Hide Article Text (OCR)
Chamberlain Says Otto George Has Confessed Firing Fatal Shot Herman Kirkland, 24-year-old pharmacy clerk, met death from a pistol bullet early the morning of May 13 Because he resisted a plotted robbery of the Toulmin ville drug store, owned by his brother, Bryant Kirkland. This was revealed today by So licitor Bart B. Chamberlain. He said confession of three Mo bile men had cleared up the mys terious slaying. Otto George Blamed Otto George, held in a series of holdups in Mobile and admitted on Aug. 8 that he fired the actual shot that killed Kirk land. A week later, Harvey George, no relation to Otto, confessed to par ticipation in the fatal attack, ac cording to the solicitor. Today, a third prisoner—Lafay ette “Cotton” Bush, taken into custody at Pensacola aboard the steamship Gateway City, admitted he also was a member of the group which descended on the drug store with robbery as a mo tive. Mr. Chamberlain added. The prosecutor said the con fessions to Kirkland was shot down when he sought to pre vent two of the party from enter ing the building after he cracked a rear door in response to a knock. Sleeping in Store Kirkland was aroused from his bed in the rear of the store. Otto George lives in Plateau; pe msee almost prong The pepetad confessions were obtained by Mr. Chamberlain, City Detective Dick Lincoln and Deputy W. B. Blackman. Solicitor Chamberlain an nounced the folowing regarding the arrests: “On the night of the slaying, Harvey George rented a U-Drive- It car, picked up Bush and the two drove to the end of Magazine Point car line and met Otto George by agreement. Robbery of a Greer store in Whistler was Planned, but crowds around the place frustrated it. They then rode around and after reach Toulminville, Harvey George told the others there was about $500 or $600 in the drug store safe. First Attempt Failed “A first attempt to rob the drug store failed because too many cus tomers were in the place. “The trio then came back to Mobile and attended a dance at the Moose hall; they later drove back to Toulminville and hid in the woods until the store closed. They were all aware of the fact that Herman Kirkland slept in the store. Otto George and Bush knocked on a rear door, but no one answered at first, although they heard a radio playing softly. They knocked again and Kirk land finally opened the door with his right hand in a crouching position. Kirkland shoved the door shut, although Bush and Otto George tried to force it open. Kirkland kicked at the two men who were armed and hooded. “I fired one shot from my pis tol,” part of Otto George's com ponents says. Otto George ran from the place to the auto where Harvey was at the wheel. Bush ran from the rear of the store until he reached his home. Grilled Some Time Detective Lincoln, Deputy Blackman and I have been work ing on the case since the slaying happened. Following the arrests of the two Georges in robberies, we suspected they were implicated in the killing. Finally, on Aug. 8, Otto George signed a written statement that he killed Kirkland and implicated Harvey George and “Cotton” Bush. “T went to Atmore prison on Aug. 15 and obtained Harvey George's confession.Harvey George was serving a sentence (Turn to Page 3, Column 4)
Newspaper Details
The Mobile Times
Mobile, Alabama, US
Fri, Sep 07, 1934
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 14 Jun 2026
Other Publications Near Mobile, Alabama
The Mobile News Item
The Mobile Item
Sunday News Item
Mobile Tribune
Mobile Register And Journal
