The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-09-01
A MOTHERS LOVE.
Truth Stranger Than Fiction.
The Mothers Love and Tragic
Death.


ass Death.
READING, Pa. Aug. 21.-Yester-
day the funeral Of Mrs. Philip Bes.
singer and her three children, whose
death by drowning occurred here on
Tuesday, took place here. Intense
excitement prevailed, and q very
large concourse of people followed
the bodies to the grave, the process
sion comprising over thirty carriages
and not less than one thousand peo-
pie on foot. For an hour before the
time for the funeral. the house was
surrounded by excited people. and
the excitement was. so great that
detachment of police kept guard on
the premises. ls
The circumstances attending the
death of the mother and the children
were snch as to create the strongest
interest, which partakes largely of
Indignation. Bessinger is the keep
er of saloon here, and his family
consisted of himself, wife and three
small children, boy and two girls.
His mother also made her home with
his family. OF late, it is said, there
has been considerable unhappiness.
caused - neighbors say by the
treatment of Mrs. Bessinger by her
husband and his mother. The re-
port commonly accepted is that Bes.
singer had bestowed his affection up
on an unmarried woman from Phila-
delphia who was frequently at his
house, and who was boldly accorded
authority denied his wife. {. On Mon
day, it is stated, a quarrel took place
between the husband and wife on
this account, and be ordered her out
of his sight. He told her he wouhl
give her two thousand dollars to go
away and return no more, she to
take the two girls, and he to keep
the boy, and threatened to kill her
if she returned. This prospect of
separation from ore of her children,
added to the previous unhappiness
of her position manifestly preyed
upon her mind, and she was very
much depressed. On Tuesday, ac-
companied by her three children, she
left the house and entered a street
car in which she rode out of the city
for a distance of about two and a
half miles to a point. on the bank of
the canal. She had a basket with
her, and ills she proceeded to fill
with stones, her children assisting
her. Having filed. it, she bound it
securely to her waist, and taking a
child under each arm and holding the
third to her breast, she jumped into
the canal. The cries of the children
attracted the attention of a man
who could not swim, and before he
could get help. all were drowned.
The bodies were recovered. and re-
moved to the house of the. husband,
and he was notified of the occurrence,
receiving, the news, it is said, while
in company with the woman who had
caused the .unhappiness.r So great
was the indignation among the peo-
pie at large, that a detachment OF
police was kept guarding his house
from the first until after the funeral.
1t is stated that in the crowd in
attendance, yesterday, not less than
fifty men, and even women, were
armed with pistols for the avowed
purpose Of shooting Bessinger. He
was guarded by the police all the
way to the grave and back. and as a
further protection, the coffin contain.
ing the little boys body was placed
in the carriage with him. Whenthe
bodies had been lowered into the
grave, part Of the crowd hooted al
Bessinger. and number OF women
endeavored to get at him. One shot
was fred at him without effect. He
was instantly hustled in his carriage
and driven off. Another shot was
fired in passing the gate, and it is
supposed to have struck him, as he
was carried from his carriage into
the house. Great indignation still
exists, and lynch law continues to be
freely talked of.