State Opens Case Paul Glover
JULIUS PAUL GLOVER | The State will open its case against Paul GLOVER, of Munford next Monday in Memphis. GLOVER is alleged to have killed Burtis HATHCOCK [Brutis Edward Hathcock], of Memphis, last April. The trouble is said to have risen over HATHCOCK’s treatment of his wife, who was GLOVER’s sister [Martha Elizabeth Glover Hathcock].
[The Covington Leader, Covington, Tenn., March 3, 1932]
Criminal Court
Paul Glover, who is accused of killing his brother-in-law, Burtis Hathcock, on Jefferson last summer after a family argument, will face trial tomorrow morning before Judge Harsh. He is charged with murder.
[Paul Glover; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 6 Mar 1932; Pg 16]
Slayer Hears State Unfold Death Drama
Killer of Brother-in-Law Will Open Defense Today.
The aftermath of a domestic tragedy in which Paul Glover, 24, a avenged his sister’s maltreatment by killing his brother-in-law, Burtis E. Hathcock, was unfolded in second division criminal court yesterday before Judge Thomas W. Harsh. The killing occurred at Jefferson and McNeil, June 10, 1931.
Although Glover is indicted for first degree murder, the state is not seeking the extreme penalty. Moving with swift precision, the jury was empanneled yesterday morning and the state’s case in chief, presentd by Ass. Atty. Gen. Sam Campbell, was completed at 3:30 p.m.
The sudden termination of the state’s evidence took A. B. Galloway and Ed Weinstein, attorneys for Glover, by surprise, and Mr. Galloway, who also pleaded a slight illness, asked for a recess until this morning, promising that the defense would complete its case, based on self defense, today.
Main points in the direct testimony of the state were an eye-witness’ account of the shooting, a death-bed statement from Hathcock, and a voluntary admission of the slaying to Capt. Frank Glisson of the police homicide squad by Glover after he surrendered at the police station. But on cross-examination, the defense established that Hathcock had frequently beaten his wife and had been arrested for his misconduct two days before the tragedy.
That the defense will attempt to introduce a “love triangle” as the cause for Hathcock’s marital difficulties was indicated in Mr. Galloway’s cross-examination when he asked several witnesses, without result, if they knew a woman named “Jackie”. She is Miss Mary Lee “Jackie” Mabry, 19, a waitress, who admitted after the shooting that she loved Hathcock but was unaware that he was a husband and father of a eight-year-old son.
Hathcock, a baker at Winknelman’s bakery, had been married to Glover’s sister for 12 years, moving to Memphis from Munford, Tenn., the Glover home. “He had been fooling with women a lot,” Glover said in his statement which was read to the jury by General Campbell. Unlike the confessions that figured in the recent Barretville case, his statement was admitted as evidence without and argument by the defense and no claim of third degree methods have been advanced.
Glover stated that two days before the shooting, his sister sent for him and he and his mother came to Memphis from Munford to find Mrs. Hathcock in bed suffering from a severe beating administered by her husband. Glover and his mother stayed at the Hathcock home, 1441 Jefferson, from Monday night until Wednesday, June 10, Glover meanwhile getting his pistol from his home in Munford.
Wednesday afternoon Hathcock drove up with Porter Brigham, a cousin, who lived in the Hathcock home, stopping the car a few doors down the street, at Jefferson and McNeil. Glover, armed with his pistol, walked down to the car. “I beat him to it and shot him three times,” he said in his statement. Taking Hathcock’s pistol which he said lay on the seat beside his brother-in-law, Glover wrapped both in a newspaper and proceeded immediately to the police station where he surrendered.
Makes Dying Statement.
Hathcock was taken to St. Joseph’s hospital where he died at 8 p.m. three hours after the shooting. His dying statement was related yesterday by C. H. Mooney, superintendent of Winkelman Bakery, who saw Hathcock in an operating room at the hospital before his death. Mrs. Hathcock was there also. According to Mooney, Hathcock said: “Paul walked up to the car and said ‘how are your Burtis.’ I said ‘how are you, Paul. We were talking and laughing and then he started shooting.”
