Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-22
Elliot Padrick, of Worthen
Twenty Years Old, Admits
Double Killing Near Dover
Monday


afternoon investigating the death
of Mrs. M. B. Dixon and her
daughter, Mrs. Elliott Padrick, rem
dered a verdict that the deceased
women came to their death at the
hands Of Elliott Padrick.
Patrick was not called to face
the inquest, but remained in the
Richmond county Jail at Augusta.
whence he was taken soon after
his arrest Monday evening, charged
with shooting to death his wife
and mother.in-law and leaving their
bodies in an automobile on the
bridge over the Ogeechee river at
Dover.
Padrick's confession was recited
to the coroner's jury by County
Policeman Diclkey, to whom the
young preacher told the story OF
the crime shortly after he was ar.
rested fleeing from the scene OF
the double killing. Officer DicAey's
testimony was corroborated by 9th.
er witnesses who heard the comics.
sion of Patrick.
1t was brought out at the I'm
quest that jealousy over his young
wife's alleged interest in other men,
and fear Padrick claims to have
had for his own safety, were the
prime motives Of the shootings.
The Bulloch county grand jury has
not been called into special session
to take up the Patrick case, as has
been reported. According to present
indications, the case will be taken up
at the regular October term of the
Bulloch superior court.
Discusses Crime
In Jail in Augusta Wednesday
morning, Patrick continued to be
very voluble concerning the crime.
Those who saw him in jail and
heard his outpoured complaints
over the alleged domestic troubles
that precipitated the confessed
killings, are inclined to doubt his
sanity. He made no less than four
complete statements to newspaper.
men Tuesday, which, although they
were generally similar, varied wide
ly in detail.
In one statement describing thA
killing, a statement brought into the
testimony at the inquest, Padrick
alleged that he killed his mother-in-
law by accident, when she threw her
body between the revolver he was
welding and his wife, He stated
also that he had stopped the car on
the Dover bridge by cutting the
switch, and that he got out of the
machine before he started to shoot.
A letter from Padrick to his wife,
which was found in the death car by
Investigating officers, was presented
at the inquest. It was dated from
Warthen, Ga, and was mailed on Tie
train. The text of the letter cor
roborated to a degree PadrickAS
statements as to the events leading
up to the crime. It follows:
Dearest One: Your sweet letter
to hand. Wish I, too, could have
been with you. in Oliver. Say, littlA
grille, have a pleasant surprise for
you. Meet me sure at Chto, Mon.
day afternoon in the sedan. Would
love to meet you there alone, as you
know we haven't been together
much. Won't you come and proves
your love. TRUST me and love me.
Yours, Elliott"
COrOner's Inquest
The inquest over the bodies Of
Mrs. Patrick and Mrs. Dixson was
held in the courthouse here Tues
da" afternoon, at 2:30 p. m. Coroner Z
QCitman Stanford was in charge,
with A. M. Deal assisting him.
The following jury was empaneI-
led. W. J. Rackley, foreman; w. g.
Raines, John Wilcox, w. D. Ken
nedy, H. s. Parrish, B. C. Brannens
]. B. Everett and w. B. Roach.
The first witness called to the
stand was w. E. McDoughald, a
at Clito, who testified that
Patrick arrived there on the after
noon train Monday, was met by his
wife and Mrs. Byron Dixon. That
their greetings were pleasant and
that they embraced each other; that
Patrick had the gas tank Of tho
death car filled, after which they
left on the road leading to Dover.
The next witness called was NJ
f. Freeman, who testified that he
was on his way to Dover and that
just at the foot Of the bridge he
ran up behind another car, and upon
found the murdered
women inside the Ford sedan, one
Of the women still alive. That he
went to Dover and gave
the alarm.
He said that Padrick was at that
leaving Dover with a Mr..
Carswell, who he had engaged to
carry him to Sylvania.
PadTick Flees Scene
Davis Carswell then came to the
stand and testified that Padricle
came hurriedly to his place Of bust
ness Monday afternoon and engaged
him to carry him to Sylvania. He
said there seemed to be nothing
wrong with Padrick so far as he
could see. The only thing that Seem.
ed strange about him was that Pad
rick did not want a negro helper OF
Mr.. Carswells to go with them.
However, Mr.. Carswell insisted that
,ks negro go along, and no further
protest was made by Padrick.
Mr.. Carswell stated that Patrick
10 doubt would have killed him and
aiken his car from him had the ne,
gro not been with him. They were
l mile from Sylvania when the cour-
y police of Screven county arrested
2adrick.
Mr.. Dickey, one Of the arresting
was then questioned about
he arrest Of Patrick, saying that
oadrick made a clean breast of the