"The Free Lance" Issue: October 14, 1904 DID HE POISON HIS WIFE Union, Oct. 7-Four weeks ago next Sunday Bert GREGORY and Miss Bee WHITE were happily married, it was thought, but now the bride lies at the point of death, and her husband was taken to jail yesterday afternoon on the charge of having poisoned her. On September 11 Miss WHITE was married to GREGORY at the residence of J. A. GOING, superintendent of Aetna Mills, where she was boarding, and the couple have been living near Monarch Mills, where GREGORY worked, their married life, so far as the neighbors knew, being quite happy. Sunday night GREGORY went to the home of Dr. O.L.P. JACKSON, a practicing physician here, and asked for three doses of calomel for himself and three for his wife, which were given to him. Tuesday night, Dr. JACKSON was summoned by the husband, who said his wife was not well, and immediately on seeing the patient, the physician exclaimed she had been poisoned. Mrs. GREGORY replied that she had taken no medicine except from her husband, but had noticed that while the first two doses of calomel tasted as usual, the third had been very bitter. Suspicion at once settled on the husband as having poisoned her, and an empty bottle of strychnine on the table nearby added to the suspicion though the man said he had been using the strychnine on a sore foot at the suggestion of a Negro. As it became more and more evident that the woman had been poisoned, her body and eyes being greatly swollen the man was carried to jail yesterday afternoon by Deputy Sheriff VINSON. The woman's condition is almost hopeless. MRS. GREGORY DEAD Union, Oct. 10-Mrs. Bert Gregory, the bride of but four weeks to a day, who was poisoned last Tuesday night by taking strychnine with Calomel, whether accidental or intentional on the part of her husband remaining to be proved, died yesterday. At the inquest now adjourned until next week strong evidence was introduced against the husband, though he still maintains his innocence. The young woman, who thought she was taking a dose of calomel and afterwards was seized with convulsions Tuesday night, never regained consciousness and the only statement she made was that to the physician when he first arrived. GREGORY was arrested Thursday afternoon on a warrant sworn out by the bride's brother and was released Friday afternoon on a $500 bond. It was thought Saturday that the woman would recover, but she gradually grew worse. At the coroner's inquest yesterday afternoon, some sensational testimony was brought out. Boyd HARRIS, with whom the couple had been living since their marriage, testifying that Tuesday night the young husband insisted that his wife should take the medicine which he had brought out from their room, and which after some persuasion, protesting against not needing it, she took it. H. H. HICKS, who works in the reller room of Monarch Mills, testified that GREGORY had spoken to him before the poisoning occurred, mentioning that he was using some strychnine on a sore foot, it having been suggested by a Negro, who it was reported had killed his wife with strychnine. HIX saying that GREGORY asked him if his wife should accidentally take any of the strychnine, would he likely be prosecuted. H. E. GRIFFIN, who also works at Monarch Mills corroborated HIX's statement, W. T. LEVISTER on the stand said that then days before the poisoning, GREGORY had spoken to him about some of his wife's troubles and intimated that he didn't think she could live long. Henry M. HOLMES, a well known pharmacist, testified to having sold GREGORY some strychnine, which he said was for his sore foot, but which he {HOLMES} had never heard of such a thing being used. GREGORY in his own behalf swore that the poisoning was purely accidental; that the strychnine which he used on his foot was next to the calomel and it might have been accidentally knocked over and become mixed; that his married life had been happy, and he would not have killed his wife for anything. The autopsy was performed by prominent local physicians, who carefully examined the woman's brains, lungs, bowels and stomach in accordance with instructions received from Solicitor SEASE, of this circuit, the stomach being sent to Charleston for examination by experts. The woman poisoned was born in Darlington, S.C., twenty-three years ago. She had been living here for sixteen months and was an orphan. GREGORY is not twenty0five years old. He was born and raised in the Adamsburg section of this county, and in size is a physical giant, though of phlegmatic temperament. He has the reputation of always having been a good fellow, and while there is some strong evidence that he is guilty of his wife's death, still many things