Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-06
A FAMILY POISONED.
a narrowing Soene-A Mother Poi
sons Herself and Three Chit
drsh with StryehRine.
Ernnl lha sarenpah Nawa. JnlY p ]

From the Savannah News, July %
The most awful and appalling trag
esiV that has stirred the hearts
any community in this section FOL
many a year, If ever before, occurred
in Ffingham county, about two
miles above Station No. %, on th(
Central railroad, about 3 O'Clock yes
teriay morning. Mrs. Ash, the Wit
Of John ii. Ash, formerly Of this city
killed her three little children and al
terWsrd committed suicide by admin
istering a sufficient quantity of strych'
nine to produce almost instantaneous
death. 1t appears, from what wecould
learn from q gentleman who was an
eve witness to the horrifying scene,
that Mrs. Ash, formerly Miss Laura
Basher, of bingham county, had,
for a short time past, been slightly de-
ranged: at least she was suspected OF
being in this condition from
certain singular appearances and
conduct, noticeable TO those nearest
her and in most continuous association
with her. However nothing serious
was apprehended, except that her hus-
band felt a little anxious about her,
and communicated with her brothers
on the subject. This was all. No
more serious apprehension was felt,
although her husband continued to
keen a strict watch over her conduct.
A short time previous he had pur-
chased q small bottle of stryChnine for
the purpose OF destroying rats and
dogs thai were rapidly killing OF their
poultry. This he secreted in the night
time, taking the preeautiOn to lock it
up in an old bureau drawer, hiding
the key in e place least likely to be
discovered by his wife, no other per-
son in the house knowing of the hid
ing place. Sunday night al went ID
bed as usual, though before retiring
Mrs. Ash sat down and wrote a long
letter, to whom we could not aScer-
tain; her husband read the letter, but
did not suspect anything, although it
contained an account OF her feelings
toward certain members of her fami-
iv. with whom there was some I'M
pleasantness. Mr.. Ash took all three
Of the children in bed with himself
and hia wife. Mr.. George Patterson,
= friend and relative of Mrs. Ash, Oc-
eupied another room. About three
O'Clock yesterday morning he and
afr, Ash were aroused by the cries OF
two Of the children, and entering the
room found Mrs. Ash in the act of
taking 8 spoon from the mouth OF the
older child, g little girl, who had
struggled and resisted until her cries
aWoke her father and his friend, both
Of whom, feeling alarmed, asked her
what she was doing. Sh5 replied,
siOnly giving the children a little
powder, and / am afraid ] have not
given them enough"
They begged and entreated her 10
tell thea what she had given them.
Mr.. Ash tasting the powder which he
discovered on the mouth Of one OF the
children, discOVered.that It was quite
bitter. She finally took him to the
bureau drawer and showed him the
bottle Of stFyehaine from which she
had dOsed herself first and then each
one of her three little ones. 1t was
but q short time after this before the
mother, a young woman about . years
old, aud her three interesting little
children, two girls and one boy, were
lying stih and cold in the arms OF
death. Dying in rapid succession,
one after another, the mother, al
though the first TO take the poison,
lived 10 see her children all die, and
then followed them herself. 1t is said
Eke struggles Of the poor little crea-
turss were awful, the oldest falling
backward was drawn together in
such & manner that her head and feet
nearly touched each other. The af-
fiieted father held his little ones and
his wife ia his arms till they breathed
their last. The time was too short
from the discovery Of the deed to pro-
cure any aid, although physician
was Immediately sent for. He arrived
in time to save the father, who, in
his efforts to discover what the drug
Was, had swallowed enough TO render
mis- condition dangerous. blr. Patter-
son came to this city yesterday after
noon TO procure collins to bury the
dead, and as soon as he returns an in
quest viii be held previous to the in
yarneDt