National Republican., 1881-08-12
CHRrsTrANA TAYLOR CoNFEssEs.
She Murdered the Fisher Children with n
stick.

All doubt as to who committed the mur-
der Of the Fisher children Saturday was diSpelled
yesterday by the confession OF Christiana Taylor,
the old colored woman suspected of the crime.
Captain Vernon visited the Second Precinct Sta.
ton yesterday on his daily tour of inspection and
before leaving went back to the cell see the old
woman. She asked him if Mr. Archibald White
was about the building, and upon receiving an
Affirmative reply, said "You and him come in
the cell and will tell you all about the murder"
Captain Vernon brought Mr.. White, and to-
gether they entered the cell and seated them
selves Oh either side of the prisoner. Captain
Vernon said TO her; "Auntie, II you did not kill
the children don't say so, for you don't want to
convict yourself"
The old woman replied: "I did kill them
though, and Am tired OF keeping II 10 myself"
The substance of her story was that Saturday
afternoon she went up TO Mr.. Fishers TO return
the washboard On her way up the hill she picked
up piece OF wood, probably two feet long and as
thick as herwris The children were play ling at the
back OF the house, and she walked up behind
the girl and struck her on the head,
telling her TO the ground. Then she struck the boy
and knocked him down She continued to beat
them I'LL she was tired, and then she went into
the house and put the washboard where IL was
aherward found. Being asked her motive for the
crime, she said she could not tell; the devil got
intohcrin some way and she could not help herself
She denied emphatcally beating the children with
the washboard or axe and said that the latter was
lying near the woodpile when she LEFT the
premises, She further stated that after the chill
dren were dead she threw the stick she had used
on the woodpilo back Of the house. At the con-
clusion OF her story Captain Vernon asked;
"AuniC Is this statement the truth ?"
The old woman put her hand on her breast and
said: at is, from my heart"
A commitment 10 jail had already been prepared
and lell BY the coroner in case It might be needed
and after the Old woman had finished her confess
sion she and her daughter Rose were placed In a
wagon and taken 10 Jail. Her grandson, Thomas
Coz, was released from custody, as there was
nothing to connect him IN any way with the crime
Officers were sent out TO Mr.. Fishers farm TO make
search for the piece of wood with which the
crime was committed They continued their In
vcsligauons Till ii was loo dark TO see anything
| but
FAILED TO FISD THE STICK
| Every inch Of ground in the vicinity of the house
was carefully gone over but to 10 avail. In sub
sanitation Of the old woman's confession It |.
stated that the dogs barked nj her Saturday for the
first time In about two weeks, During the pea sea.
son she was the habit oftSkng pieces ant
| meat TO the dog kennellcd near where she worked
and finally succeeded in making friends with IL
when she began TO beat the children It is supposed
that II few At her and scared her of In an opposite
direction from the one by which she came, Thl
would account for her appearing TO the men In IN
field on the east instead Of the west side Of tn
house. At one time the dog came so close TO he
that she stopped, picked up piece OF wood, an
scared the animal away by throwing al H. Anon
the police the story is rapidly gaining ground tina
the old woman Is insane, and that she Is not re
sponsible for her actions.