point to his innocence. The funeral of Mrs. GREGORY's remains was conducted at 10 o'clock this morning and was attended by a large concourse of friends. George WILKES, who cut Wilkes STEVENSON in a fight some time ago at Lockhart was yesterday sentenced to three months on the county gang or a fine of $100. Lawrence SARTOR; the Negro who killed Henry BOOKER near Coldwell on Sept. 18 was sentenced to four years, while Henry MOSS, who killed Geo. McCULLUM at a game of horse shoes last fall near Mt. Tabor, was convicted of manslaughter and given three years on the gang. UNION: Mr. HAYNES or HAYLES, father of Mrs. William ANDERSON, was stricken with paralysis at 1 a.m., Friday, and Mrs. ANDERSON left the same day for Greenville. News has been received that there is scarcely any hope of his recovery. H. M. HOLMES, until recently pharmacist at Duke's Drug Store, is now connected with the Union Times. J. M. JOHNSON, formerly of Spartanburg, has rented the Haile cottage from the library committee, and will move in a few days. WAS FINED $100 Constable Gideon has returned from Carlisle where he attended the trial of J.W. DAWKINS, charged with storing and keeping. The defendant was found guilty by the magistrate's court and a fine of one hundred dollars was imposed. DAWKINS at last accounts was endeavoring to get an appeal to the city council which it is said, would scarce be granted. Building House for Mrs. A.B. EARLE Chas. C. KIRBY is having a comfortable dwelling built on West Henry street on the lot adjoining Major KIRBY's home place. The new place will be occupied by Mrs. A. B. EARLE and children who will move here from Camden. P.H. FOSTER Visiting Here P. H. FOSTER, a civil engineer in the employ of the United States Geological Survey is in the city, where he will spend the winter with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. FOSTER, on Branch street. Mr. FOSTER has been in Kentucky during the past year, serving as a member of a corps of engineers who have been engaged in extensive work in that state. free post Lisa

I just wanted to express my thanks to Lisa for all this work! My folks were all gone from Union before this time but it is fun reading anyway. I'm sure other list members appreciate it also. Mickey -----Original Message----- From: Toomean2@aol.com [mailto:Toomean2@aol.com] Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2003 10:04 AM To: SCUNION-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [SCUNION] "The Free Lance" Issue: October 14, 1904 "The Free Lance" Issue: October 14, 1904 DID HE POISON HIS WIFE Union, Oct. 7-Four weeks ago next Sunday Bert GREGORY and Miss Bee WHITE were happily married, it was thought, but now the bride lies at the point of death, and her husband was taken to jail yesterday afternoon on the charge of having poisoned her. On September 11 Miss WHITE was married to GREGORY at the residence of J. A. GOING, superintendent of Aetna Mills, where she was boarding, and the couple have been living near Monarch Mills, where GREGORY worked, their married life, so far as the neighbors knew, being quite happy. Sunday night GREGORY went to the home of Dr. O.L.P. JACKSON, a practicing physician here, and asked for three doses of calomel for himself and three for his wife, which were given to him. Tuesday night, Dr. JACKSON was summoned by the husband, who said his wife was not well, and immediately on seeing the patient, the physician exclaimed she had been poisoned. Mrs. GREGORY replied that she had taken no medicine except from her husband, but had noticed that while the first two doses of calomel tasted as usual, the third had been very bitter. Suspicion at once settled on the husband as having poisoned her, and an empty bottle of strychnine on the table nearby added to the suspicion though the man said he had been using the strychnine on a sore foot at the suggestion of a Negro. As it became more and more evident that the woman had been poisoned, her body and eyes being greatly swollen the man was carried to jail yesterday afternoon by Deputy Sheriff VINSON. The woman's condition is almost hopeless. MRS. GREGORY DEAD Union, Oct. 10-Mrs. Bert Gregory, the bride of but four weeks to a day, who was poisoned last Tuesday night by taking strychnine with Calomel, whether accidental or intentional on the part of her husband remaining to be proved, died yesterday. At the inquest now adjourned until next week strong evidence was introduced against the husband, though he still maintains his innocence. The young woman, who thought she was taking a dose of calomel and afterwards was seized with convulsions Tuesday night, never regained consciousness and the only statement she made was that to the physician when