Evening star., 1923-06-28
MOTIVE OFFERED
FORK|LL|NG
Affidavit Made Public in
Richmond in Defense of
Garrett Brothers.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
RICHMOND, Va. June 28.-The aft
davit furnished by A. NJ. Chandler of
this city, and which is alleged to have
been the basis for the shooting of
Rev. L. S. Pierce of Cumberland, has
been made public. The affidavit was
made by Mr.. Chandler while he was
In local hospital. 1t being taken
the day preceding the Staying of the
preacher. If the affidavit is complete
1t shows that Chandler says that
man giving his name as Pierce called
to see him and asked him regarding
the trip taken by him. at which time
Larkin Garrett and his wife were in
the car, and when Chandler was mis-
taken for r. o. Garrett and badly
shot. He also says that the caller
told him that one barrel was loaded
for Robert Garrett and the other for
him (Cfandler). That is the affidavit
OF Chandler, who has long been
known to the CARROTS.
Tilt With Counsel.
Larkin Garrett, on the stand before
the grand jury. while the matter OF
bail was being considered. had
verbal tilt with Richard +. Byrd of
counsel for the prosecution. He said
that Pierce, the dead minister, had
fired the first shot and that the ac-
cuS"d had fired the next shot or shots.
thai lie believed his life and that of
his brother were in danger.
The CARROTS had gone to the home
OF L G preacher. called him out the
door and there followed a fight. Lar
kin Garrett saying he told the
preacher that he was not a gentle
man when he had declined to explain
H. = IL, H., 1,.a 4
nshed him the preceding day, and
that. he made that remark, Pierce
had tried to strike him. the fight fol-
lowing. Robert q. Garrett had gone
with Larkin Garrett to the preachers
home.
The state and the defense clashed
when the subject of bail for the ac-
CuSed came up. The defense wanted
TO continue the freedom of the men
on $1,000 each, the state resisting and
asking that they be denied bail
Judge White said that he would al
low bail, placing the sum at $4,000.
This was furnished by friends and
relatives.
Trial July .8.
Judge White has not ruled on the
motion for change of venue. he
having fixed the date for the actual
trial to be July 26, but the belief is
that the trial will not be held there
There is reason for this belief, the
task of getting men for the grand
jury to sit i'll the proceedings being
attended with much difficulty. it be-
ing reported that sickness was more
prevalent than usual.
The defense was anxious to get
the weapons that were used in the
fighting. and the prosecution said it
was willing on one condition-that
the defense produce the bullet that
the surgeons had removed from the
body of Robert Q. Garrett, and this
the defense refused to do.
This is one OF the main points in
the case-who fired the shot that hit
Robert o. Garrett in the back and
resulted in the fusillade of shots? The
bullets in the pistol belonging to the
dead man were Of a different type
from those used in the pistols carried
contends that Larkin Garrett fired the
shot that hit his brother.
Statements Denied.
I.arkin, Garrett denied the state
mentS of other witnesses that his
brother had fired shots into the body
of the dead man as he lay on the
ground, and II is said that members
of the coroner's jury, after moving
the body of the dead man. dug the
bullets out of the ground where he
had fallen.
Judge White is understood to have
said that he did not see why the case
should not be completed in three or
four days. but if it begins July 26 it
may take that time to get a jury,
unless Judge White shall direct that
jury from another jurisdiction be
summoned. making it easier to make
up the panel. The day for the trial
to open is Thursday, so that the
chance for completing before Sunday
is remote.