The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-08-28
.Details..of
Plant City
Killing
DepIorabIe Tragedy Saturday Night
Is Said to Have Been Due to
Whlskey's Effect,

WHiSkeyS CHSSI
1--WE, the jury, find thai Fred !
Greene came to his death from a pts.
tol shot wound at the hands of his
wife, Josephine Greene, which we
consider a felonious killing"
This was the verdict rendered yes
terday morning by the jury empanel.
led by Justice of the Peace j. E.
Sewer to inquire into the cause ct the
death Of w. F. Greene, well-known
resident and proprietor Of black
smith and wagon shop on Collins
street, south, who was killed Satur.
day night between 10 and II o'clock
following his return home in an in
toxicated condition, and, it is alleged
after he had struck his wife with his
fist and otherwise ill-treated her.
The coroners jury, which was or
ganized Sunday and continued its in
vestigation to Monday, was composed
Of Robt Daniel, j. A. Boyette, A. s.
Campbell, S. B. Smith, w. w. Block
er, and d. B. Methvin, the latter serv-
ing as foreman.
Those heard at the coroner's in.
quest included Mrs Greene, her son,
boy of about seven years, DR.. ]. c.
Knight, who described the wounds,
three in number, any one of which
would be considered fatal, and two
youths who were in the street and
heard the shots, but whose testi-
mony was of no material conse-
qence.
In brief, it was stated that Mr..
Greene, who is said to have received
a pint of whiskey from Tampa Sat
urday, left his home early Saturday
evening to purchase groceries. He
was later observed down town, and
was apparently under the influence of
whiskey He puprchased the provis.
ions, however, and was driven to his
home in an automobile by G. c. and
, Jesse II. Virgins. His wife was at
the gate and received the groceries
the gentlemen who accompanied Mr.
, Greene considering their mission fin
, ished when the man left the car in
front of the gate. 1t was some time
later when the tragedy occurred, and
according to Mrs Greene, her hus
= band struck her with his fist, choket
her and threatened her. He was sale
to be in very disagreeable mood
When the shooting occurred the lids
; band was seated on trunk in /;
: room adjoining the dining-room, ant
followed, it was said, renewa
) of ill-treatment upon his wife whel
she endeavored to pass him to go t
g their infant who was crying in al
y adjoining room. 1t was alleged tina
Mr.. Greene caught his wife, and, sh
said, was in the attitude of doing he
i bodily harm, when she called to he
y son, who was step-son of MI
$ Greene, to bring her a pistol whicl
. was in the kitchen, or room adjoiI
y ing. The pistol, a 32-calibre weapon
/ it was brought out, was one whic
IL Mrs. Greene usually kept In her pos
9 session when her husband was al
. sent. Four shots were fired, but onl
r. three took effect. All were fired a
y close range, so close that powde
10 burn was observed on the shirt of tn
r husband. One shot entered the lei
+ breast, and passed near the hear
Us another upward, near the neck, an
s. the other in the upper part of tn
u stomach. Death was instantaneous
rs it was believed. One of the bullet
Id also struck the fore finger of the lei
v hand of Mrs. Greene.
~ The young son of Mrs. Greene CO
e. roborated her testimony in so far q
X what she said about calling him
10 come to her assistance and in otht
rs details.
u The wife also stated that her hui
lie band had ill-treated her upon otht
a occasions, when he was under til
o. influence of whiskey, and that b
seemed to grow worse each time. TIL
= couple were married about five year
ago, and four children have bee
horn to them two of whom are dea,