Court Clerk Issues Arrest Warrant for Lawrence Gatling, Who Killed His Wife and Chauffeur, Jan. 15, 1924

No Outlawry Edict Yet for Gatling. . . Court Clerk Issues Capias for Arrest of Gatling for Double Murder

A capias has been issued for the arrest of Lawrence Gatling, young Raleigh man wanted on a charge of double murder for the killing of Helen Gatling, his wife, and Owen Stevens, Johnston county man, but no further move has been made to outlaw the fugitive, according to Assistant Clerk Lloyd Tilley of the Wake Superior Court.

During the first part of the past term of court the question of outlawry was submitted to Judge Grady who announced that he could take no action until a capias came up in the regular course of procedure. At that time Solicitor Evans stated that he would ask for a capias before the end of the term.

Anticipating that a move would be made to have Gatling outlawed, James H. Pou formally requested the judge not to outlaw the fugitive on the grounds that he is thought to be insane and because the law was unconstitutional and barbarous.

A reward of $650 has been offered for the arrest or apprehension of Gatling, whose whereabouts are just as mystifying as on the night of the killing two weeks ago.

--Raleigh Times

From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Jan. 15, 1924. A capias is a warrant issued by a judge directing law enforcement to arrest a specified person.