Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-04
WIFE DRUCCED AND
BEATEN To DEATH;
DOCTOR ARRESTED
Dr.. Edwards to Be Moved
From Hospital to Jail Un-
der Murder Charge

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. 3.-Dr.
George 4. Edwards, held on a coro-
ner's warrant in connection with the
death of his wife, will be moved late
today from an Ensley hospital to the
Jefferson county branch Jail at Bes-
semer, according to the authorities.
DR.. Edwards was still suffering
from the effects OF d wound in the
left hand which he said was caused
by an assailant who shot him after
his wife had been slain in the Ed
wards home early yesterday. His
condition was such, however, that
surgeons said he might be removed
to Jail. He was arrested late yes
terday and guard was kept at his
bedside throughout the night.
A small AK, sweared with red sub
stance, in the hands of Deputy Coro-
ner Grove was said to constitute the
newest bit of evidence in the hands
OF the Investigating authorities. 1t
was said to have been found in the
basement of the Edwards home. The
substance on the ak will be subject
ed to chemical examination, officers
said.
Authorities stated that DR.. Ed
wards would be confined in the
Bessemer Jail until Deputy Coroner
Grove had completed his inquiry
into the death of Mrs. Edwards, who
was drugged and beaten to death
while she slept. The coroner's war;
rant, under which the physician was
arrested, charges murder in the first
degree.
Repeats Burglar Story
AS he tossed on a bed Of pain,
= suffering from an ugly wound In
I the left hand, which. he said, was
inflicted by an assailant who MUIR
dered his wife, DIR. Edwards told
those about his bed late last night
that he would make a statement to.
day. Highly nervous, he told time
and again his story of the attack
upon him by a burglar, who. he
said, had previously slain his wife
after entering the home by stealth.
He did not deviate in any essential
particular from his original state
was placed about his bed and he
was told that he was formally un-
der detention, he exclaimed: This
is adding insult to injury" He Ia
bored under deep emotion and fire..
Quently called his vife's name.
Authorities were today centering
their inquiry, in cooperation with
DR. Edwards medical associatesr-in.-
an effort to determine whether the
physician was laboring under some
physical disability which had not
been clearly understood previous to
the tragedy. Authorities were told
7 by medical advisers that the murder
of the woman, if not committed by
a burglar, might have been the
work of a person 'laboring under
powerful comfortable influences"
Inside job
Officers, who turned over in con-
ference many bits of evidence,
agreed that the murder was an lin
side job" Looking, then, for a mo-
tive. they sought associates of mem
lbers of the family. Nothing in the
nome life of the Edwards was other
than normal. In fact, the aurhori-
ties learned, utmost tranquility pre-
vailed. Searching into the profess
sional actions of the physician, the
officers found a clean record. But
this line of inquiry brought from
some of the medical associates of
DR.. Edwards statements that the ac-
tons of the physician for a few
weeks had been somewhat out OF
the ordinary-actions that never
would have been seriously consid.
cred, it was admitted, except for the
tragedy in the Edwards home.
* The body of Mrs. Edwards, accom-.
y panied by relatives, was taken to
Montgomery today for burial.
Home Life Ideal
Mrs. Edward Dudley, mother of
Mrs. Edwards, told authorities that
the greatest happiness existed in the
Edwards home, and that she was
satisfied there had never been a rift
between husband and wife. J. L.
Edwards, head of a farmer organi-
zation at Selma, and father of DR..
Edwards, is at the bedside of his
son. He expressed confidence that
DIR. Edwards statement concerning
the attack would be borne out in
time, and he said he would leave
= nothing undone to clear his sons
name. Like the family of Mrs. Ed
wards, he declared that DR.. Ed
wards home life was normal and
happy.
The Staying of Mrs Edwards oc.
CURED early yesterday Wnen ner
body was said to have been found
by her husband with her skull
broken by a heavy blunt instru-
ment and the fumes of IL powerful
,anaesthetic filling the room. DIR.
tEdwGrds told the police he was
awakened by someone trying to ad-
minister the drug to him and in
the scuffle was shot by the intruder.
He said that his wife had been slain
when he was awakened.
A little daughter. five years old
asleep with her mother, was un,
harmed, as was small son who
was in the bed with DIR. Edwards,
Neither of the children, It is claim
ed, were disturbed by the shooting
in the room.
A bloodstained pressing iron
found in the home is considered by
tn police to be valuable bit OF
violence, but they decline to dis.
cuss the possibility of its duplicating
DIR. Edwards.
Mrs. Edwards was about "a years
old and her husband a few years
her senior.