Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-10
MRS. R|CKNER SET
FREE UNDER BOND
AFTER COLLAPSE
Slain Mans Brother Officers
Describe Tragedy - AC-
cused Wife as He Lay Nor
tally Wounded

1OAN, EAldS OdAS -iA -
Evelyn Sue Rickner, who, the state
alleges, shot and killed her husband
Lieutenant James C. Rickner, was
admitted to bail in the sum of $4,000
late this afternoon, following pre-
liminary hearing before Judge j. B
Holman, Jr., of the Calhoun county
inferior court.
Mrs. Rickner collapsed shortly be
fore Judge Holman rendered his YER
dict. and was not in the court room
to hear a short demonstration of ap
prevail which. met the courts an
nouncement. Friends declared that
bond would be made Immediately.
Unusual interest was attached to
the case, due to the popularity of the
slain officer, and the youth and beau
ty of his wife. The courtroom was
crowded today, large number of
uniforms representing military
friends of the couple.
No arguments from either side
were heard and while the defense
placed no witnesses upon the stand
this afternoon, it is understood their
plea at the October term of the Cal
noun county court when Mrs. Rick
ner will probably face trial, will be
that the defendant was suffering
from temporary insanity at the time
she fired the shot which killed her
iC n n
Rickner refused to support his wife
and was about to leave with another
woman.
Granting of bail by Judge Holman
took place while the defendant was
IN state of semi-consciousness aft
er she haG collapsed at the after
noon session of the hearing.
Army officers on tie stand for
the state testified that Lieutenant
Rickner, in his dying moments, &C.
cused his wife of shooting him and
heaped curse upon her |.
Brother in Court Room
Harry Elder, Of Indianapolis.
hIother of Mrs. Rickner, and her
four-year-old daughter, MaryIyn,
sought constantly to cheer the de-
PENDANT in the court room.
The state had asked that Mrs.
Rickner be held on charge of first
degree murder.
Lieutenant Rickner was slain in
his quarters, June %, few days
after Mrs. Rickner had come to the
camp.
An hour before the preliminary
hearing opened the circuit court
room and corridors of the court
house were crowded to overlooking
with people anxious to get glimpse
of the defendant.
A noticeable feature at the begin
ming of the hearing was the pre-.
dominance Of women in the court
room. A sprinkling of uniforms over
the house gave the hearing a mill
tary SAVIOR.
To reporters Mrs. Rickner gave
just the slightest hint as to her de-
tense in declaring "the townspeople
Of Admission and people at Camp Nc
Clellan have been very nice to me.
They have made life have a new
meaning for me. Their attitude has
been magnificent"
Mrs. Rickner Enters Court
Mrs. Rickner entered the court.
room accompanied by a deputy and
her attorneys. She was attired in a
simple gown which accentuated her
youthful appearance.
The states case was in the hands
OF Assistant Solicitor James F. Mat.
thews. Hugh D. Merrill and C. w.
Allen appeared for the defendant.
It is estimated 1900 people were
in he nd Il
the trial opened.
The roll of witnesses called ir nd
ed a number Of army officers. he
first witness to take the stand was
Captain Victor M. Meddis.
Mrs. Rickner appeared extremely
nervous at the opening of the trial
but later grew more composed.
Captain Meddis, of the medical
corps, testified that Lieutenant Rick.
ner came to his death as a result of
a pistol wound in the abdomen. He
knew nothing of the shooting.
Captain Craig, of the Eighth in.
fantry, exhibiting a plan of the
bachelors quarters at camp, where
Rickner lived, testified as to the death
of Rickner.
Died Cursing Woman
Captain Craig testified that Mrs
Rckner came to the building anC
asked the whereabouts of her hus
band. A few minutes later, the
witness said, he heard the explosion
OF small caliber pistol, followed BY
"a half groan, half scream" ant
heard Rickner exclaim I'm shot
that woman shot me. Get that
woman" Rickner exclaimed
three times, the witness testified
I'm shot through the heart"
Captain Craig said he was stand
ing in the bathroom door talkin!
with officers at the time and h
raced to Rickner's door. Mrs. Rick
her was just turning into a cross cor
ridor, he said, and was standing fac
ing the scene of the shooting. TIL
woman was Eight PAGES away" tn
witness said. Captain Craig sal
he heard no conversation between tn
officer and his wife before the shoot
ing.
Private Lotion Crawford, the mex
witness, testified to hearing a re
port of a pisrol and saw Mrs. Rick
ner hand it to Lieutenant Miley, say
ing: Get Riciner. I've shot hin
I will be here if you want me-" Sh
then turned and started toward tn
mess hall, Crawford said. He wa
between Mrs. Rickner and Lieut&nan
Miley when she handed him the>gu
He said he did not see the pistol i
her possession when she entered he
husbands quarters.
Private E. r. Smoot, Eighth in
fantry, an orderly in the building
wac in the hallway when the sho
kas fired. He said he saw Mrs. Rick
ner in the hallway before the shoot
ing.
Confessed to Shooting
Captain Mack, Eighth infantry
said he saw the defendant walk int
CONTINUED on Page 6, Column g.