Madison County GaArchives News.....SPEER CHANDLER SHOT AND KILLED HOMER McWHITHER August 29, 1913
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Christine Crumley - Brown http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00013.html#0003050 November 18, 2006, 7:50 pm

Danielsville Monitor August 29, 1913
SPEER CHANDLER SHOT AND KILLED HOMER McWHITHER

Chandler Pleads Self Defense, Verdict of Coroners Jury Sustain Plea of 
Defendant

   Mr. Speer Chandler, son of Mr. Neal Chandler, shot and instantly killed 
Homer McWhirter, alias Henry McWilkins, at the home of Mr. Neal Chandler last 
Saturday at noon.  The circumstances leading up to the killing, as stated to a 
reporter of the News, by Mr. Chandler are as follows:  Homer McWhirter col, 
the negro who was killed had been at work Mr. Bratcher Sellers, until a few 
days ago.  When he left Mr. Sellers he went to the Chandler home and applied 
for work.  He was employed, temporarily, by Mr. Speer Chandler, who was to 
work the negro for a few days and after that he was to work the balance of the 
year for Mr. Neal Chandler.  Saturday morning, Speer Chandler left the negro 
at work on the premises, to go to the home of a neighbor.  On leaving he 
locked the door.  The negro was present, and asked why the door had been 
locked.  Mr. Chandler told him he locked the door on account of the fact, that 
his fathers household effect had been left in his care, and that it was his 
duty to take good care of them.  This aroused the suspicion of Mr. Chandler, 
and before leaving, he unlocked the door, went into the home, and got 
his pistol.  Some two hours later, he returned from the home of the neighbor, 
and on arrival called McWhirter to the lot, to assist in some work be wanted 
done.  While unhooking his horse from the buggy, Mr. Chandler turned his head, 
and saw the negro within a few feet of him, with an axe drawn, ready to 
strike.  The negro cursed him, and told him to hold up his hands, and give up 
his money.  Chandler jumped back, drew his pistol, and fired two shots.  The 
first went wild while the second entered the breast of McWhirter, near the 
heart.  The negro ran about 30 paces, fell on his face, breathed twice, and 
was dead.  The above are the facts, as furnished by Mr. Chandler.  As soon as 
Mr. Chandler saw that he had killed the negro he went to the nearest phone 
telephoned the sheriff of Madison county and the coroner of the county what he 
had done.  The coroner empanelled a jury and held an inquest returning a 
verdict of justifiable homicide.  There was no eyewitness, either to the 
incidents leading up to the killing, or to the fatal shot when fired.  ---The 
Commerce News.


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