The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-05-15
MISCELLAN EOUS.
aEhe Tragic Period Of EAaGe SOih-
eF0's Life.
Her Trial for the Murder of Miss
COWarG-COnv fctiOn and sem
Ience 10 Death.
4 WOMAN'S SIN.
Atlanta Constitution. 81

Atlanta Constitution, 81.
One calm night in the fall of the year
1876, the hitherto quiet repose Of the clti
zens of Pickens county, in North Geor
gia, was thrown into CONSERVATION by the
murder of beautiful young woman
named Nsrcissa Cowart, at ball, by
Mrs. Kate Sothern.
An account of the killing, the roman
tic escape and capture of the parties a
year afterwards, was published by the
Constitution on the 14th February last.
4 synopsis of the terrible affair is about
a. follows: Soon after the marriage Of
Mr.. Robert Sothern, handsome bat
wild Young fellow, to Miss Kate Ham
brick one Of the most beautiful and fas
cinating young ladies in North Georgia,
ball or party was given at the dwelling of
her father, Mr.. Hambrick. All the
bellies and beaux of the neighborhood
were invited aud attended. Among the
number WAS a beautiful young lady by the
name OF Narcissa Cowart. She, it seems,
was one Of those han : me country girls
who, knowing her charus, delighted in
making c0nquests Of men, but never
lEtdtltH8 lildl iIdIlH HOdiu III va
result. Gay and light hearted, she pur
sued the merry dance from early evening
until near the hour of midnight. At that
fatal hour she danced her last time with
Mr. Sothern Kate, his wife, it appears,
had become jealous of the beautiful Mar
ELSA, ard 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, and
contented himself by dancing with other
ladies. The eliminated storm of jealousy
was wrought from the fact that the
fair Narcissa had formerly been a sweet
heart Of BOb's. Hence the admonitiOn.
As intimated, however, at about II
o'clock, to the establishment of Mrs. Kate
Sothern, the fair young bride, she beheld
Miss Narcissa Cowart upon the floor
dancing with her husband for partner.
Seized with Jealous rage, but without any
exhibition Of an evil design, she calmly
walked up to her husband and informed
him that he had promised to dance that
set with her He demonstrated, but she
persisted. At length finding that the
two were determined to dance through
the set, the jealous young wife turned AMI
walked quietly outside to her father and
demanded the loan of his knife.
Hesitating to comply, her father en-
quired for what purpose she wanted 1t.
She replied, To cut tooth brush"
Reminding her that it was rather late to
be cutting tooth brushes, her father re
Iuctantiy handed her his large pocket
knife. Returning to the dancing room
she found that the dance was over.
Watching with frenzied eye she soon es-
pied the object of her jealous rage alone.
Dancing across the room, with the 1.-the
ness Of tiger she was beside the appa-
rently happy, but doomed woman. Seiz
ing her by the shoulder with one hand,
she exclaimed "You have danced en-
ough."
Brandishing the knife but a moment
over her own shoulder in order to give
force to the fatal blow, she plunged it
deep into the neck of her victim. The |
warm blood shot from the wound to wall |
five feet distant. Still another blow was
dealt and the sharp knife penetrated deep |
into the left breast. As the victim sank |
III the last thEoes Of death to the floor, still !
another stab was made with the fatal |
which made its way into her
body through her belt and clothes. BY |
the time the unfortunate young lady fell |:
she was dead. |
Confusion and amazement was never
greater. Some asked to know who was
he man that struck that woman. Mrs.
Kate Sothern exclaimed, firmly, II am
the man that did it, The excited
people rushed to the doors and said
that no one should pass. Bob Sothern
1t once took his wife by the arm and
aid, Gentlemen, l am going to leave
his house and take my wife" His re
marks were made emphatic by the exhi-
oition of a dangerous looking pistol in
ais hand.
The people allowed him to pass before
hey had time to realize what had taken
,lace. Sothern and his wife made good
heir escape.
Miss Cowart's family offered reward of
$50, and the Governor added $3.50.
\ year elapsed before any tidings We're
made public Of the fugltives. Then they
we're found in Franklin county, n. G.
The history of their escape and capture is
cry romantic. They were considering
he propriety of returning and giving
I6IHoclNSS OVER ~ the law WIFI
d.
At the time of her capture, in January
asst, Mrs. Sothern bore in her arms
mall infant.
The whole family were placed in Pick
rs Jail, together with two or three 9TH
rs engaged in the affair Last week at
Dickens superior court, the case against
4ate Sothern was taken up for trial.
Judge George n. Lester presiding. The
ase occupied four days in trial. Every
article of evidence possible on either
de was brought out, and every legal
oint was holly contested, After an ex-
austive trial, on Saturday the 28th, she
Fas found guilty of murder and was sen
enced to be hanged on the 2lst of June.
olicitor General Greer was ably assisted
Y Mr.. S. A Darnell of this city, and
Ir. J. c. Allen of Ellijay The unfor-
mate woman was defended by Congress-
ian II. P. Bell, r. P Lester, w. H 8
immons, W T: Day and Col. Carey
7 Styles.
The trial was very exciting; people
aving come into the court from all parts
the country. The poor woman held Z
er child in her arms nearly all the time.
hen sentence was pronounced, it is said ?
he was completely overcome. A very