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Subject: [SCUNION] "The Free Lance" Issue: October 14, 1904
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 10:04:20 EST


"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

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