The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-12
HIS DEATH KEPT SECRET.
Pretty MRS. GOULD CONCEALED
HER HUSBANDS MURDER.

The Story of the Murphy On. c. Muir
der as Told in Court by Negro.
Long Continued Cruelty Followed
bv a sudden Death-The Terrorized,
ul-7reated Wife Acquitted.
In the Atlanta dispatches to the MORN
ING NEWS a day OF two ago the story of
the killing of George n. Gould, a wealthy
Englishman. by his wife, at Murphy, n C.,
wss told. Mrs. Gould was acquitted of the
charge of m 1rder on toe ground that she
committed the deed in self-defense. The
only witness of the killing was negro
waiter. A fuller account of the matter III
tn. World is as follows:
There is no telegraph station at Murphg,
the town being small place almost isolated
in the western part Of North Carolina, and
tine only news that has been received has
come by mail; bu5 the mystery surround
ing the lives of Mr.. and Mrs Gould is deeper
than ever, and now that Mrs. Gould has been
acquitted her manner has undergone a
change, end she refuses absolutely to say
ANYTHING about herself, her husband or the
murder, other than to repeat the simple
statement: II did it in self-defense."
The first news of the tragedy was to the
effect that Gould had been killed quickly;
that he died while yet his frall, golden
haired little wife was plunglng the orna-
mental dagger into his body. 1t now trans
hires that he did not die until the fol-
lowing day, and then his death was kept
secret.
The real facts in the case did not cor le
out until yesterday, when Bob Ramsey, the
coIored waiter, gave his testimony, nd
fifteen minutes before he appeared 1t was
not known that any one save Mrs. Gt )uld
was present when the murder was Com
mitted
The negro told his story in stralg htfor
eyard manner, in that quaint dialect ut once
so musical and impressive de '5old of
quar- els which led up to the murd er, and
also how the death of Gould had been kept
secret.
For three weeks. he said, Gould had been
drinking heavily, and when at the, hight of
his spree would go on tour of de struction.
Everything that came under his hands was
broken, and he footed big bills for mirrors,
furniture and glassware which. he demol-
ished If while in this condition he met his
wife he did not hesitate moment, but
either slapped her face vicious, stinging
blow or threw her bodily from him. He had
often done it, and Mrs Gould became SO
frightened that she would hide herself wuen
she learned that her husband was drinking.
The little country cour5 room was
crowded, and while Ramsey was telling Of
Gould's awful temper, his terrible fits of
drunken rage and the lear he had forced
upon his wife everybody became interested.
The majority of the people didn't have
anything to do anyway, and day in court
was a novel change.
The negro was calm enough when he be-
gan his story, but rs he approached rhe re-
cital Of the murder, the first he had ever
seen, his hands twltched nervously. his eyes
rolled his cracker" dialect became broader
and more musical his voice sank low-so
low you could hardly hear him-and he
transformed the scene into one of intense
dramatic interest, and the crowd was
hushed and a we stricken, while the negroes
who crowded together in the rear of the
room huddled closer together. and seemed
fascinated by the low, penetrating voice OF
the witness.
Ii was on Tuesday when Mr.. Gould came
home from horseback riding with party of
friends considerably the worse for the
liquor he had drank, said Ramsey. He
began to twist things around downstairs
and then went up to his rooms. Ramsey
was standing in the lower hallway when he
heard scuffle and a shrek, and Mrs. Gould
flew dow stairs, followed by her husband,
who was cursing at a terrible rate and
threatening to break her head open with his
riding whip. Mrs. Gould ran behind the
waiter, who finally succeeded in persuading
Gould to go back to his room, and helped
There the trou lie was renewed. Gould
sprnng at his wife and raised the cane.
Ramsey had worked himself up into a
high st ate of excitement and he was listened
to witt, breathless interest as he continued.
''Mis' Gour she jumped back into de cor
ner and tole him eff he nit she'd kill him.
Down come dat stick, spang, on her haid,
an she jomp fo' IN. Swish an he call out
hurt like and fell over agn' or wall, a-bleed-
in laik he was hurt Swish agin Mis-
Goul iomp at him wild ef iii knife she haid
in her dress, an then she stop"
After that Ramsey said he took the dag
ger away from Mrs. Gould and the cane
from her husband, put him to bed and
dressed the wounds, which were in the alb
domen, as best he could. All this time Mrs.
Gould was wringing her hands and CRYING
Have hurt him, Bob! Did do right?
did it in self-defense-you know / did it to
save my life" .... ..
The next day Gould died and Mrs Gould,
fearing arrest, begged the negro not to say
anything about it, and her distress so
worked on his simple mind that he con-
scented, and the trouble was not made pub
lie until Friday.
The day Gould died Mrs. Gould went
about the house apparently as happy as
usual, and spent some hours at the piano.
When asked where her husband was she
careessly replied thai he was upstairs in
bed. This action was attributed to her fear
of arrest, and she was acquitted
Mrs. Gould refuses to say ANYTHING more
anfis very happy over her release. The
impression prevails now that the couple
were living together under an assumed
name, and that they were in hiding either
from Gould's relatives or his wife's. II is
only on this hypothesis that their selection
OF Western North Carolina can be accounted
for.