Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-10-31
ARRESTS EXPECTED
III MAIL CARRIER
SLAY|NC MYSTERY

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga, Oct. So
With Sheriff Tom M. Kerlin report
ing very satisfactory progress III the
murder investiga lion, arrests are
expected houVly in connection with
the ornta! axe Staying Of Mr. James
Langston, mail carrier OUT Of Fair
burn, whose hacked boIy was
foundd in the road near Morning
Creek in Fayette county, Saturday
morning.
1--WE have nothing definite to re-
port following an extensive probe
over Sunday said Sheriff Kerlln,
But Fayette officers working in
connection with the authorities of
Campbell county, and postal service
investigations, are maklng coca
progress. We do not want to make
any false arrests. so we are tight
ening our chain of evidence around
possible suspects, and bringing 10
light much helpful information
while the trail it hot"
The ruling theory of the killing is
that Mr.. Langston was s!ain by
moonshiners either because he
knew too MUCH" or because they
believed he had Informed upon
them, and slew him in revenge. A
robbery motive is discounted by
the fact that Mi. Lang5tor, mail
sacks hau not been opened, and
money was found on his body. His
friends at Fairburn, his home city,
saw he has no personal enemies.
Citizens of Fairburn were organlz-
10 thor
ough investigation of the shocking
murder, provided any circumstances
slow up the inquiry, and definite
cases are not made within short
time. 1t was stated there that
public fund will be raised to aid the
authorities, provided the postal serv-
ice does not assume a share of the
jurisdiction and order federal probe
of the affair.
Sheriff G. E. jenkins, of Campbell
county, already has assisted Fayette
officials in every possible way.
Mr., Langston has driven his mall
route out of Fairburn for more than
fifteen years, and was very popular
there. When his mutilated body was
found, it caused a wave of horror
and indignation. Hundreds of men
volunteered ~
fered aid in trailing the guilty party
or parties.
The funeral of the murdered man
was held Sunday afternoon in the
Fairburn Methodist church, with
Rev. J. H. Allison officiating, and
interment was in the Fairburn GEM
eterv. with H. NJ. Patterson & Son,
of Atlanta, in charge of the arrange
ments. Mr.. Langston was survived
by his widow, and one daughter,
Miss Lillian Langston. A brother
DR.. l.. P. Langston, of Atlanta, also
survives him.
A coroner's jury which convened
at the scene of the crime Saturday
afternoon later recessed pending
| further investigation. They will meet
again when the authorities are in
better position to throw light upon
the mystery.
Bloodhounds taken to the spot aft
err the gruesome discovery were uu-
able to pick up the trail. Conditions
around the murder scene provided
no clue for the man hunters, accord
ing TO Sheriff kerlin.
Suspicion Immediately center",l
| upon the SuppOSeu lllOSI ld"lSSo GIG
ment Of that section-the makers
and dealers in illicit liquor.
Mr.. Langston was known to have
been a firm supporter of the law,
and it was supposed that the moof-
sinners or bootleggers may have De
beved him an informer against them
in connection with recent raids in
tho neighborhood. Friends Of the
murdered man, however, denied that
Mr.. Langston had taken part III
liquor Investigations, or provided in
formation in connection herewith.
Atlanta postoffice inspectors went
to the murder scene shortly after the
discovery of the body. The fact that
the mail had not been tempered with
is said to take the case technically
out of federal jurisdiction, but ac-
cording to Inspector G. p. Johnson,
who was in charge Saturday after
noon, the postal officers may be
available for further aid to the coun-
ty authorities.