The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-08-03
An Awful Tragedy near Savannah, Ga.

An Awful Tragedy near Savannah, Ga.
The Savannah News says that the most aw-
full and appalling tragedy that has stirred the
hearts of any community in this section for
many year, if ever before, occurred in Effing-
ham county, about two miles above No. 81, on
the Central Railroad, about 8 o'clock Monday
morning, oath of July.
Mrs. Ash, the wife of John IL. Ash, formerly
of Savannah, killed her three little children,
and afterwards committed suicide by admins
tering a sufficient quantity of strychnine to
produce almost instantaneous death.
1t appears from what we could learn from
gentleman who was an eye witness to the hor-
rifying scene, that Mrs. Ash, formerly Miss
Laura Dasher, of Efingham county, has for
short time past been slightly deranged, 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 husband felt little anxious about her,
and communicated with her brothers on the
subject. This was all. No more serious ap
prehension was felt although her husband con-
tinued to keep strict watch over her conduct.
A short time previous he had purchased small
bottle of strychnine for the purpose of destroy
ing the rats and dogs that were rapidly killing
off their poultry This he secretcd in the
night time, taking the prccaution 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, to whom we could not ascertain;
her husband read the letter, but did not sus-
pect anything, although it contained an ac-
count of her feelings towards certain members
of her family, with whom there was some un-
pleasantness. Mr.. Ash took all three of the
children in bed with himself and his wife.
Mr.. George Patterson, q friend and relative OF
Mrs. Ash's occupied an adjoining room.
About 8 o'clock Monday morning, he and
Mr.. Ash were aroused by the cries of two of
the children, and entering the room found Mrs.
Ash III the act of taking spoon from the
mouth of the Oldest child, 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. She
replied, "only giving the children a little pow
der, and I am afraid that I 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 bot
tie of strychnine 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, young woman about twen-
ty-fve years old, and her three interesting lit
tie 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 moth
er, although the first to take the poison, lived
to see her children all die, and then followed
them herself. 1t is said the struggles of the
poor little creatures were awful, the Oldest fall
ling backwards was drawn together in such
manner that her head and feet nearly touched
each other. The afflicted father held his little
ones and his wife in his arms till they breathed
their last.
The time was too short from the discovery of
the deed to procure any aid, although a ply
sician 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 his condition dangerous. Mr..
Patterson came to Savannah to procure cofins
to bury the dead, and as soon as he returns an
inquest will be held previous to the interment.