Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-05
ATLANTA
INTENSE DEVOTION
FOR HOME CAUSED
SPRATLING KILLING
Mrs, H, C, Adams, Confined in
Macon JAIL Says Husband
Threatened to Leave Her
Especial Dispatch to The JournalO

Especial Dispatch to The Journal)
MACON, Ca, Sept 3-Despcrate love
for her husband and ner home was the
chief reason that prompted Mrs II. c.
Adams. now prisoner here for killing
Captain Edgar j. Spratling to come to
Macon and shoot 10 death Captain Sprat-
ling, she declared today after a long
conference with press representative.
MIR. Adams became so aroused over
my relation with DR.. SpratIing after 1
had told him. until l decided the only
way l could remedy our differences was
to kill DR.. Spratling," Mrs. Adams de-
clared. Mr.. Adams threatened to quit
me and refused to listen to any explana-
tions l made. This drove me insane.
loved him and tried to think of some
plan that would settle our differences,
but he continued to deny every explana-
ton 1 offered.
Il was determined to stick to my hus-
band, regardless Of what had to do,
and it all ended in the shooting" she de-
clared.
BECAUSE SHE LOVED HIM.
Mrs. Adams said she grieved for a
week over the attitude of her husband
after she had told him that DR.. Sprat-
ling had taken advantage OF her before
she decided to kill him. III l had not
loved my husband as l do I would never
have told him what DR.. Spratling had
DONE" she said.
Relating further how she planned
the shooting, Mrs Adams said she went
down town and purchased a pistol on a
Saturday morning before the Friday she
came here. After arming herself she
said she went to the entrance of the
building where DR.. Spratling's office was
located and waited around the front,
hoping to catch the doctor going to or
from his office.
81 was determined to kill him on
sight" she said. Il waited around the
building and across the street until 3
o'clock Saturday afternoon, but l failed
to see him. About 2 o'clock l went to
the elevator boy and asked him If Or.
Spratling had been to his office that day.
He told rue the doctor was at Camp Har-
ris at Macon. l then went home, more
worried than ever On Friday of the
next week i took money my husband
had left with me TO take a trip to Ten
nessee to see my father, and came to
Macon purposely to kill DIR. Spratling.
And when l pulled the pistol on him l
fully intended to fire every bullet had
into his body"
Mrs. Adams said the doctor was seat
ed at a table when she appeared at his
tent She said she asked for Captain
Spratling, and as he attempted to rise
she opened fire.
THREATENED SEPARATION.
Mrs Adams declined to say in detail
Just how her husband treated her. Sha,
said he threatened to quit her and often
quarreled, after she told him of the at
tack.
IL was weak and could not help my
self the day DR.. Spratling made the at.
tack" Mrs Adams said.
%,Il
band of the attack, Mrs. Adams said she
loved him so dearly and had worried
about it SO much. until she concluded
she would be relieved if she would tell
Mr.. Adams the whole thing. Instead of
believing her story and taking the in
as she expected, Mrs. Adams
said her husband went to pieces am
began to talk about separation.
She complains daily about not being
able TO get counsel. She says she wants
an early trial and is confident that she
will be acquitted. She has received a
card and two letters from her husband
this week, but she declines to make
known. the contents of the the letters.
She seems little concerned about her
never making any mention OF
them. She said on one occasion that
she would like to see them, but could
not afford to have the income here and
find her in Jail. 1T might prey on
their young minds the remainder IF their
lives" she said.
She said that Mr.. knight, one of the
Piedmont laundry proprietors had
written her that he would help Mr
Adams employ an attorney for her. She
is not expecting a visit Sunday from
Mr.. Adams, she said. having received
4 letter from him stating that he would
not come down Sunday.
Solicitor John p. Ross is compiling
evidence which he will lay before the |
grand jury when her case is taken up
by that body in November.