Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-02-27

- 1--Ns
IProm the Pembroke 0bserVer,l
Seldom does il fall to the lot OF
Canadian journalist to have to chronicle
an occurrence equalling in horror that
which we are about to describe. Muir
ders are only too common, but rarely
is humanity shocked by hearing of the
destruction of a family by the hand of
parent. In the township of Alice,
near Pembroke, lived 0 German family
by the name OF Webber. The family
consisted of q fathers tailor, who
earned his living by working among
his neighbors-his vile and six child
rem. The father is peaceable and in.
dustrious man, and his wife had the
reputation of being a kind and affec-
tiOnste mother, though some
years before she had exhibited
symptoms OF insanity; two
daughters, the eldest about Is or 16
years of age, and four sons made up
their family. On Friday last, 3lst ult., 4,
the father being out at work, the eldest
daughter went ont to milk the COWS,
but before she got through was called
into the. house by her mother. On
reaching there she was startled to find
her mother standing in the entrance
with an axe, and remarking to her.
"They are all dead" or words to that
effect, but on looking into the house
the horrible sight Of her younger sis.
ters and brothers lying saound the
room, gashed and bleeding, met her
eyes, and she fled in wild terror to one
of the neighbors. The mother was
making demonstrations to make her a
victim also, but she got out Of her way
in time to prevent it. Word of the
horrible affair was soon afterwards re-
oeived in Pembroke, when DIR. McKen-
,zie, coroner, repaired to the place, and
held an inquest, after which the wo-
man was conveyed to the Jail in Penn
broke, to await further proceedings on
the part of the authorities. Three of
the children we're dead when the coro-
ner arrived at the scene of the tragedy,
another died while the inquest was
being held. Four of them we're buried
on Sunday,
Webber says that about ten years
ago, while yet in Germany, his wife
killed'a COW with an axe. while IN q
similar frenzy. Up to Friday last, the
arrangement in her mind seems to-
na4e slept, as there appears to have
been no danger apprehended by her
friends of violence on her part; on the
contrary, those who knew her speak Of
the great amount Of affection and ten
derness she always manifested for her
children. On the morning in question,
the children, it is believed, from the
circumstances gathered, had just got
up out of bed, and were standing
around the stove, when the old demon
of insanity returned with redoubled
power, and urged the wretched woman
10 the committal of the most unnatural
act the mind can conceive. The axe
was seized. and rapidly the deadly
blows descended on the heads of the
poor children, cleaviDg their skulls, and
scattering their brains in horrible
manner. The horrid work must have
been accomplished almost in moment.
with all the vehemence and cunning
that insanity engenders, preventing
noise or escape on the part of the be-
wildered children.
I The spectacle, on entering the scene
of the butchery, when the inquest com
Inenced, is described as sickening and
pitable in the extreme. Three of the
children were already cold, and the
other two barely alive, were lying
where they had fallen, with the ghastly
wounds in their heads, preeluding the
possibility of recovery. One of those
yet alive, had, in addition, part OF one
hand cut of, the little thing having,
probably, on the same principle that
drowning men catch at straws," me-
chanically clasped its hand over its
head to ward of the descending blow.
Altogether. it was shocking sight |
and taken in connection with ihe cause
and the circumstance, it was no won
der that the strongest nerves we're un-
strung, and those accustomed to view
death aud suffering in every shape
turned from the sight with shud-
dering. After the inquest, the coroner.
DR.. Mckenzie, committed the woman
to the county jail, in Pembroke, where
she is now waiting the further action of
the legal authorities. Since her CON
fnement, the wretched being has come
TO her usual senses, but save few
half-meaningless expressions, has said
very little in connection with the affair,
and is not apparently disposed to speak
at all on the subject. Her mental
agony appears to be excessive, as
evinced by constant moaning and rock
ing to and fro, while the fearless eyes
seem to denote an extremity OF inward
suffering too great to be relieved by
tears.
LATEsT--PEAEBRoKE, Ontario, Feb.
Webber, confined in Jail here
for the murder Of her Eve children,
hung herself to the CRATE over the cell
door last night.