, 1877-12-16
st, Louis Society Again Con-
yulsed to Its Very
Centre.
pow the Peace Of Family Is Wrecked
by One Of It's dearest
Friends"
rhe Husband Will Believe Nothing
Until The Truth Is Forced
Upon Him.
Re Is at Last Convinced Of the Deception
Of Which He Fas Been the
Victim.
l,a uas Cene Fear Ecias Robbed Of Els Prop.
erty az Veil as His Kife.
The Old, Old Story or Warming
the Viper.

the Viper.
sy<c3cl Ifsnu.ch to The cafc1go Tribune.
sr. LOUIS, Mo-, Dec ia so:ial scandal.
,uro7iuc great deal IF true inwardness of the
}rDe or,rc prevalent in Brooklyn, has been vnis-
ncred Of in ST. Louis society circles of Lutte but,
ewing to tue prominence OF the parties impli-
ca.ed, the story has been pretty cfTectuallv
snotbered and kept away from the reporters.
The scandal personn are Col. George II. Stew
,n. lawyer OF eminent ability aud Dean Of
the Faculty OF tho St. Louis Law-School, aud
Mrs. Josephine Franklin, the young, handsome,
md accomplished wife OF Dr. E. franklin,
the most noted homeo. athic physician,
President of the st. Louis Homco-
nathic College, and rccently-clected Pres!-
dent Of the National American Institute
b, the Homeopathic Convention which, met in
SeY York few months aga. DR.. Franklin,
rho is the ag,rieFed husband in the ease, has
been approached by reporters TO-DAY, and de-
cIiued to give any Information GU the subject,
MS MOST INTIMATE FRIENDS,
VITO believe that the Doctor can only be vindi-
Gated BIZ publication of ali III: facts, have
ci7en in substance the following statement:
Mrs. franklin was formerly d Miss Josephine
MeSbe17y, daughter Of former wealthy
and respected citizen Of this city. Sic
WIS married about ten years ago,
when very young. to DR.. Franklin,
at that time widower with several children.
Dr.. franklin was then IS, and is still hale and
gell-prescrycd man, but his white hair and
beard give him a venerable appearance. lie
:a5riel his young wife to his residence on Easton
avenue, and for long time the couple
LIVED IN PERFECT HAPPINESS.
1Irs. Franklin was brilliant young woman,
po1ea for her rare conversational powers, and
wss general farorite in society. About six
year. ago, Mr.. Adams, OF San Francisco, IN
old-timc associate OF Dr.. Franklin, visited st.
Louis aud while here proposed to Introduce to
him friend Of his, q brilliant young lawyer.
This was George N. Stewart, who in this way
became acquainted with franklin anu I welcome
visitor 10 lis house. Stewart was then g., aud
rapidly rising in his profession. Dr.. Franklin
not only ga7e him The cn,rec to his hume, but
insisted that he should
COME AND GO WHEN he PLEASED,
and 80 strong fancy lid he take to Stewart
that he took special pains to Introduce him to
influential friends Who gave him business. He
turned over all Ills legal business to Stewart, and
during tho course Of their friendship presented
him Rith costly and massive gold watch and
chain, and ring set with precious stones, all
suitably engraved and given as a mark of es-
teen.
This intimate friendship
CONTINUED FOUR TEARS
Ethout hcing Ea1rcd BY single circumstance.
Stewart became SUN Il fayo7itc with the family
tLst be came ard vent without ceremony, never
ia!ling TO take his Sunday dinner with his
friends, ..,lo dincd sumptuously. At first
Mrs. Franklin dil not have rallci friendship
for Stewart, but gradually oycrcamc lcrtl!slike,
and showed her esteem By accepting invitations
to ride. Stewart would frcaucusl: make cyen-
inr calls, bringing with him fayoritc book Of
roems Oh choice literature, lrcm which he read
to Mrs. Franklin. These calls were made with
out reference to whether the husband Was pres
ent or not.
DR.. Franklin owned 4 splendid carriage and
team Of horses, and Mrs. Franklin often drove
to StcxaIt's law Office, and
TOOK HIM OUT RIDING.
When thcy went in this carriage hired man
drove: ut other times Stewart furnished his owu
b1ocy, anu on these occasions the pair were, Of
course. by themselves. Sometimes they would be
out cutie latc, not reaching home until 10 or II
D. m, always giving an apparently frank aud
honest account OF where they had been, and oi
the harmless pleasure they had Sometimes it
was to the theatre they went, the Doctor occa-
eionally accompanying AT other times they
took long walks in the daytime OF in the even
lug.
All this time .........
TIE HUSBAND SUSPECTED NOTHING.
One day about three wears ago lie received an
anonymous note warning hi1l, against Stewart,
who was characterized as Ibertinc
Of the most dangerous type. Fraufdia
laughed at the note, and showed It to
his wife, saying ia playful way, This is 4
rice friend we've got. You had better cut bis
acquaintance Tic wife remarked. ''0h,
lshaw; the writer is some enemy Of Col. Stew
arts. A more perfect gentleman never saw"
At that time Frank}ln's business ahairs had be-
come somewhat complicated, and, under the
legal advice gwen hy Stewart, he made over to
his wife his valuable residence and cirnty acres
OF land on the Mcrri'aac River, uear st. Louis,
and OF great value.
AN ASTONISHING PROOF OF Ills BI1SpsESs
is furnished ny the fact that, in making the
transfer to his wiic, Stewart was named as
trustee, the Law OF Missouri providing that
married women cannot acquire real estate IN
their own nafle-
Several murc ANONYMOUS notes, ha1f-dozen
IN all, came to the Doctor, but he tore them up
md refused to believe that his friend was
capable Of trcacheTy. Stewart continued 10 pc
the welcome guest, the privileged friend, the
trusted lawyer, and confidential adviser. While
franklin was in bis Office, thirty blocks away,
Stewart Was at the family residence,
ENTERTAINING THE WIPE,
Or ont on the road riding with her, or at the
theatre, or taking moonlight proncnadcs
:. The first thing that aroused suspicion, ana
that very family, WAS ruuor that COL stewart
aud Mrs franklin we're seen to aliTht at 4 road
house on one Of their drives, and that they pass
ed some time inside But the vile denied this,
aud as no definite information could te OBTAIN
ed as to the alleged tarrying at the place IN
oicated, the husband was reassured.
On the 5th Of May, 1916, one OF the servants
informed the Doctor in 4 casual way taat tnc
postman had brought her mistress
4 LETTER EVERY DAT
excepting Sunday for five weeks. -Ihe servant,
= rery trusty colorcd woman who bad been IN
MS employ seventeen years, had picked up ono
O. the envelopes, and This she showed 10 TIE
doctor. 1t was postlnarkcd st. Louis, nddfess-
I'd to Mrs. Franklin, and quite cu1iously the ao-
dress was in her own Handwriting. For the
a1st hHne suspicion took possession OF the long
blinded husband, and he determined to watch
he next morning hc left home und projected
IN the direction ol his o:icr; but lie did not 60
into cross street. and returned By q circuitous
route to the aeighhorhuod Of his loule, and
alishled ut tho drug store OF Boqucil S Cronin
On f.>e corner OF Easton aud Garrison avenues,
where he
LAY N WAIT FOR TILE PosTMAN
Who had to pass thar way LII 4 short time the
Eastman in xitr},t and fIc T9ctnr told llm