The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-26
subjected. She had heard the cries after the

| subjected. She had heard the cries after the
| blows she was positive of this.
The other evidence offered by the state was
| merely circdmstantial. The defense intro
| duced the professor who explained the nature
of the wounds and swore that the first blow
had produced instant death. This caused a
sensation III court. 1t staggered Ellen Gray's
testimony, until that hour believed invul-
nerable The blows thst now followed from
the defense were hard and telling ones.
MURDER WILL OUT.
No aibi was attempted The accused had
forbidden such a plan, on the ground that it
would reveal the secret which he was guarding
50 closely; but the defense became aggressive.
1t proved that Hiram Gray, Ellen's brother,
was not where he said he was on the night of
the murder As the young man was not under
arrest the court forbade the introduction of
such evidence, when John French, who had
up to that time remained silent, arose and
exclaimed:
81 do now accuse him of the murder of E d.
ward Heymann. My affidavit is in the court
room; the sheriff holds it at this moment.
Look at the man! Guilty is written ON his
face. He is trying to leave the house. Catch
him!"
The confusion at that instant was intense.
Ellen Gray, with loud shrek, fell to the
floor, where she was permitted to lie, for all
eyes were turned upon her dear brother.
Pistol in hand, the young man was clearing
a path to the door. No one dared to lay hands
on him, for he threatened to shoot the first one
who touched him. and thus he reached the
door leading to the street.
On the threshold he paused and faced the
excited occupants of the courtroom.
"You will never put me in Abner TeDny's
place." he cried. "If did kill Edward Hey
man, you Shall not prove it and hang me!'
The next moment there was q loud report,
and human body after swaying for an in
slant, fell heavily to the floor.
Hiram Gray had taken his own life!
The tragic occurrence, as might be supposed,
put an end to Abner Tenny's trial. 1t estab-
l;shed his innocence in the eyes of all, and the
guilty was beyond punishment Of an earthly
tribunal
A TERRIBLE PLOT.
Upon her recovery, Ellen Gray unfolded one
Of the darkest plots on record. She confessed
that her testimony was but a tissue of false
hoods; that she knew her brother had killed
the farmer for the purpose of getting his
money, and accused Tenny, in order to prevent
him from marrying Eva Heymann. Ellen,
pqued at Tenny's refusal to court her, had
entered into the plot with revengeful spirit.
But the game had failed. OF course the minis
ter's son was released, and Ellen Gray was
allowed to depart on the condition that she
leave the town never to return.
Abner Tenny one year after his release
from jail married Eva Heymann, and both of
them reside at the present day i'll the city of
Pittsburg, Pa. The secret which Abner Ten
ny so zealously guarded as to his where
abouts on the night of the Heymann murder
was not made known until many years after
he had settled down, when one Of his friends,
John French, previous to moving to New Or
leans. stated that party of five, among whom
was Jenny and himself, went that night to
neighboring city on general carousal and for
the sake of his father, not wishing him to
know Of his downfall from gentleman to q
drunkard, etc, Tenney refused to confess.
AS several of the parties still live the names
OF Tenney and French are used fictitious.