The Rock Island Argus., 1883-12-14
FOR THEIR LIVES.
Doctor and Mrs. Stuart Charged With
Numbering Dr.. Brown.
OF North Henderson,, on Trial at AledO,
Mercer County.
Some Particulars of the Case.--A Novel
Court Room.

No doubt many readers of the ARGUS
remembers the sensational shooting of
DR.. Brown, of North Henderson, a small
station on the st. Louis division of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road, forty
miles from this city. DR.. Brown aud DR..
Stuart had married sisters and were prac-
ticing medicine in North Henderson. For
many years the best of feeling prevailed
between the families.
Finally, however, as the story goes,
Mrs. Stuart forgot her marriage VOWS and
fell victim to the destinations of her
brother in law, DR.. Brown How long
the coupe kept up their criminal lntlma-
cy is not stated but their shameful con.
duct came to the ears Of the wronged
husband, and stormy scene ensued. His
wife confessed all, and was so affected by
the grief of her husband and the cruel
wrong that had been done her by one
from whom she had reason to expect
protection rather than ruin, that she de-
termined to kill her scducer
1t seems that she told her husband of
her desperate resolve, and he, instead of
counseling cooler action. rather encOur-
aged the woman. Between himself and
DR.. Brown, there had sprung npa rivalry
in the practice of their profession The
petty spite stirred up by competition had
been famed into deadly hate by the sub
sequent developments of IMMORAL relations
having existed between Mrs. Stuart and
Dr. Brown. Late one night, shortly
after the discovery by the husband
OF his wife's faithlessness, the
woman having first armed herself
with revolver, stole away from her
home and went to the house .of DR..
Brown. She called the doctor to the door
and as he appeared shot him. The victim
as be saw the CLEAN of the revolver bar
rel, turned to spring back into the house,
and received the bullet in his back, in
the region Of the kidneys. The shooting
caused wild excitement in the neighbor-
hood. Mrs. Stuart and her husband were
arrested, and confined in jail to await the
result of DR.. Browns injury, At first it
was thought the wounded man would die
in few hours, but he rallied and hope
was revived in the blossoms of his friends,
that he would in time get we'll He soon
gradually began to fail, however, and it
was soon apparent that it was only a
question of time when he must die. He
fingered for one hundred days, in more or
less pain, and died. DIR. and Mrs Stuart
were gwen u preliminary hearing, and
held in heavy bonds for their appearance
before the Grand Jury. The bonds were
furnished and the couple released The
Grand Jury found found an indictment
against both for murder in the first de-
gree. The woman as principal and the
man as accessory. The case was called in
the Circuit court sf Mercer County, at
Aledo., on Tuesday, Judge Glenn presid-
ing The regular panel of jurors was ex-
hausted without a single juror having
been obtained, and the Court ordered a
special venire of seventy-two Jurors.
Judge Glenn announced to the audience
that as it was evident that the court room
would not be large enough to accommo
date the number who would want to attend
the trial, arrangements had been made for
the use of the Congregational church, a
very large structure, and that the case
would be tried therein. This is novel
court room, and perhaps the first instance
in the history of the state when murder
trial has been conducted in building
dedicated to tho worship of God
The defense has asked that the trial of
DR.. Stuart precede that of his wife. The
prosecution has also joined in the request,
it is supposed for the reason that if Mrs.
Stuart were acquitted before the trial
of her husband, he being accused of being
merely an accessory there could be no
case against him. 1t is expected that a
jury will be obtained by this evening, and
trial begun in the case tomorrow.
DR.. Stuart is brother of DIR. F. Stuart,
of Reynolds. He is somewhat known in
this city, and he and his wife have con
siderable public sympathy in their unfor-
tunate trouble. The progress of the case
will be watched with interest.