Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-18
CHILD LEFT TO GUARD
BODY OF THE VICTIM

TOWNSVILLE, n. c., March Is
Guarded by a five-year- girl, the
body of a woman, killed by a bullet
wound in the breast, was found here
Friday in the home of L. c.. Jenkins
chief Of police Of brownsville.
Believed at first to be Jenkins
wife, the BODY lay unidentified in a
local undertaking establishment all
night, telegram having been re.
ceived during the day from Mrs
Jenkins, at Greenville, S. c., accord
ing to the police. Officials also
stated two childreR of the couple
were in GreenVille with Mrs. Jsn-
kins, and that the family had ex-
pected to join Chief Jenkins soon.
The dead woman, it was stated,
had lived with Jenkins since he be.
came chief Of police here about three
months ago, and had been thought
locally to be his wife. The child
refused to say what her name was
or her relation to the dead woman,
stating only that Jenkins had or
dered her before he left on Thurs.
day to guard the woman's body I'M,
til his return. Near the woman 3
body was found a pistol with one
cartridge exploded. Physicians sat
ed that she had been dead for some
time.
Jenkins was in a highly nervous
state when seen at the Jail and Sher-
ilf r. l.. Tarbert said he talked about
The Woman's death, but gave little
information. He stoutly insisted
that the woman killed herself.
Declines to Explain
When asked for an explanation of
how the woman could have shot her
self in the left shoulder so that the
bullet would range toward the heart,
Jenkins made no reply.
That's it," was his only reply
when he was asked why he left
Thomasville if the woman killed her
self.
Il must have been crazy" he said,
when asked why he did not telephone
from the room for help.
jenkins said that when the wom-
an had shot herself he was not fully
dressed and put on his clothing, in
tending to summon assistance. After
leaving the boarding house where
he was living with the woman as his
wife, Jenkins said, he took an auto.
mobile belonging to the city of
ThomasVile and drove to High
Point. There he caught a train for
Greenville, S. c., and went to see
relatives there. He returned at 3
o'clock this morning and gave him
self up.
Although the woman was killed at
about midnight Wednesday night
the body was not discovered until
Friday morning. During this period
a fve-year-old daughter of Mrs.
Jones was in the room. Several per-
sons attempted to gain adimttance
but the little girl refused to allow
them to enter. To each she replied
that Daddy" was not at home and
you can't see mamma"
LandIady Suspicious
Yesterday morning Mrs. J. r. Car
ter, who operates the boarding house,
became suspicious and notified the
police The body was found lying
on the bed in a pool Of blood A
bullet had entered her back, emerged
through the left breast and lodged
in the wall of the room. BloOdstains
en- the door, officials said. indicated
that the woman had moved around
the room after being shot.
A small quantity Of whisky was
found in a fruit jar in the room,
along with a quantity of food The
pistol with which the woman had
been shot also was found in the room
and was identified as belonging TO
Jenkins,
A coroner's jury at Thomasville