The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-09-08
MRS. ADAMS TELLS WHY
SHE KILLED CAPT. SPRATLING
Georgia Woman Declares Her Love for
Her Husband Caused Her to
Commit Crime.

Macon, Ga, Sept. 5.-Desperate love
for her husband and her home was
the chief reason that prompted Mrs.
ii. c. Adams, now prisoner here for
killing Captain Edgar J. Stripping, to
come to Macon and shoot to death
Captain Spratling, she declared today
after a long conference with a press
representative.
"Mr. Adams became so aroused
over my relations with DR.. Spratling
after | had told him, until decided
the only way | could remedy our diff
ferences was to kill DR.. Spratling,"
Mrs. Adams declared. "Mr. Adams
threatened to quit me and refused to
listen to any explanations I made.
This drove me insane. l loved him
and tried to think of some plan that
would settle our differences, but lie
continued to deny every explanation
| offered.
II was determined to stick to my
husband, regardless of what I hal to
do, and it all ended in the shootiuw.'
she declared
Because She Loved Him.
Mrs. Adams said she grieved fo,'
week over the attitude of her husoand
after she had told him that Or. Sprat-
ling had taken advantage of her be-
fore she decided to kill hip. "If I had
not loved my husband as | do !
would never have told him what Dr.
Spratlng had done," sho said.
Relating further how she planned
the shooting Mrs. Adams said she
pistol on a SATURDAY. morning befcrc
the Friday she came here. After arm
ing herself she said she went 10 the
entrance of the building where d..
Spratling's Office was located anG
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. 81 waited around
the building and across the street un-
til o'clock Saturday afternoon. but
| failed to see him. About 2 o'clock
| went to the elevator boy and asked
him if DR.. Spratling had been to his
office that day. He told me the doc
tor was at Camp Harris at Macon. I
then went home more worried than
ever. On Friday of the next week |
took money my husband had left with
me to take trip to Tennessee to see
my father, and came to Macon pur-
posely to kill DR.. Spratlng. And
when | pulled the pistol on him, I full
ly intended to fire every bullet l had
into his body.
Mrs. Adams said the doctor was
seated at a table when she appeared
at his tent. She said she asked for
Captain Spratling, and as he attempt
ed to rise she opened fire.
Threatened Separation.
Mrs. Adams declined to say in de-
tail just how her husband treated her.
She said he threatened to quit her and
often quarreled, after she told him of
the attack.
81 was weak and could not help N.Y.
self the day DR.. Spratling made the
attack" Mrs. Adams said.
Asked why she finally told her nus
band of the attack, Mrs. Adams said
she loved him so dearly and had wor-
RED about it so much, until she con-
cluded she would be relieved if she |
would tell Mr.. Adams the whole thing.
Instead of believing her story and tax
ing the information as she expected, |
Mrs. Adams said her husband went to
pieces and began to talk about sepa-
ration.
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 de-
ciines - make known the contents O. !
the letters.
She seems little concerned about
her children, never making any men