Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-06
GRAND JURY To AIR
CHARGES AGAINST
LADY BOUNTIFUL' y

IIEMPHILL, Tex. March g.
tWill they indict Lady Bountiful?'
This question was being discussed
as the Sabine county jury was called
to convene here in March to consider
the case of Mrs. Lillian Knox, bound
to the jury on a charge Of murder
in connection with the death Of her
husband, Hiram Knox, w"-..,thy East
Texas lumbewnan.
Knox was found dying from bull
let wound in the back of his head.
Nearby was a. pistol.
In the preliminary hearing the de-
Tense contended that Knox took his
own life. Letters, addressed to his
wife and mother and purporting to
have been written by him. were
found in pockets of the lumberman' S
clothing after his death. He had
been drinking heavily, it was testi'
fled presumably in an effort to for
get his financial troubles. Other tes'
timony was introduced to the effect
that Knox had made the statement
that unless conditions improved, he
was going to end it all.
The prosecution, however, branded
the letters forgery. They were type
written.
The defense introduced but few
witnesses in the preliminary hearing
while the prosecution presented a
great deal Of evidence.
No Powder Burns
DR.. w. T. Arnold, the family ply
stefan, who viewed the body soon
after the shooting occurred, testified
that there were no powder burns.
The state held that had Knox shot
himself there would have been some
marks. Sheriff George Afford sub
stantiated the states contention
when he testified that he had tested
the gun which was found and that
it produced burns on sheepskin,
when discharged at a distance Of six
inches.
An empty vial was produced. The
vial was similar. according to the
testimony of a druggist, to one con-
tanning a quantity of powerful sleep
ing rDOIIlOu5 WHICH, was SOlu " L. L
Carson, Mrs. KnoX's secretary, the
day prior to the tragedy. That Knox
was drugged and then shot while in
the latitude Of Sleep" was one Of
the theories held by the state. This
is the belief of the mother of Knox.
Other testimony which the state
announced it would trace, was that a
large automobile was seen speeding
toward San Augustine about the
time of Knox's death. Details re-
garding this car and the driver are
expected to be brought out at the
grand jury hearing.
Footprints were found under a
window of the bathroom adjoining
Knox's bedroom, it was disclosed.
Decided Estate To Wife
At the preliminary hearing it was
brought out that a few days before
death, Knox had decided all of his
estate to his wife. The defense held
that it disproved a theory of the
prosecution that Knox was killed by
persons desiring his wealth.
The character Of the attractive
widow who earned the title of Lady
Bountiful" by her benevolence to the
,
will have a bearing on the case, in
the opinion of residents.
She is noted both for her kind
deeds and her temper. Her servants
loved and feared her.
During the last epidemic of influ
enza, she personally went to the
homes of her employees and took care
of the stricken members Of their
families. The poor were always
cared for A man wanting work
could always get it by applying to
her.
But once her displeasure was in
Cured, she was relentless. The fits
of temper, however. did not last
long. Servants discharged one day
were re-employed the next and in
some instances at a much higher
wage.