The def. is accused of murdering his wife, Margaret A. Lowder, with a gun. Def. claims he was cleaning the gun when it accidently fired. After his wife's death the def. quickly moved in with and married Sarah Babb, then 18 or 20 years old. During the trial Caroline Richmond (col.) testified that the def. came to her to have his fortune read and confided to her that his wife was sickly and that he would marry Babb when she died. Def. and his wife had three children together.