The statement was admitted as a dying declaration when Mooney testified that Hathcock knew he was on his deathbed.
Mr. Brigman, an eye witness, corroborated this account of the shooting, declaring that Glover walked up to the car and without warning opened fire.
Marital Affairs Described.
Mrs. Brigman, pretty young matron, described the domestic life of the Hathcock’s, declaring that Mrs. Hathcock worked as a waitress at the Grand Central Station lunch room from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m., and from 5 a.m. until 11 a.m. And Mrs. L. E. Finley, 142 Clark, sister of the slain man, said that she ministered to her sister-in-law after the last battle with Hathcock June 9, but saw only one bruise. “Paul Glover said he would attend to Burtis,” she said.
Mrs. Walter Barnes, proprietress of a barber shop at 409 Exchange, formerly at Poplar and Third, testified that Glover told her that “if he ever was Burtis he would never beat his sister again.” On cross examination, she admitted that Hathcock was in her shop two days before the tragedy and that “she heard him snapping a pistol in the back of the shop.”
Brigman testified that on the day of the crime, he and Hathcock drove to Covington to get Hathcock’s mother.
“On our way to Covington we met Glover,” Mr. Brigman said. “Glover threw up his hand and slowed down but we didn’t stop. We took his mother to the house. When I came out I saw Glover walking down the street.
Tells of Shooting.
“He waited for me. Hathcock was sitting under the wheel of the car about a half block away. I got in the car, and Glover said to Hathcock: “‘How are you Burtis?'” and Hathcock said, “‘I’m all right. How are you?'”
“Then Glover started shooting. Hathcock had reached for the switch key. Glover shot three times, and he was so close that the powder burned my arm.
“We put Hathcock on the lawn and he said to Glover.
“‘Why did you shoot me? You didn’t give me a chance.'”
“‘Well you didn’t give my sister a chance,'” Glover said.
“‘Yes I did. I could have killed your sister.'”
“I told Glover to get away from the car, and he said, ‘stand back or I’ll blow you in two.’ Then he reached into the car and came up with a 32 automatic and said,
“‘I’ll take this for evidence.’ I didn’t see Hathcock with a pistol and I never knew him to own one.”
Under questioning of A. B. Galloway, defense attorney, Mr. Brigman insisted that he has not worked for Harry Langley, prosecuted several years ago for liquor sales at the “Gayoso Inn”. He said that he had been arrested twice and had once paid a fine, for speeding.
Mr. Hathcock’s mother has died since the killing. His father, and Dr. Giles Coors, who was giving emergency treatment to Hathcock at St. Joseph’s Hospital, were the first witnesses for the state.
Dr. Coors said that Hathcock was struck by two bullets, one of which made a flesh wound on the thigh. The other passed through the body at the diaphram.
M. E. Hathcock, Covington, Tenn., farmer and father of the slain man, yesterday sat beside General Campbell. He has employed Julian Walker, Covington attorney, to aid in the prosecution.
The case, originally set for trail last Nov. 30, was postponed because Mrs. B. W. Hathcock [Isabella Proctor Hathcock (1879-19310], mother of Burtis, was injured in an automobile accident. She later died.
[Slayer Hears State Unfold Death Drama; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 8 Mar 1932; Pg 15]
Paul Glover, acquitted last week in the killing of his brother-in-law, Burdis Hathcock, will go on trial March 25 for carrying a pistol in the same case.
[Paul Glover; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 13 Mar 1932; Pg 10]
The criminal court calendar, announced yesterday by Mike M. Cohen, clerk of the court, also includes the trial of Paul Glover for carrying a pistol. He was recently acquitted of first degree murder in the death of his brother-in-law, Burdis Hathcock. He will go on trial before Judge Harsh Friday, for carrying the pistol with which he killed Hathcock.
[Paul Glover; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 20 Mar 1932; Pg 20]
Friday, March 25 – Paul Glover, Pete Ventrini, Moses Kirsch-Phil Kirsch and Joe Manas, I. F. Jones, James L. Tarbrough. Motions.
[Paul Glover; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 20 Mar 1932; Pg 20]