Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-04-19

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hood and his marriage and purchasing
the farm upon which he lives, he arriv-
C at the period that led to the tragedy
He told aout being accused by a stran-
ger, later developed as being a Mr.
Burke to Macon, to having stolen an
automobile and being pointed out tc
the stranger by Sappi1gton, he asked
Burke to accompany him to see Sap
r'ngton which he u-omised he would
hut hnally failed to 40. He and his
father did go to see Sappington at his
bank, where little difficulty did oc-
cur. Later he was warned by friends
and relatives that Sappington was car
rying gun for him. On the afternoon
of the killing, he and Mr. Waldrop
went to his farm and returned about
$50, when he went to Doctor Dorm
iney'S office to get letter which he
had written during, the day. He walk
cd to his brothers drug store and
stayed about four minutes and then
went to the post office to mail the
letter and get his mail. Came back to
the front of the store in which the post
office is located and sat on the counter
to read a letter. Had been there about
a minute or so, when he heard the
screen door slam, he turned looked to
the door and he and Sappington both
recognized each other Sappington
:ammed h!s hands into his pants poe
kets and when | saw him do this |
topped off the counter to the floor.
Sappington mumbled something
which sounded like 81 told you So
now / got you" Then he tried 10
grab his right hand with my left and
shot at Sappington We then scuffed
and in the scuffle my gun went off
again and we both fell to the floor
Sapplngton by this time had gotten
his pistol in his hand and when | saw
that Sappington was going to shoot
me | shot three times in rapid success
sion. Immediately after the shooting
! went home and phones for the sher-
If to come and get me.
The dramatic presentation of the
statement made a deep impression on
the large audience present. Court ad-
Journed at o'clock until Thursday
morning.
Wednesday Afternoon Session
Testimony of Mrs. Alma Mashburn
Ham, formerly post mistress at Sc
vile closed the case for the state. Mrs.
Ham testified to the arrival of ]. C.
Wilson, defendant, at the post office
at Seville about five twenty on after
noon of August 23rd, 1920 and entering
the store, in the rear of which was
the post office Witness was sitting
in front of the building looking in and
saw Wilson occupy seat on the
counter. Soon heard closing of a
screen door i'll the rear of the store,
the entrance to the post office and
saw Sappington, the deceased de-
post some mail in the office and turn
to his private box, with his side to
Wilson. Wilson had left the counter
and had entered the door leading to
the post office, when ] arose from my
chair and simultaneously heard a shot
from the inside. then ran and holl-
cred, was so frightened that | do not
remember seeing or speaking to any
IS / m
run. On cross examination, Mrs
Ham maintained her previously given
statements.
The state rested with Mrs. Hams
testimony and a brief recess was TAX
en-.
Defendants council held short con-
Sultation and on opening of court, pre-
scented transcribed parts of testimonies
taken at previous trials of this case
OF Mrs. Ham, Rev. Z. M. Elder, w
S Adams and c. p. Tyson.
ant took the stand and stated that or
hearing the shooting on the afternoon
of the homicide he was at his store
near the post office, and ran out of {
side door to the rear of the post office
building and found his brother inside
with pistol i'll his hand in act of re
loading. On asking him "My God
what have you done?" Chester re
piled 81 had to get him or he'd go
me-" Saw Sappington's pistol on the
floor Stated he had previously warned
his brother and had told him that Sap
ington was carving pistol and tina
he had etter avoid meeting him. Oh
cross examination. witreess stated tina
On several occasions he had seen Sap
pington with what appeared to him
pistol.
DR.. ]. N. Dorminey of Seville, stat
ed that Wilson and others frequent hi
office and were at lierty to do SC
The doctor located the entrance of TIL
all in the neck of the deceased, bu
stated that at that time he had refused
tmake an examination at the inquest
and did not know of the location O
other wounds or condition of the shir
worn by deceased.
Mr.. Waldrop OF Seville>was presen
in June when Sappington and Wilson
had difficulty at the bank; saw Sap
pington with pistol in hand, pointe
w. w. Wilson, who then took out
knife. Was with ]. c. Wilson on da
Of shooting, had gone with him to hi
farm and returned to Seville. shortl
before he heard the shots.
Attorneys Begin Argument Today.
After some skirmishes by the state
attorneys to include additional test
mony. which was overruled by Judg
Crum, arguments or the state was be
gun by Judge Ross of Macon, VIII
was followed for the defense by Co
Hal Lawson. The afternoon will be ia
en- up by arguments. Attorneys Wat