officers testi-
fed, told them that his family was
In poor circumstances and that he
saw In entering the plot an oppor-
tunity ITO get into business" j. l..
Seegars, insurance agent, testified in
partial confederation of these state
ments that Annette and Jeffords had
taken out three policies for $4,000
each with his company. One of these
policies for $4,000, Mr.. Segars said,
was taken out by Annette with JEFF
fords named as beneficiary. A second
policy for $4,000 was taken out by
Jeffords with Annette as the benefici-
ary. The third policy, also for $4,000
was a joint policy, Mr.. Seegars said,
and was payable to the survivor upon
the death Of either Annette or JEFF
fords. Thus, Mr.. Seegars said, JEFF
fords would have been able to col
lect $4,000 in insurance upon Ar
nette's death. These two policies, he
testified, are now due and payable.
1t was this insurance that the trio
particularly wanted to secure, accord
ing to Harrison and Treece, officers
said. Payment on one Of the policies
was due and, according to Harrison's
and Treece's story as retold by Off
GERS at the inquest, the three men
met at Logan school at 7:30 o'clock
Tuesday night and decided that they
would postpone the deed no longer.
The three men, Harrison and Treece
told officers, then at about II o'clock
went to the filling station. Treece
remaining at the front to cut off the
lights and keep a lookout for any
one who nigh pass, while Harrison
and Jeffords entered the rear room
Of the building through the side door,
uhich Traooo bod aoonrdinn tn fbo