The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-03-06
LOVE, JEALOUSY AND MURDER.
ATLANTA, GA,

Feb. II, 1881
On yesterday a detective reached
this city with Kate Southern, a muir
leress. from Pickeas County, whom
he had caught near Murphy, North
Carolina, after. an exciting chase.
Her capture reviyes a story tina,
reads like a romance. During the
Christmas holidays of 1876, Kate
Southern, in fit jealousy, stabbed
and killed Miss Cowart, at a public
ball, while she vas dancing With her
husband. Bob Southern, dashing.
handsome young fellow in Pickens
County, married, after long court,
ship, Kate Hambright, the belle of
the mountain counties. Bob and his
wife, both being great favorites with
the young people and fond Of social
pleasures, continued, after their mar
riage, to attend all the country dan
ues. AT these parties Southern paid
a good deal Of attention to . Miss
Cowart, to whom he had paid court
before he married. His wife, think-
ing that she was being sighted dur.
ing the honeymoon, became jealous,
and insisted that Bob should cease
his attentions to
! ,aaif HER OLD RIVAL.
Southern laughed at the idea Of her
being jealous, and became most as
siau6us in his attentions to Miss
Gowart. After they had been mar
RED about three months, Mr.. Ham
bright gave a dance complimentary
to the married couple. Before the.
dancing commenced Kate went to
her husband, aul beg red him not to
lance or talk to Miss Cowart during
the evening. The husband seeming
to treat her request lightly, she went
to Miss Cowart, and accused her of
trying to destroy the happiness Of
her home circle by encouraging her
husband in his attentions to her,
and begged her to refuse to dance
with ''Bob'' ain case he asked her.
During the evening Kate, seeing
"Bob'' and Miss Cowart take their
position for dance, went to them
and told her husband that he had an
engagement with her for that dance.
and insisted on taking Miss Cowart's
place. Miss Cowart contended that
she had a right to the dance, and the
husband decided in favor Of Miss
Cowart, and led her down the middle
flushed with excitement. Kate left
the room, and, meeting her father in
the hall, borrowed his knife for some
trivial cause, and then returned to
the doorway with the knife con-
cealed in her dress, and waited until
the dance was over. Then, walking
up to her husband and his fair part.
ner, she caught Miss Cowart by the
arm, and saying:
~ ''YoU HAVE DANCED ENOUGH
whipped out her knife, and, quick as
lightning, plunged it into the breast
Iof her rival. Miss Cowart staggered
back as she Was struck, and stream
of blood gushed from the wound, go
ing three or four feet from the body
AS Miss Cowart was trying to rise
Kate Southern sprang upon her, and
catching her by the hair, pulled back
her head, and cut her throat almos,
from ear to ear. The murder created
the most intenst excitement in the
room. Young Houly, one of tht
floor managers, called out, "Wba
man did that2' Kate Southern
drawing herself up proudly, said
I"I am the man that did it, and
don't regret it," Mr.. Houly ther
sprang to the door, and said no ont
should leave the room until the mat
ter had been Investigated and TIT
guilty parties arrested. Southern
who, up to this time seemed to hav,
been in sort Of stupor, stepped III
to his wife, and putting his arm
around her, pulled out pistol, AM
said that he would leave the roou
and take Kate with him, If he had t.
wade through blood. His brother
Jim Southern, pulled out a pisto
and stepped up to his side. Th
parties guarding the door, knowin
that the Seutherns
WERE DESPERATE MEN,
Withdrew from the door and Above
them to pass unmolested. The ne.
morning Bob Southern, his fatle
brother and wife were not to b
found in Pickens County. Reward
! we're offered for Kate Southern, bot
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