Evening star., 1923-08-28

up a pistol from the ground near Mr.
Pierce's hand, and that later when the
pistol was examined one discharged
cartridge was found in its chamber
Defense counsel also got into the rec
ord q statement by the witness that
when Mr.. Pierce came out of the house
with the shotgun. he. Godsey. stepped
to one side, Ito get out of the range"
as he was in line with r. o. Garrett.
In answer to direct question, the
witness said he could not say
whether Mr.. Pierce had not fired,
neither could he say that Larkin C.
Garrett had fired.
Replying to further questions. Mr..
Godsey said he was a clerk in Flip
pens general merchandise store and
that he was not on speaking terms
with r. o. Garrett. although he and
L. c. Garrett did speak.
Mr.. Godsey was excused after being
having been frequently interrupted
by objections and Tits between
counsel.
Another Eyewitness.
C. D. Diggs. another eyewitness.
told OF seeing the Garrett brothers
going TO the Pierce home. Later, he
said. Mrs. L. T. Dandy ran out into
the road. screaming: They are fight
Ing: they are killing Mr. Pierce.
L
in time to see the end of the night
and the subsequent shooting.
Mr.. DiggS described how, he said.
Mr.. Pierce entered the house and
returned with the shotgun. He said
he saw r. o. Garrett cover the min
lister with his revolver and heard
some one say: Give me that gun"
but did not know who made the
statement.
The witness declared he heard two
shots very close together, but could
not say who fired the first. though
he was sure Iarkin G. Garrett nred
the second.
He then gave an uninterrupted anu
rather dramatic description of how
he saw R O. Garrett fire time after
time into the ministers body.
Rising TO his feet before the jury.
he re-enacted the scene as he said
he saw it,
Robert Garrett placed the re-
volver against Mr.. Pierce's heart and
fired AS Mr. Pierce crumpled and
began to fall, Robert Garrett fired
again, again and again. He fired
again and again after the body was
on the ground
toward the jury and went through
the motions of firing as he said it
was done by R. O.. Garrett.
]. NJ. Shepherd. also an eyewitness
to the tragedy, followed. He said
that when he reached the Pierce
at the corner of the porch with a
pistol In his hand and facing r. o.
Garrett, little to his left, and Lar
kin c. Garrett slightly behind his
brother. He did not see the shot
gun at all, he said.
Says Larkin Fired First.
Larkin Garrett fired the first shot
CT 70
ward Mr. Pierce and fred into his
body-"almost against his body" the
witness said.
He also told of seeing other shots
fred by r. o. Garrett. several after
the minister was on the ground. He
said Mr. Pierce's face was badly
bruised and bloody.
Mr. Shepherd also said he did not
see the minister fire, though he had
the pistol in his hand. He produced
one MT. Pierce had and which, he
testified, contained one empty and
four loaded cartridges, when 1t was
picked up.
On cross examination, the witness
admitted that Mr.. Pierce might have
fired his revolver without him know
ing it.
at the home of Willie Gray, four
wears ago, at which q proposal to kill
r. o. Garrett is alleged TO nave Deen
made.
"Did you attend the meeting?"
Garrett Threatened.
Yes" we had a meeting at which
we discussed ways and means of
carving the election of Mr.. Dickerson
over Mr.. Garrett for court clerk, and
"NIr. Stuart said the only way to win
the election was to kill Bob Garrett"
Immediately several of us got upon
our feet and said If anything like
that was to be done we were not in
it," said Mr.. Shepherd.
Don't you know that on May 3 an
attempt was made to assassinate one
of the Garretts?
"No."
"Don't you know that $500 reward
has been offered for the apprehen-
sion OF the person who shot at Mr.
Chandler that night?"
YES
Much wrangling here ensued over
Mr.. Shepherd being allowed to state
IL It was not a matter of common
knowledge, following the shooting OF
Chandler, that an attempt had been
made to assassinate one OF the Gar
retts.,
wasn't it rumored that it was a
staged AFFAIR." asked Mr.. Bonifant.
The defense objected. but Mr.. Smith
said: We'll, let 1t 60"
There was some laughter from the
counsel. and Judge White ad-
monishsed the legal contingent. say
and think the smiles of counsel are
very unbecoming."
Court recessed for dinner. at 12:05