The daily gazette., 1880-11-18
| HORRIBLE INFANTICIDE.
A HEARTLEss FATHER KILLS HIS

CdlLD AND rOhCGS dlS WlFE ~
ASSIST HIM.
The Morning News gives the de-
tails of terrible case of infan ticide
that recently occurred at Bay View,
Cecil county, Md.
The story Is that the wife Of
Nathan Tyson, Of Bay View, was
known to be about to give birth to a
child, and that Mrs. Tyson was seen
going about the house as usual, until
Thursday or Friday last. On Mon
day afternoon Tyson was seen dig
ging hole in his garden, which he
said was for the purpose of planting
grape vine. Suspicion being
aroused, warrant was issued on
complaint Of Mrs. Mary E. Riddle,
aneighbor which was served by Con-
stable Isaac DeFord, who was ac-
companied by Esquire Benjamin,
Mrs. Riddle, Thos. Riddle, Henry
Burns ard John Loaan. They went
to Tyson's house, and Mrs. Tyson,
on being asked. where the child was,
said it was dead. Tyson said he had
buried it, and on being pressed by
tho Constable took them out in the
yard, where, covered with rubbish,
was large goods box, inside of
which was small box. This Tyson
pointed to, saying, "It is in there"
The constable opened the box and
took out something enveloped in qua
no sack. Unravelling this the body of
a new born babe was found. There
were finger marks ON It's chest and neck,
and its mouth had the appearance of
having been forcibly opened. The box
had been too short for its burden and
tho inhuman father had forced 1t down,
and now it lay there with its little legs
all twisted up to make it fit.
The Constable placed Tyson ander
arrest in charge of deputies, and the
magistrate summoned a coroner's jury.
A number of witnesses were examin-
ed whose testimony was mainly sur
mises aud suspicious, and nothing def
mite was elected until DR.. P. B. House
keeper, tbe leading physician of the
place, took the stand. He testified that
the child had been born alive and to all
appearance was a healthy infant. Its
death had been produced by an over
dose Of laudanum, nearly one-quarter
OF an ounce having been administered
TO it.
The Ms. Tyson was called to the
stand Amid sobs and groans she protes-
ted that her husband would harm her,
and refused to speak unless he was re-
moved.
This being done she told her mouLful
story. How, on Friday tho infant was
born, with no one by aid comfort her
save him who had proved so recreant.
How, on Saturday, he made her ad-
minister the first dose, and subsequently
administered the others himself; and
ho q, after taking It away from her to
i poison 1t, he afterwards hid it where 1t
was found. And how, to crown his
,, cruelty, he made her, weak and feeble
as she was, come down stairs and en-
gage in work in order 10 allay suspicion.
When the woman's story was known
the neighbols became intensely excited,
and threats Of lynching were made by
men who have ever been most law abid-
Ing. "Hang him." was the shout, and
Tyson turned around to the minister,
who had asked him whether he was
prepared to die, and said with grim
sniile, "You may take me out now and
HdilB IlC w tuob btOC uSlOoo IhC ASoA1 Wv
shall go to Heaven"
After Iha consideration of this testi-
mony the jury rendered verdict that
Tyson had, with premeditated murder
In his heart, killed his child by an over
dose Of laudanum.
Constable De Ford, took his prisoner to
Elkton Jail upon commitment by
Magistrate Benjamin.
THE PRlsoNEk's sTARMENT.
He says he Is 40 years of age, was mar
ried about 1865, and has three children
living. He was formerly a teamster,
but for the past three or four years has
b zen too sick to work. The child, he
says, was weak, puny infant, and he
gave 1t the laudannm to strengthen 1t.
| He averred the greatest affection for 1t
and regret at Its death His relations
with bis wife, he said, had always been
| pleasant. He expressed perfect willing
| ness to die now. His spirit is thorough
| ly broken, and with tears running down
| his cheeks he calls upon God to witness
his innocence.
After the terrible occurrence the wife
was taken to the home of her brother-in-
law, Wesley Tyson, and here she re-
ceived the kindest treatment.
| She is little woman, not much over
| four feet high, and shows signs of once
been comfy.
| They were married about 1865, just at
| ter the close of the war, and have three
| children living, all small. Nathan has
| often treated her badly. Once, just be-
| tore one of her other children was born,
| he kicked her and Injured her very
much. Some time ago he wanted to
make her run up hill in order to pro-
duce miscarriage. lie said that II the
baby was a boy it could live, but if 1t
was a girl 1t must die, as they now had
too many and could not afford to raise 1t,
On Friday night, when the hour Of
confinement came, he refused to have q
doctor or let any of the women come in,
and he assisted her at the birth of the
child, she telling him what to do. The
child was born alive and was very
healthy and took its nourishment twice
Saturday morning Nathan said he
must kill it as they were SO poor.
al begged and prayed him not to do
it," she said with sobs, land told him IL
was an awful sin aud he never would be
forgiven" "No one will know it," he
said, "and you must give 1t the lauda-
mum or will smother it," "Then l i'm
pored him to let iG live and that
would work hard and not let 1t be a bur
den. But he made me give 1t a tea
spoonfHl of laudanum ana wanted me to
give it more. I said "no." and he
snatch ed il out of the bed with me and
put it lD another bed and made it swal
low two more doses. Then he took II
out and buried II, and made me come
down stairs, SO that people would moi
think it strange"
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| W;LISha1,lnfl he Raf0{1aed.