Criminal Justice Matters: Ira Ates, H. A. Martin, 1933, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: June 29, 1933 Winn Parish Enterprise Ira Ates, 31, Is Victim Of Shotgun Load H. A. Martin, Owner of Place On Which Ates Was Tenant Farmer Is Not Arrested An argument over whether a bushel of potatoes weighs 60 or 70 pounds culminated in gunplay at noon last Saturday which cost the life of Ira Ates, 31 year old tenant farmer, in the Atlanta Community about 12 miles south of Winnfield. H. A. Martin, 37, owner of the farm on which Ates was a tenant, fired the fatal shots. Martin was released after his surrender to Sheriff Bryant Sholars when a coroner's jury held the death of Ates was "justifiable homicide." Old Dispute Renewed A shotgun, which was not loaded, was found near Ates' body at the gate to Martin's yard. Ates, renewing an argument over the potatoes which began Thursday but which Martin thought had been settled, approached the Martin home on horseback about 11:30 a.m. and called for Martin to come out, witnesses at the coroner's inquest testified. Martin at first refused to come out on the porch of his home, witnesses said, but when summoned a second time by Ates, the farm owner walked out of the door. Ates, so witnesses said, had dismounted from his horse and was standing just outside the yard with his shotgun aimed at Martin. Martin rushed back into the house and picked up his single barreled shotgun. He returned and fired point-blank. A charge of No. 12 shot tore into Ates' face, causing instant death, Coroner J. K. Faith declared. Whether Ates ever attempted to fire his weapon is not known. Mrs. Ira Ates, widow of the victim, testified that neither she nor her husband knew his shotgun was not loaded. Sheriff is Summoned Substantially the same versions of the shooting were given by martin, his wife, and two daughters, Ottis, 16, and Norena, 12, and by Mrs. Ira Ates, widow of the dead man. Immediately after the shooting, Joe Martin, brother of the farm owner, called the sheriff, and coroner, and H. A. Martin surrendered to the sheriff. At the conclusion of the coroner's inquest, H. A. Martin was not arrested and no charges were filed in the case. Both Martin and Ates are members of well known families in the Atlanta Community.