Evening star., 1923-06-06
MURDER CHARGED
IN FEUD SHOOTING
Brothers Held in Death of
PaStor-DecIare Wife
SIandered.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va. June 6.-Two
prominent Cumberland county off,
cials-R. o. and L. C. Garrett, broth
ers-faced charges of first degree
murder today in connection with the
Staying of Rev E. L. Pierce. a Bap-
fist minister, who was shot to death
In a pistol fight with the CARROTS at
his home at Cumberland courthouse
yesterday.
Warrants charging the two men
with the murder of the clergyman
were issued last night following their
arrests here by police authorities
acting on request from the Cumber-
land county sheriff. l.. c. Garrett is
at liberty on bail of $1,000, while his
brother is under guard at ST. Eliza
beth's 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 race
preliminary hearing until the wound :
ed man is able to leave the hospital.
Police officials said early today that
the cases probably would be contin-
ued.
Rearrest Expected.
Rearrest of the brothers was ex-
pected today as result of the find
ing of the coroner's jury charging
them with responsibility for the kill
ing and the issuance of the warrants
by magistrate last night.
1t is probable, local authorities
stated, that they will be rearrested
for the purpose OF determining tne
question of bail.
That the shooting was the culmina-
tion of a political feud which has
ragged in Cumberland county for sew
eral years is the opinion expressed
by local police authorities and state
officials. The Garrett brothers, who
are associated in the mercantile
business at Cumberland Courthouse.
belong to one of the political fac
tions of the county, while Rev. Mr..
Pierce is said to have been actively
aligned recently with the opposing
faction The CARROTS also are said to
have objected to sermon delivered
by the minister last Sunday, in which
he was accused of "slandering" the
wife of L. c. Garrett.
Tell OF Shooting.
According to testimony of witnesses
at the inquest late yesterday the
CARROTS went to the home of the
clergyman and called him outside,
where he was engaged in a fight with
L. C. Garrett. While his brother was
struggling with the minister. 1t was
said. r. o. Garrett held back the
crowd attracted to the scene with
pistol.
The fight ended. the minister went
back into his home and emerged a
mn a. G r,
and revolver. r. Q. Garrett. wit
ness said, grasped the shotgun and
wrested it from the clergyman. throw
ing it upon the ground; The shooting
followed. it was testified, with the
Garrett brothers and Pierce partici-
pating.
The minister was shot through the
heart and two other bullets also
pistol disclosed one empty chamber.
The coroner's jury returned a ver-
dict to the effect that the clergyman
met his death at the hands of r. o.
Garrett and l.. c. Garrett, zone or
both"
Excitement Prevails.
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
fster lost his life, made the affair one
of the most sensational SnootinS al
trays in the history of the state, RI
Valing even the famous Allen gang
BATTLE in the Hillsville courthouse, in
Carroll county, ten years ago.
Pierce was the pastor of four
churches in Cumberland county. He
was about fifty years of age and is
survived by his widow and six chill
dren. r. o. Garrett is about forty
Eve years old, and. in addition to be-
ing clerk Of the Cumberland county
court, he is secretary of the Cumber-
land Tobocco Growers Cooperative
Association. L. c. Garrett is commits
sioner of chancery for the county, and
IS prominently identified with the
business and political life of the COM
munity.