The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1872-08-01
Terrible Domestic Tragedy fn
ROTk pOrt. OletO.


ROckpOrt, Ohio.
| The Cleveland Leader says: On
Sunday tho 18th ult.. one of The mo 3,
terrible tragedies that over occurred
IN this vicinity was perpetra,ed in
sockport township, about ten miles
from this city, where n woman pnmed
Esther Southworth, wife Of Henry
Sou,hwotth, 10 n fit of meu,al abcrra-
tion, took the Iivcs Of her three boys,
aged respectively ton, seven aud FIVE,
after which she made an attempt to
take her own life. Mr.. Southworth.
the husband, upon whom this crush
ing blow has fallen, was absent from
home Sunday, until about four o'clock
in the aftcrnoou, when he returned
and upon entering the house found his
three children lying upon tho parlor
floor cold N death, while upou
lounge or sofa in tho hall was tho
PROSTATE form Of his wife, covered
with blood from the Rhistly wound 10
hor throat, while near by lay n CON.
mon table knife with bich sho had
evidently Inflicted tho wounds upon
herself Horror struck by tho sight,
lie spoke to her, but obtained no re-
ply, though from n slight motion of
the body he saw she was not dead,
aud Fastening 10 the house OF hor
iither. gave the alarm. aud in short
time II large number Of persons had
assembled at tho scene of the trage.
dy. Medical aid was at ouce SUM-
moned, and physicians from BsrcI,
Dover and this city arrived within =
I'ew hours of the discovery, but their
services were Of little avail, and at
late hour Sunday night it was appa-
rent that the unfortunate woman
could not live but short time, the
throat being badly laccratcd and tho
wind pipe partially severed, while the
loss OF blood was very great, rs tho
appearance Of the ball where she had
committed the decd aud lain down af-
terwards, indicated. There is but
little question that this murder aud
probable suicide was prompted by
disOrdcrcd brain, as Mrs. Southworth
has been out OF hcalth for several
years past, and at times suffered great
ly from depression Of spirits. Espc-
cially had this been tho case since she
last had an infant child .ho early
part OF the present year, and her rela.
tives have been advised by medical
authorities to keep close watch up
on her, lest she shou d do harm to
herself aud Others. She had per-
formed her household duties of late,
but had remarked to her friends oncc
at least that "she was only trou.
bile and had notion To kill herself
and children Notwithstanding these
remarks there were none who thou't
she really entertained such an idea.
and no watch was kept upon her ac-
tions.
The children where last seen aIive
about Sunday noon playing upon tho
premises, and when found by the ago
nzed father, about 4 o'clock in the
afternoon, lay side by side upon the
parlor floor, n pillow beneath each Of
their heads, whilc their hands were
folded over their breasts aud covered
with napkin, showing that their
mother had awaited their death, then
calmly arranged their bodies after tho
usual manner in cases Of death. AS
no wounds nor bruises were found up.
on the bodies, il was evident that poi
son had been used to destroy the
children. though Of what character
had not been Determined up to Sun
day night.
Two letters were found in tho par
lor where lay the dead boys, one Of
which was written before the murder
Of the children, and ia which she nc.
cuses her husband OF unkindness aud
cruelty, and declariog that lite had
become unbearablc, while the other
which was written after her children
had been killed, contained words of
farewell to her relatives and friends,
and was commenced by tho words,
''My children are now in heaven.
Ii seem from IN examination OF tho
house that the unhappy woman had
cut her throst while standing before
a mirror in tho dining room, for
large pool of blood was found upon
the floor there, and upon chair pear
by was q dull case-kpifc covered
with blood. 3plashes Of blool led
them from tho dining room to iheo
bedroom, where she had taken Q
sheet from the bod, aud with it tried
to conceal the largest pool Of blood
upon the dining-room floor. after
which she went to tho sofa In the hall
and laid down where she was diseev-
| cred