Shad Wilson, J.T. Godsey Say They Saw Robert Garrett Shoot Rev. Pierce, Aug. 1, 1923

He Saw Garrett Shoot Minister. . . Eye Witness on Stand in Sensational Murder Trial, Describes What Was Happening When He Arrived

By the Associated Press

Cumberland Courthouse, Va., Aug. 1—Shad Wilson, eye witness, testified today at the trial of Larkin Garrett that when he was attracted to the Pierce home by screaming women on the day Rev. Edward Pierce was shot to death he found Larkin sitting on the minister and beating him in the face while Robert Garrett stood by him with a pistol in his hand.

Wilson said he saw Robert fire several shots into the minister’s body both before and after he fell, but saw no other shots fired. The witness was positive that he did not see Pierce shoot Robert in the back. He said he did not see the minister shoot at all.

J.T. Godsey, another eye witness, testified that the only shots he saw fired were by Robert. He said that after the minister was beaten he went into the house and returned with a shot gun and pistol, that Robert Garrett covered him as he emerged, wrong the shotgun from him with the pistol in his wright hand both before and after he fell.

From the front page of The Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Wednesday, August 1, 1923