Charges Filed in Homicide Metro Nashville Detectives Charged Child Needed to Go to Vanderbilt Nicholas T
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Home of John Van Hooser Jr. 128th YEAR - NO. 29 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2012 TWO SECTIONS - 50¢ PER COPY Leroy Troy to perform Visit www.cannoncourier.com at Short Mtn. Distillery For your ‘Apple Pie’ event election See page 5 returns Charges filed in homicide Metro Nashville detectives charged child needed to go to Vanderbilt Nicholas T. Griffin in connection with hospital," said Yellow Cab President the death of Cannon County native and General Manager Doug Trimble. Father shoots son Henry Moore. It was far out of his way, but there Griffin faces criminal homicide were no other available drivers, so he in self-defense case charges for the death of Moore, who agreed to go across town to pick up The Cannon County Sheriff's Department is had worked in Nashville for nearly 40 the female caller who said it was an investigating the shooting death of Thomas Laxton years as a Yellow Cab driver. emergency. in Bradyville. Metro Police said additional arrests About a block from the intersection, "On 28 October 2012, we responded to 350 Lola are anticipated in the case. NICHOLAS HENRY someone pulled out a gun. The shot Lane in Bradyville TN for a victim of a gunshot Griffin, 20, of Derrick Court GRIFFIN MOORE shattered his driver's side window. wound," said Sheriff Darrell Young. Nashville, was developed as a block of 10th Avenue North before 3 The cab crashed a block in front of a "During the course of this investigation it was possible suspect early in the a.m. Friday, Oct. 27 after being church, across from a school. determined that a 65-year-old male, Pless Laxton had investigation. Detectives located him dispatched to pick up a fare at 10th The investigation into this murder shot his son, Thomas Laxton, in an altercation. Wednesday, Oct. 31 afternoon. During Avenue North and Garfield Street. case remains active. Griffin is being Thomas Laxton had a history of drug abuse," the an interview, Griffin admitted to his After being shot, Moore accelerated held in lieu of $750,000 bond. sheriff said. involvement in the murder, which he the cab and crashed at the intersection Griffin was previously arrested in The investigation is still ongoing and was said occurred during a robbery. of 10th and Garfield. April for waving a gun at a group of conducted by members of the Cannon County Moore, 69, was shot in the 1500 "It was his belief that a lady and her See CHARGES page 9 See FATHER page 9 Franz Walkup battles to recover from wounds Family, community KEITH SISKIN show their support TONY STINNETT Keith Siskin Courier Sports Editor Franz Walkup wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father and named to older brother when he joined the military. judicial post Much like those family members before him, Walkup gave of himself to serve and defend his country. The Army fire support specialist has MICHELLE WILLARD been transferred to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., after Courier Correspondent suffering from injuries sustained during an attack in Afghanistan. Juvenile Court Judge Walkup was injured during a gun battle in Afghanistan in late Donna Scott Davenport September. Walkup suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen when can't think of anyone better U.S. soldiers fired upon Afghan allies who returned fire. U.S. soldiers to replace Judge Don Ash believed they were under attack by insurgents when a mortar round than Keith Siskin. hit a checkpoint set up by American soldiers. The Afghan allies "He listens and applies returned fire and Walkup was shot five times. the law appropriately and Doctors originally treated Walkup, a Cannon County High School fairly," said Davenport, graduate, in Landstuhl, Germany. He underwent five surgeries to who appointed Siskin to repair various serious injuries. He was recently transferred to Walter his current seat as Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he continues to battle on the Rutherford County's road to recovery. Juvenile Court magistrate The Walkup family has endured military conflict previously. Frank Walkup III was a Marine, as was another of his sons, Frank Walkup IV. in 2004. "He knows the File photo law. He's the whole Walkup IV was killed by an explosion in Iraq in 2007. He was a Woodbury’s Franz Walkup was all smiles when he headed to package." commissioned officer and was a member of the ROTC program at the On Monday Siskin was University of Tennessee. Afghanistan. He’s now recovering from his wounds at Walter named by Gov. Bill The news has been better for Franz, who is rehabbing and making Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. Haslam to replace Ash in progress during what figures to be a long road to recovery, according recovery process will not