Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-01
HUSBAND INNOCENT,
SAYS WOMAN KILLER
OF MOTHER -|N-LAW
Hughes BIames In-LaWs for
DisSension Leading TO
Tragedy Grand Jury Ac-
ton This Week Unlikely

| The proximity of the New Year
| probably will delay consideration by
the Fulton county grand jury of the
case of Mrs. Frank Hughes, held in
| the tower on the charge of Staying
| her mother-in-law, Mrs. M. G.
Hughes, in Egan Park Sunday, ac-
| cording to officials of Fulton supe-
!! rior court.
Solicitor General John A. Boykin
and Assistant E. A. Stephens were
out Of the city Monday, but other of
ficials stated that the present grand
jury Will not meet Tuesday, on ac-
count of New Years day. The body
is scheduled to make its final pre-.
sentiments Friday and be dismissed,
SO Indications were that considera.
ton of the Hughes case would await
thy empanelling ofo a new grand
juhy next week.
Unc0ncerned Over Fate
In the meantime, Mrs. Frank
Hughes, who, slew her husbands
mother as the latter leaned over a
trunk searching for property that
she claimed had been stolen from
her, showed little concern over her
own fate, but insisted that her hus
band should not be held on the
charge of being an accessory before
the fact in the murder case, and an
additional charge of larceny.
Mrs. M. c.. Hughes, siXty-thdee
- i
street, in the Gate City mill village.
She went to the home of her son
Sunday at noon, armed with a
search warrant and accompanied by
Chief e. j. Wynne and Officer L.
P. Honea, of the Hapeville police
force, and was shot down by her
daughter-in-law, in the presence of
the officers.
The Staying was the outgrowth of
family trouble that has existed for
several years. it was said and came
to climax last Thursday when
Mrs. NJ. c. Hughes moved away from
the Egan avenue address, where
she had been living with her son.
She went before Judge Morris in
East Point Sunday morning, and
asked for a search warrant, declar-
ing that her son and dauShter-in-
law had kept her automobile, several
articles Of clothing and some bedding
when they threw her OUT as she
expressed it.
Son Sumbits to Search
The two Hasaville officers were to
the Hughes home with Mrs. Hughes,
to enforce the search warrant. They
state that Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
1nJ<
search, but Hughes showed extreme
nervousness and asked to be ger.
mitted to sit outside in an automo-
bile while his mother was i'll the
house.
The two officers and Mrs. Frank
Hughes stood in the front room,
which had been occupied by Mrs.
M. c. Hughes, and watched the
latter search one trunk, from which
she took clothing that she claimed
belonged to her, and piled it up on
the floor. AS the older woman turn.
ed to another trunk, Mrs. Frank
Hughes walked into the adjoining
room, but soon returned.
The officers said they had been
taken off their guard by the calm
demeanor of Mrs. Frank Hughes,
so they were not close enough to
interfere when she deliberately lev.
eled pistol at her head of her
mother-in-law and pulled the trie-
ger. The weapon was gfasped in
both hands by the slayer, the wit.
nesses stated. The officers said they
dtrw their weapons, expecting the
woman to turn OIL them, but she
coolly handed her pistol of Chief
Wynee, saying, Il give up"
Hughes rushed into the house at
the report of the pistol, and kissed
his wife, but did not look at the
body of lis mother, the officers stat
ed.
The bullet entered the head of
Mrs. Hughes, just above the left
ear, passed through the brain and
came out under the right ear. Death
was instantaneous.
Says Husband is Innocent
Mrs. Frank Hughes appeared to
be more concerned about her hus.
band than herself at the Fulton tow
er Monday, and insisted that Hughes
should be released.
Frank is innocent of any crime
and ought to be turned out of here
Mrs. Hughes said. ''l1e didn't know
that l was going to shoot his moth
err"
Mrs. Hughes declared that there
are two sides to every question. and
she would give her reason for shoot,
ing her husbands mother at the
proper time. after consulting her ia.
ther and an attorney. She has tele
graphed her father. r A Allen, of
Columbiana, Ala, asking him to
come to her aid at once.
Frank Hughes discussed the case
freely at the Fulton tower Monday.
He declared that the staying was
the result Of trouble stirred up by
other members Of the family, who
had tried to poison ebs mind of his
moi her AGAINST him