The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1906-05-24


kindred That was toward his own
house from ours Later In the dav
Williams tried his ball and told father
that II indicated that the body had
been found. Sure enough il was.
On the very day that father started
Tor Tennessee the mr7tery was mar.
tally solved. Some one of tho search.
ing party suggested that the cabin
and the premises be examined. An
ola man by the name OF Jack Coils
tnought 1t wise TO look around I'm the
mousse. He went about the yard and
CABIN probing with his walking cane.
In STIRRING the ashes in the fireplace
ne found several pieces of bone. which
caused him TO say: There's too many
DTS or bone i'm thig fireplace and tbe
ashes are too greasy A small rock
"Neh from the ashes was put into
water to see If any grease bubbles
would rise. They did, in great plenty.
IL was discovered that fresh ashes had,
Deen poured in mortar hole near the
spring. Pieces of the bone and flesh
were found there, also a heeliron. such
as Charles wore on his hunting mecca.
sins. After all this evidence. strong
and convincing, was found, Jury was
summoned and an inquest held. AS an
immediate result Frankly, her mother
and youngest brother were arrested
All were bound over to court
"A more thorough investigation
about the place revealed substantial
proof. On the ground under the house
beneath a dark spot on the floor a circle
of blood as large as a hogs liver WAS
round and the walls were specked.
mere could be no doubt Charles had
Deen murdered and his body burned.
tranky was tried at Morganton Mt
about the third court after she killed
Charles. She got out of jail dressed in
mans clothing and escaped into the
country, following the wagon of her
uncle. The sheriff of the county, dis
covering that his prisoner had fed.
hurried on her trail and overlook her
several miles out of town. He rode I'M
close and said: Frankly She turned
ana answered: Il thank you. sir. nv
name is Tommy Yes her uncle nut
In, her name is Tommy He gave
himself and the woman away by say
ing her. She was returned to her cell
and on the appointed day. the 18th of
July. 1888, in the presence of a great
throng of people, hanged. 1t was hoped
that she would make a public confess
sion on the scaffold, and she seemed
prepared to do so, but her father yelled
out from the crowd: Die with your Sc
cret, Cranky There was a sight of
folks there to see her hanged.
Francis Stewart Stewart was her
maiden name) was mighty likely lit
tie woman. She had fair skin, bright
eyes and was counted pretty She had
charms. | never saw n smarter little
woman. She could card and spin her
three yards of cotton day on a big
wheel.
The motive for the crime will never
be known. Jealousy, she claimed. in
printed ballad that she made gave rise
to the first thought. No one could ever
imagine any one that she had cause to
he jealous of, for Charles was true to
her. He laughed and talked with the
women of his acquaintance, but that
was all.
The surviving members Of the
Stewart family met violent deaths in
one form or another. The old man.
Franky's father, lost his life while cut
ting rail tree. A limb struck him on
the head and crushed out his brains.
The mother died from the effects of
snake bite, and was in great agony the
last hours Of her life. Jack, one of the
brothers, was killed during the Civil
War. Joe met sudden death, but
have forgotten the facts concerning it.
blackstone, the brother. charged with
helping her burn my brother. went to
Kentucky, stole a horse and was hung
for it. All went. 1t looks like God
made way with them on purpose.
believe that they all consplred to kill
Charles. 1t was a horrible deed. He
was such fine fellow. We loved him."
Nancy, the little daughter of Charles
and Frankly Silver. grew to woman
hood and married David Parker, who
lied fighting for the Confederacy at the
1rst battle of Manassas. The widow
married again and is now said to be
living in Madison County. The Stew
lrts went to Burke from Anson.-Char-
Otte Observer.
The Fat OK OF Paris.