Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-02-13
SHEN AN DOAH HERALD AND "
TEE CASE OF Platter.

sssA SsspG Gr s lAsa e IVA
We haveaselaom read the history of 81
more atrociotls murder. than that for
which John r. Platter is now being
tried before the Circuit Court Of Dorch-
ester county, Maryland. The statement
of the case, as given by the prescott
ing Attorney, which he expects to
prove, is, as reported in. the Baltimore
sas1a, that some time in the year 1865,
Platter became acquainted with the de-
ceased in the State Of Virginia; that she
was young, and with little or no know
ledge Of the world, while he was a man
Of mature years, broght up in the enjoy
ment Of considerable educational and
social advantages; that he wen her
affection and trust, and then sacrificed
her innocence upon the altar Of his un-
holy lusts; that he afterwards married
her when her shame could no longer be
concealed; that on the day after their
marriage they went to LynehbNrg, Va,
and stopped at the house OF s married
sister OF the deceased, whose husband s
name was Jackson; that they remained
there together, living as man and wife,
for something more than month,
When he went away as he alleged, to
seek employment, leaving his wife in
the house Of Jackson; that he returned
about New ear 1866 to be present at
the confinement of his wife, who gave
birth to child about the 18th OF Jan
uary; that he employed physician and
midwife, and otherwise provided for the
comfort Of his wife, that he remained
with her till the following. March, when
he went away again, as he SAID, to get
employment, that he correspondent with
his wife till almost June, and after that
that she lost the knowledge of his
whereabouts; that the child died in the
following October; that the deceased
continued to live with Jackson till the
early part Of 1869; that Platter sent her,
soon after he left in March, 1856, the
sum Of $50 in money and some lnateria-
ais for clothing, and that Jackson,
though in very INDECENT circumstances,
had been compelled to support her; that
in May, 1868, she learned that her hus
band was living in Talbot county, Nd,
and that she induced Jackson to 90 to
see him, but he refused to see him, and
Jackson had to return home without
accomplishing anything; that, being
destitute Of money or proper clothing
to goto her husband, she apprenticed
herselfto milliner in the early part of
1869, and remained there hard at work
till March, 1871, when she started for
Maryland; that when she reached her
husbands house he met her with the in
ssslting speech, you d. d b-h, what
did you come here for q that she enter
ed the house and remained there till the
following August; that she soon discov-
cred the reason Of his unwilIingness to
receive her; that she found him living
in adultery with negro woman nam
ed Rebecca Cornish, and that while she
was there she was compelled to occupy
room in the lower story, while her
husband was in the habit Of sleeping up
stairs with his negro mistress; that
while at his house she became pregnant
by him, but that lis cruelty became so
great that she was compelled to apply
to the law for protection, and that fin
ally, in August Of 1871, the same year
that she had come to his house, on the
advice of the States attorney for Talbot
county, she RETAINED to Iynchburg,
where she remained till November fol
lowing, gaining her living by working
at the millinery business.
1t is also alleged that Influenced by
a letter which she received telling of
her husbands sickness, and his desire
to see her again, she left Virginia i'll
the last Of November, 1871, reaching
Easton ON Friday, the LIST Of Deem
Der; that on the following day, not
having the means to pay for a convey
ance, she started OF foot to her bus
bands house; that when she reached
the house he met her and demanded
why she had come back; that she an
swered she properly belonged there
and intended to stay that he then sent
l1lo 'leClOuS HlSUIeSS lAeUcCGa. over 70
a neighbours, ordered 10y named
Ross to put out the fire, fastened down
the windows, and secured the doors,
and with Ross, went to Easton, leav-
ing her sitting on the door step or
that cold December day; that he by
turned about sun set, accompanied en-
Ross and his overseer, white man
named Bryan; that they found that
Mrs Platter had succeeded in entering
the house; that he said to her, "You
have got in again, have you?" and she
replied, eyes, and l mean to stay if
you go away again and come back you
will find me here.
After that, it is alleged that he beat
and bruised her and that her dead
body was found on bitter cold night
lying by the side Of a fence, stark and
stiff: