Relatives Visit Macon and Arrange for Decent Burial
Macon, Ga, January 26 -- (Special) -- The suicide of Mrs. Stella Akeridge
at Macon yesterday has been the talk of the town today. This afternoon
her brother and her stepmother arrived from No. 9 on the Central road near
Savannah, and went immediately to Undertaker Keating's, where the body has
been since the killing. They viewed the remains there. Their grief was
deep. The deceased was evidently beloved by them. While standing by the
corpse the stepmother of the deceased said: "Oh, I do not believe that
Stella killed herself. I am sure it was an accident."
The bereaved relatives assign no cause for the suicide.
The body will be taken to Forsyth tomorrow for burial. The mother of the
deceased is buried there.
A surprised man in Macon today when he read in the morning paper of the
suicide was Mr. T. R. Sanford, a well-known citizen of Macon, and formerly
public librarian and now night baggage master at the East Tennessee
depot. He is an uncle of the deceased and did not know that Mrs. Akeridge
had been to the city or was dead until he read an account of it in the
papers. Mrs. Hope, and aunt of the deceased, is also here on a visit.
When they learned of the death of their niece, they went immediately to
the undertaker's to see the body. They say if Mrs. Akeridge really
suicided her mind was evidently unbalanced. About six months ago Mrs.
Akeridge gave birth to a baby and the child died about two months later.
About the same time, so it is said, Mrs. Akeridge's husband forsook her.
Her grief over his departure, coupled with the death of her baby, is
thought to have unbalanced her mind, which led to the suicide. It is
stated that her brother was very kind to her and offered any sort of
assistance, but she refused to accept money from him. The deceased was
twenty-five years old.
WAS AN ATLANTA WOMAN
Chief Connolly Tells Something About Mrs. Akeridge, the Macon Suicide
Mrs. Stella Akeridge, who killed herself in such a sensational manner in a
store in Macon day before yesterday, had an Atlanta history.
She formerly resided here, so Chief Connolly says, and was married here
three years ago under the chief's supervision. The chief says that he is
positive that she is the same woman, and that her husband was an Atlanta
dry goods clerk. He left her only a few months ago.
According to the chief's story Mrs. Akeridge, whose maiden name was Stella
Sanford, was wronged by Akeridge, and her uncle, who was a member of the
state senate at the time, took the matter in hand and brought about a
marriage with the aid of Chief Connolly.
Chief Connolly says that Akeridge deserted his bride soon afterward, and
that she went to New Orleans. He is of the opinion that she was in a
convent there. Why she was in Macon he does not know.
FROM THE SCAFFOLD TO THE FIRE
A Negro About to be Hanged Gets Cold and is Allowed to Warm Up
Jesup, Ga, January 26 -- (Special) -- Jerry Mumford, a negro, was executed
here today for the murder of James Roberts February, 1890. The murder was
committed near Nahunta in this county. Mumford was indicted at the
special term of Wayne superior court in December, 1893, and was tried,
convicted and sentenced at the same time. He was represented by Colonel
R. C. Cannon, of Waycross, while Solicitor General Brantley took care of
the state's interest. During the trial it was proven that Mumford
requested Roberts to go to the well for a bucket of water and on his
refusal to do so Mumford went away, borrowed a pistol and shot Roberts.
Mumford was about twenty-five years old. He stated this morning to The
Constitution's correspondent that he was ready to meet his fate. About
250 people, white and black, witnessed the hanging. While Mumford was
making his statement one man stood on his left holding his arm, another on
his right holding the chain, while a third stood behind him holding a
Winchester rifle in close proximity to his body with his thumb on the
hammer of the rifle. Mumford was frequently interrupted during the
statement which he made to the crowd. The condemned man confessed his
crime and told his hearers to take warning at his fate. Becoming chilled,
Mumford was allowed to enter one of the offices in the courthouse to warm
himself. On his return he reiterated what he had first spoken and added
that it was the white people's ambition to hang or persecute a negro.
Mumford's neck was not broken. Drs. Taten and Little pronounced his life
extinct in thirteen minutes. His body was shipped to the Augusta Medical College.
