Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-02

The murder of Mrs. Graham with which
Cora Lee was charged with being acces-
sorry was an atrocious one-so atTCcious
In fact, that the people in whose locality
it occurred arose in their wrath one night
and Iynched Graham, concerning whose
guilt there never was particle OF doubt.
As to Cora Lees part, opinions differ,
but it is certain that she was accessory
after the fact, and perhaps before the
fact. The parties hailed from Indiana,
where Graham had served term in the
penitentiary at Michigan City. Mrs.
MolIoy, who was woman of means en-
gagged in the work of temper
ance evangelization, befriended
Graham after his release
and Cora Lee was another protege of
hers at the same time. Mrs. Molloy
located at Elgiu, ILL.,, and thither Graham
went also in the capacity of advertising
solicitor. The quartet lived on the most
intimate terms, so Intimate, indeed, that
they were the subject of much scandal.
MRS. GRAHAM BECAME JEALOUS
of the two other women, and this led to
numerous domestic broils. Mrs. Molloy
steadfastly denies any knowledge of
Graham's relations with Cora Lee, but
enough is known to warrant the state
ment that the two were criminally init
mate. Graham, if he ever did have any
regard for Mrs. Molloy, as Mrs. Graham
and scandal mongering neighbors would
have it, shifted his affections from the
mistress to the maid. Mrs. Graham made
her husband much trouble over his scan
dalous conduct, and he readily conceded
with Mrs. Molloy's plans, which contem-
plated moving from Elgin to farm be-
longing to her near Springfield, Mis-
souri,. Graham induced his wife to
go home to her folks in Indiana, and he
accompanied Cora Lee and Mrs. Molloy
to Missouri. 1t soon came to the ears
of Mrs. Graham that her husband
had married Cora, and pretending that
he was divorced from his Indiana wife
was living with her on Mrs. Molloy's
farm. Mrs. Graham wrote him, threat
ening to come on to Missouri and expose
him and prose 3ute him as a bigamist
Graham came on to st. Louis to meet
her, and did all in his power to beg her
off. She was memorable, however, and
was so determined that upon arriving at
her destination and being told by Graham
that if she wished to track him further
she would have to 10 it over a country
road for
FIVE MILES IN TIE DARK,
she lost her two children in the depot and
started out after linn and was never again
seen alive. The children were called for
by their father early in the morning, and
were told TO say that their mother had
gone West and Graham himself, when
asked what had become of her, had re-
solved to say that he had begged her off,
and that she had relinquished the chill
dren to him and had gone West. This
story was too gauzy for the Indiana
relatives, who traced the missing wo-
man to the night of her disappearance
from the depot in company with
Graham, and they then concluded
she was dead-murdered by her convict
husband. Search was instituted, and the
body of the missing woman was found in
an old well on the Molloy farm. All the
parties were arrested, and Graham's guilt
appearing plain he was strung up. Mrs.
MClloy and Cora Lee have been tried for
completely, but nothing has ever come
of it, and Cora's case vas on trial because
of a disagreement of the jury in the pre-
yious trial.