be an easy one; however, she says there is the 16th Judicial District to doctors. progress and all the love shown Franz helps drive him. Circuit Court, which Sister Emily Agee, a 2012 graduate of CCHS, said the prayers and “It’s tough, especially when you have been through this before,” serves Rutherford and support have been overwhelming. Agee said. “We are so very lucky and fortunate. We are so relieved that Cannon counties. “The amount of support and prayers and everything has been (Franz) is doing better. Knowing people care and are sending prayers "I want to thank Gov. overwhelming,” Agee said. “It is amazing how a community can care and support has been helpful.” Haslam for offering me about a life. So many of the places have put up signs of encouragement Franz’ twin brothers, Jake and Joshua, are eighth-graders at this opportunity in the or called us, or posted on a Facebook page in support of (Franz). The Woodbury Grammar School. They said just knowing their brother is 16th Judicial District," support is just amazing.” See FRANZ page 9 Siskin said. "I'm honored Agee said the family realizes there is a still a long road ahead and the to be able to continue serving the citizens of Rutherford and Cannon Andy Bryson named County." The Vanderbilt graduate and University of Georgia judicial commissioner School of Law alumnus Andy Bryson has been appointed by General Sessions said this appointment Judge Susan Melton to serve as Cannon County’s third fulfills a life-long dream. judicial commissioner. "This is why I went to Bryson, former Cannon Courier publisher/owner, served law school," Siskin said. as chairman of the Cannon County grand jury for decades "You can say it's a calling." in addition to working at the newspaper from age 9 until Siskin explained he retirement in 2009. interned for a judge in Under Tennessee law, judicial commissioners are high school, which responsible for the issuance of criminal arrest warrants inspired his love for law. upon finding probable cause. During a probable cause "I've wanted to be a hearing, judicial commissionmers set bail and issue orders judge ever since," he said. Photo provided of mittimus. Siskin's first step to Andy Bryson, former Cannon Courier publisher/owner, was sworn in as judicial com- Jimmy Barrett and Nile Young also serve as judicial See JUDGE page 9 missioner by General Sessions Judge Susan Melton. commissioners. CANNON BLAST SATURDAY See Page 7 The MTSU Friends of Music announce the annual NOVEMBER 10, 2012 6:15 P.M. Tickets are $100 per person. Sponsor EVENING OF Stones River Country Club in Murfreesboro tables are available for $1,000 and $2,500 For reservations, contact Claudette Northcutt at 615-898-5924, or by e-mail wing at [email protected]. S EEO/AA PAGE 2 CANNON COURIER NOVEMBER 7, 2012 CANNON OBITUARIES Henry Wiley Moore Thomas Aaron Laxton Mary Sue Jones Mears Graveside services are planned for Henry Wiley Moore, Thomas Aaron Laxton, 25, of Bradyville died Sunday, Mary Sue Jones Mears, 50 of Christiana passed away on 69, of Kingston Street, Nashville, at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 28, 2012 at this home. He was a native of Knox Co., October 27, 2012 following an extended illness. November 10 with Bro. Herb Alsup TN. A native of Orlando, Fl., she was the daughter of the late officiating. He is survived by his father, Pless Laxton of Bradyville; George C. Jones and Mary Jane Fox Jones and was a Burial was at Riverside Gardens. siblings, Charity (Charles) Davenport and James (Brenna) homemaker. A Cannon County native, Mr. Moore was Laxton both of Murfreesboro and Mary (Jason) Layhew of She was the loving mother of Jessica Adams of Christiana a cab driver for 40 years with Yellow Cab Woodbury; nieces and nephews, Phillip, Cody and Amanda and Chris and Misty Mears of McMinnville; Meme of, and was a veteran of the Army. Shaffer, Kylee and Lola Odom, Jessie, Maycie and Wyatt Jesson Adams and Hayden Mears; Siblings, Ann He was preceded in death by his parents, Wiley Laxton. Humphrey and James Jones both of Christiana and Paul Moore and Roberta Higgins Moore and his brothers, Jack He was preceded in death by his mother, Jennifer Jan Jones of Murfreesboro. Lewis Moore and Joe Don Moore. Reynolds Laxton. He was a carpenter. Funeral services were 2 pm Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in the Survivors include nieces and nephews: Katrina Moore Memorial services were 7 pm Friday, November 2, 2012 at Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home. Holmes of Smyrna, Rebecca Moore Pidcock of Clintonville, the Readyville Mill. Burial was in Shelton Cemetery, Rutherford Co. WI, Timothy Moore and James M. Moore, both of Beloit, Woodbury Funeral Home, 615-563-2311 or In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family to WI, Jill Elroy of Fountain Valley, CA and Jo-Di Moore of www.woodburyfuneralhome.net help with funeral expenses.