Clay-Early County GaArchives Obituaries.....HATCHER, JEFF June 1895
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
REBECCA STEWART rstewart@enervest.net December 15, 2011, 10:57 am

THE FT. GAINES SENTINEL, JUL18, 1895
BOUND OVER FOR MANSLAUGHTER

COL. WILSON WENT OVER TO BLAKELY SATURDAY AS COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE IN THE 
PRELIMARY TRIAL OF R.L. MERRITT CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF JEFF HATCHER IN 
EARLY COUNTY JUNE 27.  THE CHARGEED WAS NOT SUSTAINED.  MERRITT WAS BOUND OVER 
TO THE SUPERIOR COURT UNDER A BOND OF $500 FOR MANSLAUGHTER.  

THE EVIDENCE IN THE PRELIMINARY TRIAL WAS TO THE EFFECT THAT MERRITT AND 
HATCHER HAD BEEN FARMING TOGETHER.  THEY DISAGREED AND MERRITT WAS PREPARING 
TO MOVE.  HE OWED HATCHER $7.50 HOWEVER, WHICH HATCHER WANTED HIM TO PAY 
BEFORE HE LEFT OR LEAVE CERTAIN ARTICLES OF FURNITURE INSTEAD.  THIS MERRITT 
REFUSED TO DO WHEN HATCHER DREW HIS KNIFE AND STARTED TOWARD HIM SAYING, "I'LL 
HAVE IT OR HAVE YOU!"  MERRIT THEN DREW HIS PISTOL AND FIRED  THE SHOT THAT 
CAUSED HATCHER'S DEATH.

UPON CONCLUSION OF THE TRIAL MERRITT SUCCEEDED IN GIVING BOND AND IS NOW AT 
THE HOME OF HIS FATHER IN LAW NEAR FT. GAINES.

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