Litchfield enquirer., 1867-11-14
Trial of Greene, the Wife posson=r
FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE FIRST
 DEGREE.

The trial of William H. Greene for the murder of his reputed wife, Mrs. Mary H. 1 Searls, which commenced on Wednesday last, was brought to a close on Saturday by verdict Of Guilty. of Murder in the First Degree"
 l We have not space for uerbatins report of the testimony, but append the following synopsis of the case, giving the names of witnesses wherever they are of 1 importance:-
 i Greene himself testifes that he was born in Western Virginia in 1915, that at the age of nine 1 teen, he became member of the Methodist Con- ference, and preached in Virginia, North Carolina end Kentucky-that the name of his first wife 1 with whom he lived twenty-six years, was Gun ningham, and that she was a resident of Eliza- bethtown, Wood County, Va. In 1s47, he says that he removed to Texas, and remained there till 1864 preaching, teaching writing schools. selling maps, &c.,, in Louisiana and Texas.
 The first reliable evidence va have of him is from the Rev. John Hill and other witnesses living at or near Centreville, Alleghany County, N Y. to which place Greene came in October, 1865, under the name of George ". Long. [Greene himself admitted that under the name of Long he was married to Miss Frances Doolittle, by. the Rev MT. Kingsley, at Corfa.l He was at that time preaching as Methodist minister, having, as it appears, forged the necessary certificates and let 1 ters of recommendation. He continued preaching in and about CertrevIlle for 8 year and half, til August, 1866, when he deserted his wife, leaving 1 he, af Chai i- aii, witness testifying to having seen her within a | fortnight.
 1 In October 1866 he came to Garrottsyille Otsego 1 Co., N. '. under tho name of Professor Wn. H Greene of Qutman, Texas delivering political lee lures and preaching ton the strength of forged certificates &c.) At that place he became acquain- cd with Mrs. Mary H. Searles an estimable young l widow 26 years Of age 'svery lady-like pleasant and agreeable person of fine mind, and education whom, after 8 short acquaintance ho married on the 20th of December 1966. After preaching 6 | short time at Guilford, Chenango Co. \. l. he re. moved to West Cornwall, Ct. about March 9th 1867 Mir. a. '. Smith, Mrs. searles brother, having en- tered into partnership with Greene came to Corn wall soon after, where they opened store and oc- cupied the same dwelling house. Mrs. Searles had
  with Greene. Up to that time her health had been good but within fortnight it began to decline and she continued growing worse and worse suffering from disease of the lungs, till Dr. Sanford did not suppose she would live much longer than through the summer, and so told Greene. She had taken medicine given her by Greene, Harrison medi- cine, and had been attended by Dr.. Sanford, who made three or four calls on her. On the evening of the 9th of May she was taken with convulsions and died at little past 12 of that night The orly testimony offered regarding the facts immediately preceding this fatal attack is that of the two follow ing witnesses:
 Mrs.Nancy Marsh Of Cornwall testifies ssI call- ed at her house in the afternoon of the 9th of May at about half past five. Mrs. Smith met me at the door anl took me directly to Mrs. Greene's room. She was dressed and lying on the bed, very con- fortabe, and able to converse while was there; sine seemed to be in good spirits. Soon after I got there Mir. Greene came in. Mrs. Smith left the room in few minutes Irose to leave about six Mrs Smith had announced tea. Mr. Greene asked Mrs Greene if she would go out to tea. She said Yes I may as we'll She then rose up in sitting pos ture and was sitting on the bod when left the
 
 her. AS left he was standing by the medicine stand, four or five feet from the bed with his back towards me- could not see what he was dong I supposed he was preparing some medicine for his wife. staid out in the next room five or ten min utes. They did not come out while WAS there Left at ten minutes past six"
 Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, wife of A. Y Smith and sister-inaw of the deceased testifes: 'About half past five Mrs Marsh came in. Soon after Greene came and I went out to get tea Tn about ten min utes Mrs Marsh came out and we stood talking five or ten minutes After she went out Greene drew his wife out to the tea table in rocking chair. I turned out tea for her and for the rest. She did not eat anything. Think she drank nothing. Commenced crying and said if she could only eat she would not care. Mir. Greene said she must not cry it would only make her worse. He soon rose to leave the table. She asked him to stay while He refused, said he very busy at the store and left the house. She asked me to draw her back in- to the bedroom. She seemed to feel quite bad and said she had pain in her hand. I left the room, in few minutes heard noise, went back ard found her in fit. I immediately sent for Mr Greene to come quick-he camel think some one with him. The house was soon filled. She was in chair when first taken. Milton Green was at tea, our clerk. No one was in the room except Greene and his wife, after Mrs. Marsh went out She usually ate little. It was very unusual for her to cryshe was not inelin d to depression. II was unusual for her to ask him to stay; Smith was away but they had two clerks in the store Greene left tla horsa nhnut ton Gfte~. aItel Mrs. Marsh left, he was not in the house III the af ternoon. did not have charge of the medicine gave it when she asked. She was feeble and could not walk-could only take step or two."
 The particulars concerning her convulsions are thus given by Dr. E. Sanford of West Cornwall = 6 was called in on the 9th of May, about P M was informed she was dying. Found her lying in bed on her back, her head thrown back, her body forming curvature resting on her head and heels, frothing at the mouth very much--rigid- much so, that in raising her head, her whole body was raised. She lay in the convulsion five or six min- utes. Had another in about fifteen minutes. Con. tinued to have them till little past twelve, when she died from exhaustion. Between the convul. sions she called for drink and seemed to be con- scious. Think her jaws were locked, but did not examine them. I gave her no medicine I wit