WORSHAM'S KILLING
Many Witnesses Testify About the Feud and Shooting
NO WEAPON FOUND ON HIS BODY
Knucks Were Picked up in the Hinkle's
Office, but Their Ownership is not Definitely Fixed
Americus, Ga, January 26 -- (Special) -- The attendance on the Hinkle
trial at court was lighter this morning at the opening hour than for
several days past, but the courtroom soon began to fill up. The number of
ladies increases each day.
Colonel L. J. Blalock was the first put on the stand today to rebut the
evidence of Jane Barber. He swore that she made to him a year ago a
different statement as to her seeing the flashes of the pistols to that
made on this trial. D. F. Davenport was recalled by the state to show
that what Dr. Worsham had said to him the day of the killing about the
Hinkles needing a new set of teeth if they bothered him was said
jestingly. He also testified that immediately on his arrival at the scene
of the killing he heard Dr. J. B. Hinkle say: "He attempted to strike
Albert with brass knucks and I shot him." He did not hear H. T. Davenport
say anything about hiding brass knucks. The witness neither heard nor saw
anything fall when he and Dr. McLendon lifted Dr. Worsham's body.
Dr. C. N. Chapman testified that he was an intimate friend of Dr. Worsham,
was in Worsham's office a week before the killing and told Worsham that
the Hinkles were very angry with him. To this Worsham replied: "I'm not
afraid of them; I'm fixed for them," at the same time drawing out brass
knucks from his right hip pocket. The witness was familiar with Worsham's
habits as to carrying weapons and had seen him with knucks at least twenty
times. The witness was present when Worsham's body was searched for
weapons and himself searched all the pockets and found no weapons of any
kind. The overcoat was unbuttoned to the best of his recollection.
Chapman examined Dr. Worsham's hat, and as an expert in the use of
firearms, thought the bullet hole in the hat was made by a 32-caliber
ball. He had, in company with Eugene Hinkle and Judge Twiggs, made a test
with cloth and tape line of the distance that pistol shots would burn,
beginning at five feet and going down to four inches. The greatest
distance at which the cloth was burned was eight inches and powder stained
at nine inches.
Policeman Barrow was introduced by the state in rebuttal, the defense
having closed with Dr. Chapman's testimony. He arrested Drs. Hinkle and
stayed with them until Chief Lamar's arrival, a few seconds later. Dr. J.
B. Hinkle asked Lamar's permission to speak to Albert and then the two
Hinkles went into their office, accompanied by Barrow. They deposited no
weapons, did not speak to each other and then Dr. J. B. Hinkle said: "We
are ready." Barrow accompanied them out and tunred them over to Lamar and
Wheeler. He subsequently, with Policeman Fegan and D. F. Davenport and W.
R. Hudson, searched the Hinkles' office for weapons and found two pistols,
a knife and brass knucks. Witness stated that his feelings were friendly
toward the Hinkles and that he had never said they ought to be lynched.
He was opposed to lynching under any circumstances.
Miss Viola Bell testified that she passed the Drs. Hinkles' office shortly
before the killing and saw them standing on the veranda. She passed Dr.
Worsham at the Bank of Sumter corner and went across to Beall & Oakley's.
A few minutes later she heard a big rush and some one said that Dr.
Worsham had been shot.
Si Hawkins testified that he had used knucks and seen them used and
thought that blows from knucks would break the skin and bring blood. He
was shown knucks and was asked if they were those he had lent Dr. Chapman
and said they looked like them. His feelings were very unfriendly towards
Dr. J. B. Hinkle. He had never had any use for the old doctor. A few
days before the killing he was in Worsham's office to have a tooth pulled
and warned Worsham that if he did not mind there would be coroner's
inquest resulting from the Hinkles' ill feelings towards him. Worsham
replied: "D--n it, I'm not afraid of them. I'll take up the little one
and frail the other one with him." The witness saw on this occasion a pair
of brass knucks lying on Worsham's dental table.
Isaac Wilkerson, colored, testified that he had pawned a pistol for $1 to
Dr. Albert Hinkle about three weeks before the killing. A man whom he met
and tried to pawn the pistol with took the cartridges out, warning the
witness that it was unlawful to carry a loaded pistol. The witness gave
the cartridges to A. B. Hinkle when he pawned the pistol. He could not
identify the pistol exhibited as being the one he pawned.
Dr. L. M. McLendon was examined as to the difference of opinion with Dr.
