The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-11

! wife. Tor poisoning Fog Green. the first
| husband OF Mrs. Franklin. which mas
been on trial since Thursday OF last
week. tuls morning returned Neruict OF
| guilty ol murder in the second degree.
The ease went to The jury On Wednesday
night.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
This was one OF the mos; interesting
! criminal cases tried in Western North
| Carolina Tor many day.
! II WIS In May last that the suspicious
| OF tho people living In The quiet valley oi
! Johns river. ia North Carolina, bctwcei'
Lenoir and Blowing Rock. were aroused.
/ and the gossps commenced 70 talk.
/ The Valley OF Johns River Is a secluded
/ place, cut OF from any quick commlni-
I cation with the outside world. The
natural beauty Of the place FOR miles
/ around has attracted the attention o;
| thousands OF tourists, who 30 TO blowing
! Rock for health and pleasure.
Ia May the birds sing sweeuy through
the valley, crickets ana babbling brooks
add music IN doleiui way 10 the peace
ful vale and weeping willows droOs along
the banks OF crystal streams. There are
few inhabitants. Now and then milk
maid or boy on his way 20 mill adds
some life TO the picture. IN the valley
things remain Ia statu quo year in and
year out, and nothing more exciting than
the arrival Of the stage coach two or
three times a week breaks the monotony
Of life there.
A QUEER MARRIAGE.
II was in May last that a marriage took
place in Johns River Valley IL was
quiet affair, and not half dozen people
besides the parson witnessed IL. Albert
c. Franklin was the groom. He was a
wdower, his wife having died several
months before. The bride was widow
OF six weeks standing. Mrs. Fog Green
was her name. and her former husband
was an humble hard.workiug farmer.
who lived with his wife and four children
ami titled his little farm In an humble
way, selling his products 10 the summer
hotels at Blowing Rock. some ten niles
distant. lie knew nothing OF the rest
less ambition. OF the great world outside
lie was happy and content.
When his widow got married so soon
after his death the trouble commenced
Ugly rumors spread around rapidly
Some said the widow had no heart, 9th.
ers thought she might have waited long
er before taking a second husband, and a
few ventured TO assert that there was
something wrong about the romance.
LEAKED OUT BY DEGREES.
Little By little facts alleged TO be true
looked darker. and murder became gem
orally rumored 1t was learned that Mr..
Green had died under peculiar circum-
stances and further investigation re-
vealod the fact thar Franklin had been
frequently seen In company with the
mans wife Finally those who were en-
deavoring 10 unravcl the mystery ascer-
tanned that during the absence OF Green,
who made frequent trips TO dispose OF his
farm products, Franklin had i"srttated
himself with his ncghbor's wife sid oc-
cuped a snug place in her heart on
March 3lst. 1885, Green returned home
about noon, and after dinner went 10
plowing FIN his field near the house
While he was at work Mrs. Green. with
a show OF great affection. is alleged 20
have carried a glass OF cider TO her hus-
band. He drank It. Ia a short while he
grew faint. and made an effort 10 get TO
the house. but fell on the steps.
His wife and children assisted him 90
bed. where IN great agony he died before
the next day Just before his death a
nelghbor was called in and witnessed the
awful sufferings Of the man.
The day after the funeral Franklin
moved TO the house which caused con-
siderable 2uspicion in the nelghborhood
tuhL iue man was ile NlfDN OF inul
plot Six weeks after Green's death his
widow was Mrs. Franklin.
The many Suspicious circumstances
caused the solicitor OF the district 10 o.
der an examination OF the body By the
coroner. assisted by Or. Houck. This was
done last June the stomach and intes-
tines being taken out and sealed IN the
presence Of the jury An expert was
employed 20 make the analysis Tho
expert found enough arsenic IN the stom-
ach to kill two or three men.
Franklin. who would have been sent
70 prison by Judge Dick on the Charge
Of Illicit distilling had not the Judge been
informed of the more serious charge. was
arrested on the charge OF murdming
Green and placed I'm JAN His wife was
also taken into custody upon a similar
charge.
The result Of tho case was watched
with eager interest by the people Of that
section.