Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-22
DYING STATEMENT
ACCUSING SLAYER
PLACED IN RECORDS

Testimony to the effect that Police
man f. &. Stigall shot and killed w,
II. Hames only after the latter, las
white as sheet and boiling mad, "
advanced on 'Stgall threateningly
with his two companions, Ernest
| Stanton and J. H. Kirk, was given
in the StigalI murder trial Thursday
afternoon by A. A. Walker, of is
Hill street.
Walker, who said he operated an
auto repair shop within 80 feet of
the scene of the shooting, was the
second eyewitness to the affair
placed on the stand by the defense.
G. S. Slaton, of IA Houston street,
who said he saw the shooting from
some distance, testified before Walk
er, and said Stigall began shooting
when the three other men closed
| in on him."
The testimony Of Walker and Sla-
| ton constitutes the principal evil
dence offered by the defense thus
| far in support of its contention that
| Stigall fired in self defense. 1t was
preceded by testimon vat the morn
| ing session regarding several death
threats" alleged to have been made
| by one or the other Of the there men
against Stigal.
The trial went over into another
day when Judge HUMPHREYS de-
clared a recess until 9 o'clock Fri
day morning, shortly after o clock
Thursday afternoon.
Several witnesses were called on
Thursday afternoon to testify that
| during the week prior to the shoo5-
ing on August II, when Stigall killed
! Hames and wounded Ernest Stanton
and J. H. Kirk. that the trio had
| been engaged in searching for evil
dence regarding StigalPs alleged
protection Of the liquor interests IN
an effort to bring about his dis
charge from the police force. The
evidence submitted during the aft-
ernoon was substantially of the
same character as that given during
| the morning session.
| Shortly after the court re-conVened
at $3.50 o'clock, Attorney Howard
called Mrs. T. p. Reese to the stand
and tried to show that she had been
approached while in the courthouse
| tempted to get her to swear falsely
on the witness stand. She stated
| that she had been so approached,
and in cross-examination Solicitor
Boykin tried to prove that she had
Deen with Stigall and another woman
on a trip to Stone Mountain for a
| load of corn whisky. She emphati-
ca1ly denied this statement.
Patrolman G. G.. Williams, mem
Der Of the plaincIothes squad, other
wise known as the vice squad, was
next questioned by Mr.. Howard rela-
| tive to the manner in which the vice
squad worked. He said that at no
time was Stigall absent from the
squad long enough to go to Jackson
street and North avenue to pilot any
liquor car, as previously charged
]. NJ. Wallace, of "a Lexington
avenue. previously identified as the
man who congratulated" Stigall> at
the scene of the shooting, testified
| that he drove the automobile which
he left the scene after "reloading his
gun" He declared on choss eXami-
nation that he did not see Mrs. Dora
Batty anywhere in the vicinity be-
fore, during or after the shooting.
He said Stigall hailed him, asked for
a ride, and that they proceeded to
Houston and CORTLAND street where
the policeman asked him to stop a
| minute, saying 81 want to see a man
| here"
Stigall began talking to two men
| third man, Kirk, came Up, and the
| conversation became rough, he de-
clared. Someone said, Damn you,
we will get you now" he testified.
| Stigal1 then began firing, he said.
Wallace denied that he and Stigall
had sought Hames, Kirk and Stan
| ton.
Immediately after the state rested
it's case at 1852 o'clock the intro
duction of defense witnesses was
begun, Alderman Jesse w. Armi-
stead. chairman of the police com
mittee; Councilman J. A. Beall and
| w. Garland Cooper, members of the
police committee, being the princi-
pal witnesses Intercepted before
| the noon recess.
Chairman Armistead testified in
detail regarding death threat
alleged to have been made by
| Hames the day before the shooting,
which he said he at once communi-
Gated to Stigall. advising him to be
on his guard. Chairman Armlstead
also testified regarding the meeting
of the police committee lmmedl'
ately after the shooting at Court.
| land and Houston streets. at which
! Stjgal WAS exonerated for the
shooting.
Tells of Hames' Call
| Chairman Armistead said that
Hames had called at his office more
than dozen times this year to COM
plain that Stigall was crooked"
"Hames' attitude showed bitter
hatred for Stigall," Mr.. Armistead de-
clared, but this statement was ruled
out on a quick objection by Solicitor
General John A. Boykin.
ION the day before the shoot
| ing" Chairman Armistead testified,
'Hames came to my office to COM
plain of StigaIl. He said he could
prove that on the following night
StigalI would steer in six trucks
loads of whisky to a place operated
by Il man named Phelps on North
Jackson street.
"'Hames told me Stigall and Roper
would be standing guard at the cor
ner of jackson street and North ave-
nue., and that the whisky would be
in a garbage can in the rear of
Phelps establishment.
Questioned Hames' Story
''I told Hames 1 did not believe
Stigall was protecting Phelps, but
Hames insisted he could get the
liquor from the garbage can. I
asked him how he was going to get
six truckloads of liquor out of the
! garbage can.
! 81 told him I was convinced