Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-11-04
PADR|CK GUILTY,
SENTENCED To LIFE;
WILL NOT APPEAL
viii Begin Serving His Life
Sentence Term at State
Farm Within Next Few
Days

STATESBORO, Ca, Nov. ST.
will not appeal. am wen satisfied
with the verdict"
With a pleased expression on his
face, Elliott Padrick, former minis.
ter, confessed slayer of his girl
wife and mother-in-1aw, Mrs. Mamie
Lou Dixon, made this statement
after being found, guilty Of murder
and sentenced to life Imprisonment
last night in superior court.
The verdict of guilty with rec
ommendation for mercy came aftel
a trial of two days on an indict
ment charging the murder of Mrs
Dixon and elaboration of the jury
from 8 o'clock yesterday morning.
to $50 in the evening. Padrick'S
dramatic sermon to the jury, III
which he declared he killed hi
wife because of her indiscretions
was the first incident Of its KIM
in a Georgia court. With this eI
ception, and at the time the jur
filed into the courtroom with il
verdict, the former minister tooa
no interest in his trial.
Mrs. Padrick and Mrs. Dixon wer!
shot to death by Patrick while tn
three were in an automobile nea'
here on June 10. He declared til
hand of Cod had directed him
committing the crime. His attol
neys attempted to prove that h
was insane at the time of the shoos
ing, introducing letter from Mr.,
Padrick stating that she had ser
arated from her husband becaus.
she found she had married q
crazy man"
To Begin Sentence
Padrick has not yet stood trieI
on the indictment charging murde'
Of his wife. It was indicated toda1
that in view of the conviction al
the first trial, the second indicI
ment would not be placed before 4
jury, and Padrick would begin ser>
ing his sentence immediately.
The jury returned it's verdict a.
$50 o'clock, after having taken tbs
case at IL o'clock last night.
Foreman J. L. Brannon presente
the verdict after the jurors ha
filed into the court room and takeI
their seats in the box.
For the first time since the slay,
ing Of his mother-in-law and youn
wife, Patrick showed intense inter,
est in the proceedings that so vital.
affected his future. His face too
on a tense look as Brannon arosi
and read:
1--WE find the defendant guilty
Patrick quickly recovered his con.
posture, however, displaying lool;
OF noticeable relief as he stood u
to hear Judge J. E. Park off,
cially pronounce the sentence OK
life Imprisonment.
With a pleased look on his face.
Padrick turned to Sheriff Tillman
and was led back to his cell in the
county Jail.
History of Crime
Padrick was placed on trial Nor
day for the confessed Staying q
his mother-in-laW, who was founi
dead in an automobile on the roai
between Clito and Dover late in tn
afternoon of last June 10. His wifi
was also in the machine sufferint
from wounds from which she died
within a short time.
Patrick was arrested a few
hours after the crime was discover
ed. He was taken to the Richmond
county Jail at Augusta, and Their,
stated that he had been directed
"by the hand Of God'' in committing
the crime.
Thirty minutes after Padrick's ar
rival at the Augusta Jail, newspapers
men who went there to get state
7nent from him found the forme.
minister sound asleep, and apparent;
ly unconcerned over the outcome OF
the predicanlent in which he fouLd
himself.
Patrick stated that he had no fear
of an earthly count, "that God would
be his judge; that He had directed
his hand in the killing of his wifi
and mother in-law."
Appearing before the jury in hi
own defense at the trial, Patrick be,
gan his testimony by offering prayer
in which he asked that the jury
Join, and followed with brief sc.
mon from the text "Thou Shat
Not :" In his speech to tho
jury, he condemned modern ten
denotes and dress of women which
he claimed led sex appeal that caus
ed the downfall Of young men and
women.