Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-02-23
AWFUL OCCURRENCE.

Murder Of Step daughter and suicide Of The
Murderess.-Thc Sullivan n. \ J w hig, re-
lates upon the authority of the coroner, an a"-
full occurrence which happened near Grahams-
willie. in that county, namely, the murder OF d
Young girl by her STEP mother, and the death OF
the latter by suicide:
From the evidence and verdict of the jury it
appeared Anna Barckley, deceased, was the
step-mother of Amy Barckley, deceased 1t
further appeared that the mother had long IN
bibed a spirit of hatred towards the child, conse-
auently she had not at all times treated her IN
q manner becoming mother, and OF late had
suffered under a remorse of conscience, an iin-
preston of mind that she herself. in consequence
of her treatme mt to the child must suffer IN des-
pair Of that mercy which otherwise she might
have been the happy recipient Of che had toid
her husband several times previous to her death
that it seemed to her. that she must make way
with herself her husband supposed that she
wished TO alarm him and disturb his peace, and
that she " oud not take her life, believing her
10 be sane.
A few days before the preparation of the deed,
the girl. in the absence of her mother, came TO
her father in tears, saving, father, am AFRAID
of mother; believe she intends to kill or hurt
me- Her mother also came and said, 1.-THE girl
had appeared to be afraid OF her for some ilme'
but she knew not the cause; that sne ana moi IN
tend to harm the child, which served 10 tatfh
the fathers fears in regard to the safety OF ms
child, Mr. Barckley and Ann, his wife, had
four children, the eldest, a boy, about SIX years
Of age. On the morning o! the l9th instant, -'ir
Barckley arose, early, made hire, called MS
wife: she arose. and came to the fire; he IN
formed her that he was going 10 a neghbor 5, a
bout three fourths OF a mile distant, on an err
rand, and,w isle I'd her to call Amy,and send her on
NIL GRAND, also. He left the house, went 10 his
neighbours: on returning. when near the house
he heard the boy scream. SAYING mother has
killed ANY and herself lie came into the
house and found his wife and daughter laying
upou the floor with their threats cut. tie imme-
diatelv rcpair'd to the nearest house TO give ile
alarm Some of the neighbors returned win
him and found the IN dead anu lying IN their gore
The boy stated that Amy arose. dressed herse!i,
and went TO the corner to get her Inittens; hef
mother Immediately seized her by the throat
with one hand ana choked her; the girl scream
ed: her mother with her other hand then took 4
razor from shelf. opened the case, took the ra-
zor the re from, and with her teeth opened II; 'he
boy sprang for the razor; his mother pushed h!tl
back, and drew the razor across the throat q
ANY. The boy then seized the youngest enid.
a babe in his arms and went towards the oatwaru
door; his mother bade him stop. and sprang to-
ward him; he told her that his father was com
in9. She looked out 0! the window saw him,
then ste pped back and cut her own throat she
fell upon the floor liieless. The JURY, after an
inouisition, rendered their verdict: hat Amy
Barckley had been murdered by Anna barckiey
and that Anna Barckley committed suicide