Evening star., 1938-10-27
RECT0R'S MURDER
CHARGED TO -FOUR
Sea Island Mystery Thought
Solved as Two Admit
Killing for Hire.
By the Associated Press.


BRUNSWICK, Ga, Oct. 27.-Two
st. Simons Island resort operators and
two colored men were charged with
murder today in the mysterious kill
ing of DR.. Charles H. Lee, rector Of
historic Christ Church eight months
ago.
Police Chief J. E. Register an
nounced the arrest OF Henry ]. Cofer
and w. H. Cofer, middle aged broth
ers, and the two colored men. George
Cleyborn and q man known to police
only As Willie" and "Looney."
Chief Register said Cleyborn con-
fessed before him. Solicitor w. Ben
Gibbs Of the Brunswick Circuit and
Sergt. Jimmy Bison that he and Will
lie were hired by the Cofers to shoot
the Episcopal minister at the church
rectory the night OF February 5.
The chief disclosed Cleyborn had
been under arrest q week for question:
ing. but had long denied any connec-
ton with the case. The other colored
man was picked up at Washington, Ga.
Cofers Arrested Today.
Sheriff George w. Owens and two
city omcers arrested the Cofer BROTH
ers this morning. Henry J. Cofer Is
the owner OF the Golden Isle Hotel and
Casino and other island property: his
brother the proprietor of the Brass
Rail, liquor store.
All were held incommunicado In
Brunswick. Glynn County seat, about
IL miles from the island where the
church IS located.
Register quoted Cleyborn as saying
Henry Cofer. his employer, gave him
$50 and a pistol to kill DR.. Lee. and
that w. H. Cofer employed Willie to
assist him. He said he did not know
how much the latter was paid.
Chief Register said Cleyborn claimed
the Cofers' enmity toward Lee arose
from the gruf clergyman's opposition
to their operation Of gambling devices
at their resorts.
Conditions Had Irked Rector,
The 71-year-old rector never had
conducted any public crusade against
crime, but G. c. Durand, headmaster
OF the Sea Island School and close
friend OF DR.. Lee. said after the killing
the rector had been deeply disturbed
about what he regarded as serious
vice conditions in Glynn County.
The colored men met on st. Simon's
pier the night of February S after
getting off work about IL PM, Cley-
born was quoted by the chief, and went
along an old road to the rectory.
Cleyborn was quoted as saying he
fired the first shot through a window
at DR.. Lee as the latter sat reading
This bullet missed its mark. DR.. Lee
arose, walked around q bit and then
sat down, the colored man went on.
After watching their victim for about
Is minutes more, Register said, Willie
took the gun from Cleyborn and fred
q second shot through the window.
this one striking DR.. Lee in the right
temple and passing through his head,
bringing instant death.
Pistol Returned Next Day.
The police chief said Cleyborn and
Willie then ned to their homes. The
pistol was returned to Henry Cofer
next day, the chief said.
DR.. Lee. q 6-foot 2-inch stalwart,
whose hearty appearance belied his
II years, was a native of West Vir-
ginia, the son>of 4 well-known family
and q second cousin of Gen. Robert
E. Lee.
Educated at Hampden-sydney Col
lege and Virginia Theological Semi
nary, he entered the ministery in
1893. He was rector Of st. Pauls in
Macon, Ga, for is years before COM
ing to st. simon's in 1880.
Christ Church is one of the oldest
Episcopal parishes in America, hav-
ing been established shortly after
Gen. Oglethorpe founded the colony
of Georgia. Among its first rectors
were John and Charles Wesley, who
later founded the Methodist faith.