Darby on the autopsy. They agreed in most particulars, but he differed
with Dr. Darby in some points. He felt Dr. Worsham's pulse just after the
shooting. He did not remember drawing the right arm out from under the
body. He saw no knucks, as nothing had been said about them in his
hearing at that time. Judge J. C. Matthews testified that in a
conversation with Worsham the latter had expressed himself as desiring to
have no further controversy or trouble with the Hinkles. He testified as
to the high character of Mr. H. T. Davenport. In the opinion of the
witness the hat now in evidence as that of Dr. A. B. Hinkle was not the
hat he examined at the preliminary trial in January, 1893. Colonel J. H.
Lumpkin testified that he, with Arthur Rylander, was the first to reach
the scene of killing from across Jackson street. He remained there until
after the Hinkles were taken away. He saw Dr. J. B. Hinkle on the
sidewalk near Worsham's body. He did not believe that Hinkle could have
gone back into the office and come out again from the time of the shooting
until the witness arrived. He saw A. B. Hinkle on the veranda. He could
not state positively whether A. B. Hinkle came out of the office or only
emerged from the shadow outside of the door. He did not see Boykin
Glover. The witness heard Rylander's questions and Hinkle reply: "He
attacked Albert with brass knucks and I shot him." He did not see A. B.
Hinkle go into the office before Chief Lamar came.
J. H. Hagarty, superintendent of the Gas and Electricl Company, testified
that the electric lights were not lit when he heard the shots, and not
until he had reached the gas works a few minutes later.
Judge James H. Guerry testified as to the police bringing the Hinkles to
his room at the Allen house and relating circumstances of the homicide and
asking for bail. He questioned the prisoners and Dr. J. B. Hinkle stated
that he fired only three shots and that no other shots were fired unless
Worsham had done so, and J. B. Hinkle asked Albert whether Worsham had
shot and Albert said he did not know as Worsham's blow had dazed him.
Judge Guerry, then hearing of the excitement on the streets in consequence
of Worsham's death, ordered the prisoners to be sent to the jail. He
examined Dr. A. B. Hinkle's head and found a contusion the size of his
thumb on the top of the head.
J. W. Mize testified to meeting Dr. J. B. Hinkle at the Windsor barber
shop two hours before the killing. John R. Shaw, who took the barber's
chair vacated by Hinkle, thought it was as much as three hours before the
homicide. Dr. C. B. Raines testified, as a medical expert, that in his
opinion the wounds on Worsham's body could not have been made by one man
firing two pistols. The course of the bullets making the wounds through
the collar bone and through the side and heart was nearly at right angles
to each other. He was not friendly to Dr. A. B. Hinkle.
Dr. G. T. Miller testified that in his opinion one man could not do the
shooting with two pistols. The character of the wounds indicated that the
front and side wounds were made almost at the same time; he had nothing
against Dr. J. B. Hinkle, but was not friendly with Dr. A. B. Hinkle.
Here the state closed.
Sheriff Forrest testified that the hat of Dr. A. B. Hinkle, in evidence,
was the same turned over to him at the commitment trial, and had been in
his custody ever since and had been examined only by counsel on both
sides. Chief Lamar was recalled to rebut the testimony of Policeman
Barrow. Albert Hinkle did not ask witness to permit him to speak to Dr.
J. B. Hinkle; Albert did not go into the office with Policeman Barrow;
witness had heard Barrow frequently say that the killing was a cold-
blooded murder and the prisoners ought to bu hung in the presence of Joe
Masscias and others; could not remember other parties, and Colonel E. A.
Hawkins continuing to insist that witness name the other parties, Chief
Lamar repeated several times the names of Barrow, Masscias and his own,
when Judge Fish told him not to repeat that answer again. He persisted
and Judge Fish threatened to punish the witness if he did not obey the
orders of the court. This created quite a little flutter for a few
moments. Dr. C. K. Chapman testified as a knucks expert, his father being
a dealer in weapons. There being no marks on them he could not positively
identify which one of several sets exhibited belonged to Dr. Worsham, but
thought a dark set was his. The defense rested at the conclusion of Dr.
Chapman's testimony, and unless the witnesses to be introduced by the
state this morning consume a good deal of time the argument of counsel may
begin tomorrow.
