The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-16

From the Atlanta Horo!f MN

days through the woods. your cores
pondent has returned to the citv from
cke county. Sc where he wit
messed the trial and conviction of Mrs.
Kate Southern. who was charged with
the murder of Narcissa Cowart in Feb
ruary last. The readers of the Herald
are familiar with the story OF the
crime, as | forwarded the details
shortly after the principals Were cap
tured in North Carolina. The case Is
now fairly before the courts the swift
coils of the law are being frightened
around the wretched woman and that
the public may understand the points
OF this remarkable tragedy. as the sue
cessIye action of the courts are re-
ported upon, the story is herewith
briefly retold.
o SOUTHERN's sw~EETHEARTS.
There is, in Pickcns county,. which
Is a backwoods county. a numerous
family named Southern. The men
are stalwart, handsome and a trifle
Wild. Among them was a Young fell
low named Bob who was the best
looking of the lot. and was quite a
mountain beau. He was ruddv. tall
and 1.-THE, with just enough of reck-
lessness about him to make him popu-
lar with the country bellies. 1t appears
that he divided his affections rather
evenly, for a long time, between two
young ladies who were noted among
all the lasses as bellies. Miss Kate
Hambrick was a dark, slender girl,
with lustrous hair and eyes. and, it IS
said, a trace of Indian blood in her
veins. Miss Narcissa Cowart was
plump, pretty and good-naturcd.-
Bob" Southern was very attentive
to both of these young ladies, and for
a long time it was doubtful as to where
his affections would be finally laid.
At length, however, it was announced
that he was to marry Miss HamDrick,
and the day was set for the wedding.
The rivalry between the young ladies
was very bitter, at least on the part of
Miss Hambrick, who seems to have
loved with the passion and fury of a
tigress.
The wedding took place about one
yea and a half ago. For some months
the young wife was happy in her hus-
bands love, and all went smoothly. A
little one was promised to their mu-
tual happiness, and the skies seemed
bright. Suddenly, however, the calm
was broken. and Kate Southern's life
became turbulent and desperate. She
learned that her rival still had sOme
power over her husband that they
had been seen walking together in the
woods two or three times since the
wedding. She, of course, became very
much enraged, and went to her hus-
band about it. He promised to behave
himself in the future.
THE TRAGEDY.
A short time after this a party was
given at Mr.. Hambrick's house. In
accordance with the hearty hospitality
of the country, Miss Cowart was in
vited to be present. Mrs. Southern,
knowing this, warned her husband
that he must not dance with her or
speak to her during the night. He
laughed at her jealous tears, and pro-
missed hat he would respect her
wishes. He did SO until late in the
night. He then, through carelessness
or in a freak-for it appears that he
did love his wife devotedly-took Miss
Cowart on the floor for a dance. His
wife at once went up to the couple,
determined to prevent their dancing
together. She claimed that her hus-
band was engaged for that set to her,
Miss Cowart denied this, and said that
.she had a right to dance with him If
he wanted to dance with her" South
ern himself took sides with Miss CO.
wart, and the dance went on, Mrs.
Southern giving way. After the dance
was over Mrs. Southern sought her
husband, and, taking him TO II side
of the room, sat down by his side.
What they said to each other may
never be known. While they We're
talking, however, Miss Cowart, EVIL
IDENTIFY verv much exhilarated, danced
in front of them two or three times.
This seemed to exasperate Mrs. South
o,., wow n,r1ch a,11 of lanCfh she rose
suddenly and sought her father, who,
with her mother, was in an adjoining
DON Going up to him she asked
him for his knife, telling him she
wanted to pare her nails. He handed
the Weapon to her and she left the
!, room. Re-entering the dancing room,
she discovered her rival still dancing
in an elated sort of way across the
room. She rushed upon her with The
rapidity of lightning, and, Selling hel
by the throat, said
"Iou have danced enough"
5 With this she plunged the knife into
her left shoulder, striking her just
| above the heart. Her victim nevel
5 uttered a word, but fell at once. III
< falling Mrs. Southern stabbed hel
l again. cutting, each time, a cash sew
eral inches long. As she touched the
l floor. Mrs. Southern threw herself
! upon her and plunged the knife into
I her body again, this time cutting
through her clothes and belt ano
r opening the abdomen. Miss Cowar
died instantly. and before the GROVE
: could understand what was going on
The confusion was terrible. some on
called out
"Who did this"
n Il did it :" screamed Mrs. South
a ern, raising herself from her rival
: PROSTATE body.
S "Close the door and let no one ieay
Q the room :" shouted the same voice.
THE TO THE RESCUE.