The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1871-08-24
AWFUL TRAGEDY.

| ''t'"'HJ dH" HedTtTcHUW0 OCeHc Il
Husband Wdnesses tie Death Of III
Wife and Three Little Children POI
soned by Her O1cn Hand
The most awful and appalling tragedy
that has stirred the hearts of any commu
nifty in this section for many year, i
ever before, occurred in Ellington county
about two miles above station 3 on the
Central railroad, about o'clock yesterday
morning.
Mrs. Ash, the wife Of John II. Ash, for
merly of this city, killed her three chill
dren, and afterward committed suicide by
administering a sufficient quantity oil
strychnine to produce instantaneous death
1t appears from what we could learn
from a gentleman who was an eye witness
to the horrifying scene, that Mrs Ash
formerly Miss Laura Dasher, of Efiing
ham county, has for short time past been
slightly deranged, at least she was suspect
ed of being in this condition, from certain
singular appearances and conduct noticea
BILE to those nearest her and in most con.
tinuous association with her However
nothing serious was apprchended, except
that her husband felt 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 keep
strict watch over her conduct. a short
time previous he had purchased a small
bottle of strychnine Tor the purpose OF
destroying the rats and dogs that were
rapidly killing off their poultry. This he
secreted in the night time, taking the
precaution to lock it up in an old bureau
drawer, hiding the key in place least
likely to be discovered by his wife, no
other person in the house knowing of the
hiding place.
Sunday night all went to bed as usual
though before retiring Mrs. Ash sat down
and wrote long letter, but did not sus
pect anything, although it contained an
account Of her feelings towards certain
members of her family, with whom there
was some unpleasantness. Mr.. Ash took
all three of the children in bed with him.
self and wife Mr.. George Patterson, a
friend and relative of Mrs. Ash, occupied
an adjoining room.
About three o'clock yesterday morning
he and Mr.. Ash were aroused by the cries
of two of the children, and entering the
room found Mrs. Ash in the act of taking
a spoon from the mouth of the Oldest
child, little girl, who had struggled and
resisted until her cries woke her father
and his friend, both Of whom feeling
alarmed asked her what she was doing
She replied, Only giving the children a
little powder, aud | am afraid that have
not given them enough" " They begged
and entreated her to tell them 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 strychnine from which she had
dosed herself first and then each one of
her three little ones 1t was but a short
time after this before the mother, young
woman about % years old, and her three
interesting little children, two girls and
one boy, were lying stiff and cold in the
arms of death.
Dying in rapid succession, one after
the other, the mother, although the first
to take the poison, lived to see her children
die, and then followed them herself. 1t
is said the struggles of the poor little
creatures were awful the oldest falling
backwards, was drawn together in such a
manner that her head and feet nearly
touched each other The affected father
held his little ones and his wife in his
arms till they breathed their last.
The time was too short from the discov-
cry of the deed to procure any aid, al
though physician was immediately sent
for. He arrived in time to save the faith
er, who, in his efforts TO discover what
the drug was, had swallowed enough to
render his condition dangerous. Mr.. Pat
terson came to this city yesterday after.
noon to procure coffins to bury the dead
and as soon as he returns an inquest will
be held previous to the interment.-EUen-
ing Bulletin, Ptila.