Principal evidence against Williams was contained in testimony of young Ed Brittain, a son of the murdered man, who was with his father on the night of the tragedy and was the only eye witness to the affair. The young man said he had been chopping wood with his father and dug Mitchell all day Tuesday. On their return home, about dark they passed Williams’ place and Dug called to them that he had an oppossum he would like to sell. Dug went on and Brittain stopped to get some liquor. When Ed knocked at the door Mary Williams answered, telling him to go away, they had no liquor. He knocked again and also immediately a gun was fired through the door facing him, and his father, who was standing in the yard, fell, saying, “Ed, I’m shot.” The youngster Brittain ran for help, going to the home of Dug Mitchell, who lives near.
Officers who were notified as soon as possible were put on the stand this afternoon to tell of finding the body and of the arrest later of Williams at the home of a kinsman, Mike Branch. Deputy L.A. Ward testified first and his evidence was corroborated by Deputy C.B. Scott. The big extra heavy rifle that they found at Branch’s which corresponded with the bullet which dropped from the dead man’s clothing was introduced as evidence.
The state’s theory is that Dug Mitchell was the intended victim of Williams because he had recently reported them for selling liquor and when they shot they thought he was in the party. They will be tried at a special term of Burke county court to be held in February.
(From the front page of the Hickory Daily Record, Saturday evening, Jan. 15, 1921)
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