Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-05-15
THE BRIDE OF A YEAR AGO.
A Young Mother Sentenced to Death for
Murder Done through Jealousy.
Atlanta Constitution, May 3.

Murder Done through Jealousy.
Atlanta Constitution Mays,
Soon after the marriage of Mr.. Rob
ert Sothern, a handsome but wild young
| fellow, to Miss Kate Hambrick, ball
or party was given at the dwelling of
| her father, Mr.. Hambrick, in the fall of
1876, in Pickens county. All the bellies
and beaus Of the neighborhood were in
vited aud attended. Among the num-
Der was a beautiful young woman by
the name of Narcissa Cowart. She, it
seems, was one of those handsome
girls who, knowing her charms, delight
| ed in making conquests Of men, but
never dreaming 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.. Sothren. Kate, his wife,
it appears, had become 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 at IL o'clock,
to the establishment of Mrs. Sothern,
she beheld Miss Narcissa Cowart upon
the floor dancing with her husband.
She calmy walked up to her husband
ised to dance that set with her. He re-
monstrated, but she persisted. At
length, finding that the two were deter
mined to dance through the set, the
jealous young wife turned and quietly
walked outside to her father and de-
manded the loan of his knife. Her
father inquired for what purpose she
wanted il. She replied, "To cut a
toothbrush" Reminding her that it was
rather late to be cutting tooth-brushes,
ne reluctantly handed her his large
pocket-knife. Returning to the dance
room she found that the dance was
over Watching with frenzled eye, she
soon espied the object of her jealous
rage alone, dancing across the room.
Selling her by the shoulder with one
hand, she exclaimed: You have
danced enough" and brandishing the
knife moment over her own shoulder
she plunged it deep into the girls neck.
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.
A third blow was given as the girl fell,
and she laid 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 itp' The
excited people rushed to the doors and
said that no one should pass. Southern
at once took his wife by the arm and
said, "Gentlemen, l am going to leave
this house. and take my wife"
His remarks were make emphatic by
the exhibition of dangerous-looking
pistol in his hand. The people allowed
him to pass. Southern and his wife
made good their escape, and though
Miss Cowart's family offered q reward
of $500 for their arrest and the COVER
nor added $3.50, a year elapsed before
any tidings were made public of the
fugitives. Then, in JANUARY, they were
found in Franklin county, North Car
olinia. The history Of their escape and
capture IS very romantic, and they
were considering the propriety of re-
turning and giving themselves over to
the law when arrested. At the time of
her capture, in January last, Mrs
Southern 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 Southern was taken
up for trial Every particle of evidence
possible on either side was brought out,
and every legal point was hotly contest
ed. After an exhaustive trial, on Satur-
day, the 2Sth, the young bride of a year
ago was found guilty Of murder and
was sentenced to be hanged On the 21st
ofJune The woman held her child
in Der arms throughout the trial
When sentence was pronounced, she
was completely 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 hanged
in Georgia. And in view of the severe
censure melted out to Governor Smith
for permitting Miss Susan Eberhardt
to be hanged, it is reasonable to
suppose that Governor Colqultt
will have to be thoroughly convinced Of
the justice of the sentence before he
:, will allow her to hang.