The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-07-27
AN AWFUL TRAGEDY.
s,ekenIns and Heart-Rendins Scene.

The Savannah News says that the most awful
and appalling tragedy that has stirred the
hearts of any community in this section for
many year, If eyer before, occurred in Ell
ingham County, about two miles. above sta
ton No. 81, on the Central Railroad, about3
o'clock on Monday morning.
Mrs. Ash, the wife of John a.. ASH formerly
of Savannah, killed her three little children,
and afterwards committed suicide by admins
tering a sufficient quantity of stryehnine to
produce almost instantaneous death.
1t appears from what we could learn from
gentleman who was au eye witness to the hor-
rifyinc scene;-that Mrs. Ash, formerly Miss
Laura Dasher, of Effingham County, has, for q
short time past, been slightly @deranged-at
least she was expected Of being in this condi-
ton from certain singular appearances ana
conduct noticeable to those nearest her and in
most continuous association with her. How
ever, nothing serious was apprehended, ex-
cept that her husband felt htsle anxious I.
about her, and communicated with ner
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 ne
had purchased small bottle OF strychnlne
for the purpose of destroying the rats ana.
dogs that were rapidly killing OF. thelr poul-
try. This he secreted ID t9e nlgns m Sne, oIa hn h
resrl drawer, hiding the key In Q place least
likely to be discovered by his wife, nc. other
person In the house knowing OF Inc hiding
Ilace.. Sunday Hight all went 10 bed as usual,
though before retiring Mrs Ash sat down and
wrote q long letter, to whom we could not
ascertain; her husband read the letter, ouG
did not suspect anything. although u contalh-
ed an account of her feelings towards certain
members of her family, with whom there was
some npeasantiess Mr.. Ash took all three of
the children In bed with himself and his wife.
Mr.. Geo. Patterson o frtepd and relative OF Mrs:
,Ash,s, occupied an atijoining room. About
o'clock Monday morning, ne anu Mr. ash ash
were aroused BY the cries Of two of the chill
lren. and entering the room found Mrs. Ash
in the act of taking spoon from the mouth OF
the Oldest child, little girl, who had strng-
gled and resisted until her cries awoke her
father and his friend; both OF whom feeling
alarmed, asked her what she was doing She
replied, ssonly giving the children little pow
der, and am afraid that iInaye not gwen
them enough They begged and entreated
her to tell them what she had given them.
Mr. Ash tasting the powder which ne
perceiyed on the mouth of one OF
The children, discovered that 1t was
quite bitter. She finally took him to the
bureau drawer and showed him the ,bottle OF
strychnine from which she had dosed herself
nrSC. anu GQ6u. ehCuS OuO VI aSL SAAhSo AASsAS
ones It was but q short time after this be-
fore the neither, young woman about TWEEN
ty-6ve years old, and her three Interesting
little children, two girls and one BOY, were
living stiff and cold in the arms OF death. Dy-
Ing IN rapid succession, one after; the other,
the mother. although the first to take the
poison. lived to see her children all Die, and
then followed them herself It is Is said the
struggles of the poor little creatures were
awful, the Oldest, falling backwards, Wss
drawn together In such a manner that hsr
head and feet nearly touched eacn otner.
wife in bis arms till they breathed their last:
The time eiwas too short from the discovery 9f
the deed to procure any aid, although physi.
clan 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.
noon to procure cofips to bury the dead, and,
as soon as he returns, an Inquest Will De helo
previous to the iDternlent.