New-York tribune., 1872-07-06
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
MIDSUMMER MADNESS.
AN INSANE MOTHER KILLS HER CHIBD.

AN INSANE MOTHER KILLS her CHlBD.
Margaret Elliott, a married woman, age 40,
murdered her daughter only child by sranglng her
- death at No. lss stantonst., yesterday morning
week ago. Mrs Elliott after long walk in the middle
the day. complained that the glare of the sun had af
hsed her head and said that she afraid she was
going be very sick The day aterward, however she
from her bed in apparently good health and began
her usual household work Her husband thought that
his wife had been mistaken in her idea that she had
been sunstruck, but he noticed few days afterward
that her speech ncoherent She appeared to have
various hallucinatons among Others mania that her
relatives and friends endeavorngto Kill her daugh-
ter Mary Jane Elliott IL She repeatedly referred
TO this belief in the hearing Of her husband and even
Kept her daughter the house for several days Early
yesterday Mr. Elliott left his house to take walk, leav-
ing his wife daughter busy making preparations Tor
breakfast What follows the mother relates herself
Soon after her husband had gone away, Mrs. Elliott
rave her daughter money told her TO and get some
milk The girl about walking out OF the door Wlth
milk pail on her arm, when her mother called her paok'
saying that she wished her against persons VINO
were attempting 10 kill her. Mrs Elliott then locked
the front door and took her child into the inner room
Then addressing her daughter the insane woman said
that had been great trial TO preserve the grIs lie
from the many enemies who wished TO kill her. ana that
these foes multiplying so fast that 1t would be I'M
possible much longer TO keep her from DEATH II she
were doomed TO be murdered it would be much better
that her life should be taken away by the mother who
gave IL, than by murderous relatives or friends.
Mrs Elliott then led her astonished doughter TO
bed and after telling her 10 he down, seized her by
the throat The Inflated girl, hOrred by her mothers
threats and by the fastghtenng clutch on her throat
gssped Oh, mother, II you will only let me 90 Will be
n far better girl than beoreI will indeed" and
struggled desperately for life. Relenessy the insane
woman pressed down her daughters throat. and in
few moments the unhappy girl was dead stu claspng
her throat with her strong hands, Mrs Elliott bent over
her dead daughter for half hour longer then return
ing 10 the outer ROOM she again began TO prepare the
breakfast.
Mr. Elliott, returning home about O'Clock, found his
daughter dead in the bed room, and informed
the police of the affair Mrs. Elliott was taken TO the
Fourth Precinct Statonhouse where she gave Coroner
Herman an account what had taken place at the time
che killed her daughter She did not appear to regret
the act. and manifested symptoms OF insanity
Mr.. Elliott has made the following statement: My
wife never showed symptoms OF insanity before but
during the past week sbe seems TO have mania that
somebody was going 20 kill Jennie; at first thought
nothing Of IT, and tred 10 laugh the thing down; even
before went out she talked about it never Thought
che was going to put hands the little girl thought
she would attack first; she never made any threats
against the gir; was of the house more than
an hour: when went back. Knocked at the door; my
wife said who's there" II was not usual Tor her 10
did SO said perfectly coolly Little Jenne desd L
guess not" answered; Yes, she's dead SAID my
there found my daughter dead in the bed; suppose
any wife threw her on the bed and ehoked her
FATAL ASSAULT BY 4 BROOKLYN CARTMAN.
Daniel Desmond, ds.e II, of No. 271 Atlantic
ave- Brooklyn, died yesterday at his parents residence
from the alleged effects of blow on the head inflicted
by James smth driver Of one Of Dodds express wag-
Ons Desmond playing, on Thursday evening, with
other boys at Smith and Staess and quarreled with
the driver, who had insulted the boys mother The
driver finally jumped from his truck and struck Des-
ond on the side Of the head knocking hlm down. The
boys head struck against tree and the hub OF the
wagon and the skull was fractured. Desmond died at
home James Smith the driver, arrested, and lden
tided bv Michael Murphy as the person who had inflicted
the blow smith denies the charge. An inquest will be
lpl