Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-21
Of VICTIM
IN TRIPLE SHOOTING
SWEARS WARRANT

"A muncipa. court warrant charg-
ing murder was sworn out late Sat
urday afternoon against Officer Z.
G. Stigall, head of the police vice
squad, and he was lodged in the
Fulton county tower, almost stimuli
taneOusly with the announcement
by Solicitor General John A. Boy
kin that the Fulton county grand
ury will be called upon this week
to investigate every angle of the
triple shooting by the policeman,
which resulted in the death Of W.
H. Hames, a private detective, and
the wounding of his two compan-
ions.
The murder warrant was taken
out by l.. c. Hames, brother of the
dead man, and an officer reached the
station house to serve it upon Off
Ger Stigall just as he was being sum-
mOned into Police Chief Beavers
office. Solicitor Boykin had asked
that the officer be detained until the
grand jury investigation could be
launched. K
Saturdays Developments
Issuance of the murder warrant
and the announcement of Solicitor
Boykin came in the wake of q Sc
ries of rapid-fire developments in
the shooting case, beginning with
the shooting late Friday afternoon
at Houston and CORTLAND streets
followed by the action of the police
committee less than an hour later
in voting to eXOnerate officer Stigail
Of any blame in the case, and culmi,
mating in the death of Mr.. Hames
at midnight Friday in Grady hos
pital.
J. H. Kirk, a former policeman
was shot twice by Stigall ard re
manned at Grady hospital Saturday
night, while Ernest Stanton, inves
tigator in a local law office, who
also was wounded by the policeman,
was released from police headquar-
tiers late Saturday afternoon under
500 bond, charged with Gisorderly
conduct.
1t was announced Saturday night
that Attorney William Schley How.
ard has been retained to represent
Stigau, and that he was making eff
forts to have Stigall released un.
der bond. Bonds in murder cases
can be authorized by superior court
judges only.
Another development of Saturday
night was q report that friends of
Mr.. Hames are circulating a sub
scription list for the benefit Of his
widow and children.
Solicitor Boykin was away from
the city on vacation trip when
the shooting occurred. He returned
fJIn
Gated with Chief Beavers imme-
1iately upon reaching his office in :
the early afternoon, asking that I
men on the police force be assigned |
10 investigate the case, Chief Beav- |
ars assured the solicitor that this |
would be done and that. he would |
Cooperate IN every way with the :
Investigation.
Councilman Garland Cooper, a |
of the, police committee of |
council, visited Stigall at the Jail !
late Saturday night. After he left,
Stigall told reporters the councilman ,
had called to pledge him the full |
support of the committee in any |
way possible. Chairman Jesse !
stated that, while he was
not aware. that Councilman Cooper |
the call, his action |
met with the entire approval of the !
Il am, of course, glad to know the
intends to stand back of |
me-" Stigall said. II have not told |
the whole story of this affair yet, |
but when the time comes I think l |
can make some startling disclosures. |
was not surprised at my arrest. |
[ did not expect to be accorded any
privileges that would not be &C !
corded an ordinary citizen
StigaIPs Defense
In his statements concerning the .
shooting Stigall has insisted that he |
tired in self-defense after he had |
seen Hames reach as 10 to draw
l gun. Chief Beavers, however,
stated late Saturday afternoon that /
40 evidence furnished him showed |
hat either Hames or his compan-
ons carried guns, and the two !
wounded men both asserted to |
newspaper men that they were not !
armed.
According to the examination |
ment of Harry G. Poole, the dead |
man was shot three times. One !
bullet entered the right shoulder
from the rear and came out through
the right front breast; another
pierced tho abdomen under the right
shoulde" and came out in a cor
spot on the left side; AID