Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-07-22

"A very sad and fatal tragedy was
enacted on Sabbath morning a week, in
Thompson township, in the lower end of
Fulton county, in which an insane wo-
man named Susannah Meats, shot and
killed her husband John Meats with a
rifle. A few months ago John Meats,
the victim Of this shooting, purchased
the farm on which he resided up to the
time of his unfortunate taking off. He
was an Industrious man, aud he hoped
by the help of his son Isaac, who had
promised him material aid, to make
the necessary payments and thus have
for himself happy home that he could
call his own. In October last Isaac
was stricken with fever and died soon
after. From this time Mrs. Meats be-
gau to show evidence Of insanity, she
abandoned her household duties in
which she had taken great pride aud
gave herself TO melancholy broodipg
upon the death Of her son, aud all the
well meant efforts of kind and sympa-
thizins neighbcrs to get her back ln-
to the usual routine of her daily life,
trusting that it would bring back a
more healthy state of mind, proved
futile. OF late, however, she has been
gradually growing worse, until about
four weeks ago che fred the barn, which
vas partially filed with hay and straw,
but being closely watched, the fire was
extinguished before much damage was
done. The FIRST evidence Of murder
Gus disposition was developed about
two weeks ago, when she procured
shot gun and fired at ler husband who
was lying in 5ed covered with fea,h-
er tick. She misstd him, fortunately,
aud closer watch was kept upon her,
the firearms were concealed, and a son
about twenty years Of age, kept con-
stautly near her. On last Saturday
night she was unusually restless and
excited and her husband remained UP
With her unit! she finally consented to
lie down. She threw herself across
the foot Of the bed while he reclined
near the head. Wearied by watching
he soon fell asleep which, alas, was to
be his last. How long she remained
on the bed is unknown, but some time,
probably about O'clock, when the
deed was committed, she stealthily
arose, ferretted out the place where
the guns were secreted under some
straw in the overshot Of the barn, and
procuring the rife which was loaded
she returned to the house, placed i,
across stand that was near the bed
where har sleeping husband lay and
fred, the ball entering his right side,
under the ribs, passing through his
heart and lodging among his ribs on
the left side In about fifteen minutes
be breathed his last, remaining uncou-
scious all the time. After the shoot
ing ste was discovered running toward
the barn, but was closely pursued by
her sor, who seized her, while in the
act Of getting the shot gun from its hi
ding place. In the struggle both fell
from The overshOt, but the mother
hastily arose and seized a pitch-fork,
with a broken handle, and dealt him a
fearful blow near The left temple, in
fiicting long flesh wound along the
head ard face. He succeeded, how
ever, in securing her until the neigh
bors arrived, when strict surveillance
was kept upon her until she was
brought to NJ CInnellsburg.
She was brought to town on Wednes
day and lodged in Jail, but strongly
dislikes her confinement, and pleads
pitiously to be taken home, where she
has child about FIVE years Of age.
She Is evidently enduring great mental
agony and talks necessarily Of her mis-
cry. She will be kept in confinement
TO await the disposition Of the Court.