Smyrna times., 1873-02-12
Trial of John R. Platter.

Trial of John R. Platter. {
The trial of John r. Platter, of Easton,
charged with the murder of his WIFE Eliza G..
Platter on the 2d day OF December, 1871, and
removed from Talbot county to Dorchester
county, was taken up in that Court on Thurs
day last Mrs Platter was the daughtes of
Mr. James W. Phillips. OF BOtetourt county,
| Virginia, where she was married to Platter in
1865. After the close Of the war Platter re-
turned to EaatOn without the knowledge of his
wire, leaving her there. She ascertained his
whereabouts early in 1871, and visited him in I
March of that year. She remained with him
for some months, but it is alleged that owing
| to his brutal treatment she was compelled to
return to her fathers, in Virginia. In Nov,
1871, it is said that she received an anonymous
letter stating that Platter was very i'll and had
expressed a desire for her return. She re
turned and went to his home, and on the I'd of
i December following, was found about a
hundred yards from the house wrapped up in
blanket, dead. A paper marked "strychnine,
and bottle of chlOrOtOrm, were found near
the body, leading to the impression that she
had committed suicide, and so a c0rOner's jury
decided. This not being satisfactory another
jury was summoned, the body disntered and
post mOrtem examination made, and the
stomach sent to Prof. Aiken for analysis The
results of these investigations have been kept
secret, but it is understood that there were no
indications of poison, and the death must have
D been caused by violence or exposure. Platter
; was arrested and is now on trial for the murder.
The indictment contains three counts, the first
J, two charging him with murder by violence,
q and the third with cruelty driving her from her
q home and leaving her to lie exposed during the
whole of a bitter cold night, lying on the
a ground in helpless condition within hun
u dred yards Of his house, resulting in death, the
g fact of her helpless and exposed condition hav-
r ing been brought to his attention.
y On Saturday the record of the marriage Of
&c Platter with deceased from the office of the
\ Clerk Of Botetourt county was produced by the
T. State, and the counsel for the defence ceased
to speak of Mrs. Platter ''as the woman named
e. 10 the indictment"
e. On Monday, the evidence for the prosecution
a was continued. Hinson Kirby testified tha
s. he knew Mrs. Platter, and saw the body tha
lss was found he swOre to its identity; wltnes
u found the body between some briers and fence
nl' a hundred yards from Platter 5 house, and at
3 distance from any path the clothes and hal
OF we're slightly disarranged the body Wa
~ covered with snow that had fallen the nigh
ln before; the hands we're clenched and one hel
re- handkerchief; Platter passed by but woul
Ta- not look at the corpse; witness perceived II
a" marks Of violence on the person or discolorato
'ur of clothing Of deceased
Susan Wilson, colOred testified that ST
es- washed and arranged the body for the grav
ing and found upon it bruises from the shoulder
lor the knees. There were severe bruises upC
age the right groin, which looked as if they mig
KS have been produced by kicks. The flesh {
ny u "a the knees was raw.
". Charles A. Bryan, who was hired to Plat
car as laborer at the time of the death OF MI
MP Platter, testified at great length concerning Il
ron brutal treatment of his wife by Platter, and
q the harsh language which he used towards he
Platter always slept in q room with color
men woman named Rebecca Cornish, and MI
10 Platter occupied another room. On the eve
q ing previous to the finding of the dead bod
rye Platter took all the clothing and food that W
our in his own house to that of the Witness a.
u extinguished the fire. leaving the unfOrtuna
u wife alone in the cold desOlate house. Lat
rye in the night, the witness and Platter returned
the the latter house and saw a light there Plat
De went into the house and the witness went ava
ald; Afterwards he went back again, and fou
keel that the fire was out and Mrs. Platter goI
ters Soon after he saw her lying on the ground
=. the side of fire. He told Platter this and
line replied, ''Let her lay there; | shan't boil
was with her." She laid out all night, and v
re dead in the morning.
city The counsel for the defence put Bry
was through a very lengthy and severe Gro
deht examination to endeavor to break down
um- evidence, but he persisted ln his stateme
feet and no flaw could be found in them.
at On Tuesday Emma Hughes, cOlored, te'
ded' fed that Mrs. Platter borrowed two comfO
'lose from her the night of the homicide, {
were seemed to be in good spirits.
The defence attempted to prove by t
witness, that Mrs. Platter had received let
ech, from the witness informing her of the rece
aseu of money by Platter in consequence of the dei
0 see of his mother, upon which the theory v
GUS based by the defense that Mrs. Platter
the Virginia to make exactions from Platter,
IN OF that she had said if she failed she would t;
her own life. The court did not permit
nded witness to testify as to Mrs Plater's RECEIPT
r Of the letter.
e OF John Cox testified that Rebecca Conf
sley' Platers mistress, was dressed and trea
ates' better than Mrs. Platter.
etary Dr. Earle made pOst-mortem examinat
;. of the body of Mrs. Platter, and believed de
phed ensued from a non-natural cause, posi-
:, suffOcation.
ed to On hypothetical question stated DIR. S
said the bruises on the corpse were due
rests unnatural causes; no poison could have OF
'ohn stoned them.
:, Drs. Bailey and Earle confirmed the alb
q W. opinion.
: ., Mrs. Charles Bryan said Platter told her
). L. Saturday night that her MRS. Bryan husba
need not fear arrest; if anybody killed
rance Platter, he himself had done it.
~ Continuation on second page.
~
}, the The test OF Mans honesty is in the SO
l.. Ill L.