he first arrived. GREGORY was arrested Thursday afternoon on a warrant sworn out by the bride's brother and was released Friday afternoon on a $500 bond. It was thought Saturday that the woman would recover, but she gradually grew worse. At the coroner's inquest yesterday afternoon, some sensational testimony was brought out. Boyd HARRIS, with whom the couple had been living since their marriage, testifying that Tuesday night the young husband insisted that his wife should take the medicine which he had brought out from their room, and which after some persuasion, protesting against not needing it, she took it. H. H. HICKS, who works in the reller room of Monarch Mills, testified that GREGORY had spoken to him before the poisoning occurred, mentioning that he was using some strychnine on a sore foot, it having been suggested by a Negro, who it was reported had killed his wife with strychnine. HIX saying that GREGORY asked him if his wife should accidentally take any of the strychnine, would he likely be prosecuted. H. E. GRIFFIN, who also works at Monarch Mills corroborated HIX's statement, W. T. LEVISTER on the stand said that then days before the poisoning, GREGORY had spoken to him about some of his wife's troubles and intimated that he didn't think she could live long. Henry M. HOLMES, a well known pharmacist, testified to having sold GREGORY some strychnine, which he said was for his sore foot, but which he {HOLMES} had never heard of such a thing being used. GREGORY in his own behalf swore that the poisoning was purely accidental; that the strychnine which he used on his foot was next to the calomel and it might have been accidentally knocked over and become mixed; that his married life had been happy, and he would not have killed his wife for anything. The autopsy was performed by prominent local physicians, who carefully examined the woman's brains, lungs, bowels and stomach in accordance with instructions received from Solicitor SEASE, of this circuit, the stomach being sent to Charleston for examination by experts. The woman poisoned was born in Darlington, S.C., twenty-three years ago. She had been living here for sixteen months and was an orphan. GREGORY is not twenty0five years old. He was born and raised in the Adamsburg section of this county, and in size is a physical giant, though of phlegmatic temperament. He has the reputation of always having been a good fellow, and while there is some strong evidence that he is guilty of his wife's death, still many things point to his innocence. The funeral of Mrs. GREGORY's remains was conducted at 10 o'clock this morning and was attended by a large concourse of friends. George WILKES, who cut Wilkes STEVENSON in a fight some time ago at Lockhart was yesterday sentenced to three months on the county gang or a fine of $100. Lawrence SARTOR; the Negro who killed Henry BOOKER near Coldwell on Sept. 18 was sentenced to four years, while Henry MOSS, who killed Geo. McCULLUM at a game of horse shoes last fall near Mt. Tabor, was convicted of manslaughter and given three years on the gang. UNION: Mr. HAYNES or HAYLES, father of Mrs. William ANDERSON, was stricken with paralysis at 1 a.m., Friday, and Mrs. ANDERSON left the same day for Greenville. News has been received that there is scarcely any hope of his recovery. H. M. HOLMES, until recently pharmacist at Duke's Drug Store, is now connected with the Union Times. J. M. JOHNSON, formerly of Spartanburg, has rented the Haile cottage from the library committee, and will move in a few days. WAS FINED $100 Constable Gideon has returned from Carlisle where he attended the trial of J.W. DAWKINS, charged with storing and keeping. The defendant was found guilty by the magistrate's court and a fine of one hundred dollars was imposed. DAWKINS at last accounts was endeavoring to get an appeal to the city council which it is said, would scarce be granted. Building House for Mrs. A.B. EARLE Chas. C. KIRBY is having a comfortable dwelling built on West Henry street on the lot adjoining Major KIRBY's home place. The new place will be occupied by Mrs. A. B. EARLE and children who will move here from Camden. P.H. FOSTER Visiting Here P. H. FOSTER, a civil engineer in the employ of the United States Geological Survey is in the city, where he will spend the winter with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. FOSTER, on Branch street. Mr. FOSTER has been in Kentucky during the past year, serving as a member of a corps of engineers who have been engaged in extensive work in that state. free post Lisa ==== SCUNION Mailing List ==== The messages on this list are archived and can be searched at: http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237