Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-07
Garrett Brothers Arrested at
Richmond Shooting Gull
mination of Political Feudr
Authorities Assert

RICHMOND, Va, June 1.-TWO
prominent Cumberland county Off
cials-R O. and L. c. Garrett,
brothers-faced charges of first de-
gree murder today in connection
with the Staying of Rev. e. L.
Pierce, a Baptist minister, who was
shot to death in pistol fight with
the CARROTS at his home at Cum
berland courthouse yesterday.
Warrants charging the men with
the murder of the clergyman were
issued last night after their arrests
here by authorities acting on re-
quest from the Cumberland county
sheriff. l.. c. Garrett is at liberty
on bail of $4,000 while his brother
is under guard at st. EliZabeths
hospital, suffering from a pistol
wound in his side.
While their cases are set for hear
ing in police court today, indications
were that the CARROTS would not
face preliminary hearing until the
wounded man is able to leave the
hospital. Police officials said the
cases probably would be continued.
Re-arrest of the brothers was eX-
pected today as the result of find
ing of the coroners jury charging
them with responsibility for the
killing and the issuance of the war
rants by a magistrate last night
1t is probable, local authorities
stated that they will be rearrested
for the. purpose of determining the
question of bail.
Political Feud Is Blamed
That the shooting was the Gull
mination of a political feud which
has ragged in Cumberland county
for several years was the opinion
| expressed by local police and state
officials. The Garrett brothers, who
are associated in the mercantile
business at Cumberland Courthouse,
belonging to one of the political
factions of the county while Mr..
Pierce is said to have been actively
aligned recently with the opposing
faction. The Garretst also are said
to have objected to sermon de-
livered by the minister last Sun
day in which he was accused of
"slanderng" the wife of l.. c. Gar
rett.
According to the testimony of wit
nesses at the inquest late yesterday,
the CARROTS went to the home o.
the clergyman and called him out
SlQS, WISl6 t1G was C115o9Co III q
fight by l.. G. Garrett. While his
brother was struggling with the
minister, it was said r. o. Garrett
held back the crowd attracted to the
scene with a pistol The fight end
led the minister went back into his
home and emerged moment later
armed with a shotgun and a revolver.
r. o. Garrett, witnesses said, grasped
hn Shntcr1 a116 IXyrpCtn6 IL from tha
clergyman's hands, throwing it upon
the ground The shooting followed
it was testified with the Garrett
brothers and Pierce participating.
The minister was shot through
the heart and two other bullets also
pierced his body. Examination of his
pistol disclosed one empty chamber.
All Principals Prominent
The coroner's jury returned a
verdict to the effect that the cler-
gyman met his death at the hands
of r. O. Garrett and l.. G. Garrett,
lone or both"
Excitement prevailed throughout
the county yesterday and last night
but no disorders were reported. The
prominence of the principals and the
spectacular battle in which the min
lister lost his life made the affair one
of the most sensational shooting af-
trays in the history of. the state,
rivaling even the famous Allen gang
battle in the Hillsville courthouse in
Carroll county ten years ago.
Mr.. Pierce was the pastor of four
churches in Cumberland county. He
was about so years of age and is
survived by his wife and six chill
dren. r. O. Garrett is about As
years old and in addition to being
clerk of the Cumberland county
court, he is secretary Of the Cum
berland Tobacco Growers Co-opera-
tive association. L. c. Garrett is
commissioner of chancery for the
county and is prominently identified
with the business and political life
of the community.