The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-10
AN UGLY CRIME UNEARfHED.
Wife Charged With Poisoning Her Hu'
band to Marry Another Nan.
ANALYSIS BY A RICHMOND Expert.
He Discovered Arsenic Enough Ia kiu
Two Mcn--Ramors That the GroomD
Previous Wife Was Also Poisons<ls
The Accused Both In jail.

That murder vii out has been demons
strated so often as to leave little doubt
about the truth OF the old saying.
Through the efforts OF Richmond ex-
pert what appears TO have been deep
crime. has come 10 light. and there Is
rumor that still another murder remains
TO be unearthed.
II was In May last that the suspicious
of the people living IN the quiet valley oc
Johns river. IN North Carolina. between
Lenoir and Blowing Rock. were aroused.
and the gossips commenced 10 talk.
The Valley OF Johns River is secluded
place. cut OH iron any uuicN co-,muni-
cation with the outside world the
natural beauty Of the place tor miles
around has attracted tue attention OF
thousands OF tourists, who 30 TO Blowing
Rock for health ana pleasure,
In May the biyds sing sweetiy through
the valley. crickets ana bahollng brooks
add music IN doleful way TO the peace
ful vale. and weeping willows droop along
the banks of crystal streams. There a,e a.,
Few inhabitants. Now and then = milk
maid. or boy on his way to MIL ados
some life 10 the picture. In the valley
things remain IN statu quo Year IN and
year out and nothing more exciting tnan
the arrival OF the stage coach TWO or
three times a week breaks the monotony
OF life there.
\ QUEER MARRIAGE.
II was In May last that a marriage took
place IN Johns River Valley. | twas
quiet affair. and not hail dozen people
besides the Darson witnessed II. Albert
-. Franklin was the groom lie was y
widowcr his wife having died seNeral
months before. The bride was widow
OF six weeks standing. Mfs. Fog Green
was her name. and her former husband
was an humble hard working farmer.
who lived with his wife and tour chndfen,
ana titled his little farm IN an humble
way. selling his products to the summer
hotels az Blowing Rock. some ten niles
distant lie knew nothing or thc rest
less ambitions OF the gr2at world outside.
lie was happy ana content
When his widow got married SO soon
after his death the trouble commenctd.
Ugly rumors spread around rapidly
Some said the widow had no heart;
others thought she might have waited
, longer before taking a second HUSBAND,
ana few vcntured TO assert that there
vas something wrong about the romance.
LEAKED our by DEGREES.
Little by little facts alleged 10 be true
looked darker and murder became gen.
orally tumored. IL vas learned that Mr.
Green had died under peculiar circum-
stances, and further investigation re-
veaied the fart that Franklin had been
frequently seen IN company with the
mans wife. Finally those who were en-
deavoring to unrayel the i.y'st"fy ascer-
who made frequent trips TO dispose OF his
farm products. Franklin had Ingfailated
himself with his neighbof > wiie ana oc-
cppied a snug place IN her heer'; on
March 3lst last Green returned nome
about noon, and after uinner vent To
pioWing in his Held near the house.
While he was at work Mrs. Green, WIG
show OF great affection, u alleged 10
have carried a glass OF elder 10 her ms
band. lie drank Il, In short while nr
grew faint, and made an effort TO get to
the house. but fell ON the steps.
His wife and children assisted him 20
bed where in great agony he dled hetofa
the next day. Just before his death
neighbOr was called in and witnessed the
awful sufferngs Of the man.
The day after the funeral Franklin
moved TO the house which caused con-
siderable suspicion IN the 1eighborhood
that the man was the victim OF feul
plot. Six weeks after Green's death MS
widow was Mrs. Franklin
RICHMOND EXPERT AT WORK.
The many suspicious circumstances
caused The solicitor OF the district TO or
der an examination Of the body by the
coroner. assisted by Dr, Houck. rms was
done last June, the stomach ana lnt.s-
tines being taken out AMI sealed in.tne
presence OF the jury. An expert or TINS
city was employed 10 make the analysis.
The expert found enough arsenic IN tne
stomach 10 Kill two OF three men.
An effort last night TO lind out who was
,he Richmond chemist that made the
analysis was unsuccessful. pr. William
IA. TayIor and Dr. Charles II. cha,k'ey.
10th of whom make a speciality OF this
kind OF work, said they had not made the
analysis. and 1t Is not known who dId,
though II was stated that Richmond
man did the work.
Franklin. who would have been sent
TO prison by Judge Dick on the charge
of illicit distilIing had not The judge been
| Informed Of the more serious charge, was
arrested on the charge OF numbering
Green and placed ia fail His wife was
also taken into custody upon a similar
charge, and IL is now rumo-fd IN thnt
section that Frankiins previous wife SUI
ferod and died IN "A similar manne, only
a few months before Green was poisoned.
The result OF the case IS watched witn
eager interest by the people OF that Sec