The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-16
THE BRIDE OF A YEAR AGO.
A Young Mother Sentenced to DeHth for
Murder done through Jealousy.

Young Mother Sentenced TO Death Tor
Murder done through Jealousy.
Soon after The marriage of Mr.. Robert
Sothern, handsome but wild young fel-
low, to Miss Kate Hambricl, ball or
party was given at the dwelling of her
father, Mr.. Hamlbrick, in the fall of 1876,
in Pickens County. All the bellies and
beaus of the neigbborhood we're invited
and attended. Among the number was
a beautiful young woman by the name of
Narcissa Cowart. She, it seems, was one
of those handsome country girls who,
knowing her charms, delighted in max
ing conquests Of men, but never dream
ing that harm would in any way result.
Gay and light-hearted, she pursued the
merry dance from early evening until the
hour of midnight. At that fatal hour
she danced her last time with Mr.. Soth-
ern. Kate, his wife, it appears, had be-
come Jealous of the beautiful Narcissa,
and early in the evening informed
her husband that he must not dance
with Miss Cowart or speak to her
during the night. To this, it seems, he
assented, but al IL o'clock, to the aston
ishment of Mrs. Sothern, she beheld
Miss Narcissa Cowart upon the floor
dancing with her husband. She calmly
walked up to her husband and informed
him that he had promised to dance that
set with her. EIe demonstrated, but she
persisted. At length, finding that the
two we're determined to dance through
the set, the jenlous young wife turned
and quietly walked outside to her father
and demanded the loan of his knife.
Her father inquired for what purpose
she wanted it. She replied, "To cut a
toothbrush" Reminding her that it
was rather late to be cutting toothbrush
es, he reluctantly handed her his large
pocket-knife. Returning to the dance
room she found that the dance was over.
Watching with frenzied eye she soon
espied the object of her jealous rage
alone, dancing across the room. -Seiz-
ing her by the shoulder with one hand
she exclaimed: "You have danced
enough" and brandishing the knife o
moment over her own shoulder she
plunged it deep into the girls neck.
The warm blood shot from the wound to
a wall five feet distance. Still another
blow was dealt, and the sharp knife pene.
srated into the left breast. A third
blow was given AS the girl fell, and she
lay dead on the floor.
Confusion and amazement were never
greater. Some one asked to know who
was the man that struck that woman.
Mrs. Sothern exclaimed firmly. II am
the man that did itW The excited peo-
pie rushed to the doors aud said that no
one should pass. Sothern at once
took his wife by the arm and said, "Gen-
tlemen, I am going to leave this house, and
take my WIFE" His remarks were made
emphatic by the exhibition of danger
gerous.lo looking pistol in his hand. The
people allowed him to pass. Sothern
and his wife made good their escape, and
though Miss sCowart's family offered a
reward of $3.50 for their arrest and the
Governor added $3.50, a year elapsed
before anything were made public of the
fugitives. In January, they were found
in Franklin County, North Carolina.
The history of their escape and capture
is very romantic, and they were consid-
ering the propriety of returning and
giving themselves over to the law when
arrested. At the time of her capture, in
January last, Mrs. Sothern had her first
child in her arms.
The whole family were placed in
Pickens Jail, together with two or three
others engaged in the affair. Last week
at Pickens County Superior Court the
case against Kate Sothern was taken up
for trial, Judge George N. Lester presid-
ing. The case occupied four days in
trial. Every particle of evidence pos:
sible on either side was brought out, and
every legal point YVES hotly contested
After an exhaustive trial, on Saturday,
the 2Sth, the young bride of a year ago
was found guilty Of murder and Was
sentenced to be hanged on the 2lst ol
June. The woman held her child in
her arms throughout the trial. When
sentence was pronounced, she was COM
pletely overcome. A motion for new
trial was made, and will be heard on
Monday, the 18th instant. 1t is more
than probable that the case will reach
the Supreme Court.
Should Mrs. Sothern be hanged she
will be the second woman ever hangec
in Georgia. And in view of the severe
censure meted out to Governor Smith
for permitting Miss Susan Eberhardt te
be hanged, it is reasonable to suppose
that Governor Colquitt will have to be
thoroughly convinced of the justice o
the sentence before he will allow her Il
hang.-Atlanta Constitution.