Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-11-21
MRS. ELMER'S SISTER
RIDICULES POISON STORY

PERRY, Nov. 20.-Mrs. lone
Henry, sister of Mrs. F. Eugene Ell
mer. who was formerly the wife of
Frederick d.. Shepard, interviewed in
her home, which is a modest frame
dwelling standing on the edge of this
little town, made strong denial of the
report that Shepard had been pois-
oned.
! 1t was in this house that Shepard
spent the four days of his brief ill
ness prior to his removal 10 Macon.
where he died on June /.
Mrs. Henry is a young and strik
lngly handsome woman. She related
the story of her sister and brother-in-
law from the beginning of their ac-
qualntance with calm self-possess-
ION. except that occasionally her deep
black eyes flashed with strong feeling.
as when she vehemently denied and
ridiculed the idea that Erred was
ever poisoned. 1t is absurd and be-
yond the widest stretch of the mag
nation"
Stating that this was the first time
she had spoken for publication, and
scoring certain reports given to the
public as false and libellous, Mrs.
Henry said; "This is my side and
my view of the death of Fred Shep-
ard a man whom we all loved de-
votedly.
"On May % Fred came here to
our home, complaining of a stomach
disorder to which we paid little at
tentlon. He had always been deli
cate man and suffered from stomach
trouble some time. That night he
went out to one of his farms, where
he ate an lmprudent supper.
Wife Didn't Know.
Friday night he spent with us,
giving way several times to hysteria,
when he would cry out, Pm so tired
He rameined with US under the care
of DR.. w. L. Orr, my husband, my
nephew, Ernest Hopkins, and myself
until Monday. His wife was in Able
vile attending her other son, John S.
Hopson, who had been shot. She
was totally ignorant of her husbands
illness and he would not permit us to
notify her.
by Monday he was very much
worse, exhibiting marked symptoms,
such as vomiting, dysentery and OBJ
domInal pains. We then called in DIR.
M. S. Brown. of Fort Valley, who
Immediately declared that he would
have to be removed to Macon, if he
weer to live. That night we took
him to the hospital in Macon. There
Fred was operated on and died June
1.
/ "While here he took no medicine,
save some calomel powders prescrib-
ed bv DIR. Orr. We all loved Fred
and he deliberately chose to come to
our house when he was here sick.
Yet it is suggested that we have
been responsible for his death. Do |
look like a criminal?" Here Mrs.
Henry laughed lightly She rose,
walked over to picture hanging up
on the wall. and took it down. Hold
ing out the gold-framed photograph,
she said: Here is my sister, his
wife; does she look like a criminal?"
The picture showed a rather state
ly, dignified brunette with regular
and clean cut features.
Born In Florida.
"My sister and myself were born
and reared in Florida and not South
Carolina" Mrs. Henry resumed. eve
were Misses Daugherty My sister
met Fred Shepard in Florida hotel
in my presence. in 1918. On Decem-
Der 90 1919, they were married.
/ "Mrs. Shepard, my sister, did rot
know Dr. Elmer until after Fred's
death. | had known him before. He
is a handsome man with iron gray
hair and an extremely young looking
face. though he says that he is Sc
years old. Mrs. Shepard met him in
Jacksonville and they were married
October 6, 1920.
'How these wild stories concern
ing DIR. Elmer have originated can
not understand While | did not
know him intimately, did know him
well enough to see that he Is well