The Russellville Democrat., 1882-02-23
REAL LEES ROMANCE.
Tho Trials, Adventures and Crimes of B
 Notorious Georgia Female.
Atlanta Constitution.


 nubIished an interview wi,h Capt. Johr W. Nelms, principal keeper of the peni tentiarv in which it was stated that Kat Sothern. the once famons picken. County murderess, was living in Atlante 3 as q domestic in the family of Mir. c. B :, Howard: @
 new to the reporter who penned the in. terview, but it was eagerly seized upon bv the public, and formed the theme oi many conversations.
 The reporter was not long in finding the residence of Colonel Howard on Ivy street. between Houston and Ellis Il was inst growing dark as the uncerenon- ious scribe rang the doorbell at a tive story brown frame house, and awaited the answer which was to usher him into inc presence of the woman who was more talked about, reed about and writ ten about, than perhaps any other who ever lived in Georgia As the reporter stood thus musing, he heard footfall in the hall and almost immediately the door opened and the reporter stood face to face with tall, singular looking per sonage dressed in black dress. After mentioning that he wished to see Colonel Howard, the scribe was ushered into the parlor, where he was left for a moment to medltate alone. f+ N+ 'h
 The woman who had met the reporter at the door and condu ted him into Colonel Towards parlor was Kate Soth- cru, who, when she was informed that there was Consultation reporter there who wished to talk to her, came in and meckly seated herself upon a low cush- ,J,ir and a,al ,.,aor;1,, f the window at the darkness. As she sat there idly waiting to be "seen," the reporter was intently studying her face. She appeared fully thirty. and no one would believe her to be so young as twenty-two, which is her real age. Her cheeks were still rosy and her naturally curly hair stood in pretty little "kink-a bits"-to coin a word-about her fsre- head Her face wore an expression of sadness, and her manner was so gentle that the reporter could scarcely realize that she was famous as the most noted murderess Georgia ever had.
 The reporter felt that he was upon 8 delicate mission, and in gathering the information that he wanted rarely direct ed question toward Mrs. Sothern. She showed no inclination whatever to talk, but when asked a pointed question, answered it with cbildlike simplicity
 She very frankly told the reporter how old she was when she killed Narcissa Cowart. She was seventeen. When the reporter asked her how she liked her situation, she placed her hands to her face and said nothing. She appears to have given up all hope of happiness in the future; and to look at her face and l.. thoughts were bent upon things that happened in the past, rather than on what will come in the future. The re- porter thought that perhaps it was her baby that is dead. ess. ..f-
 While in North Carolina, runaway from the law, there came to the fugitives a wee little girl, who, when Kate and Bob Sothern were captured, came back with them to Georgia. The baby was in jail with her parents, and when after their conviction Mrs. Sothern and Bob passed through Atlanta on their way to the convict camp, the little girl was a much sought for member of the party. Her name was Lulu Grady Sothern.
 Mrs. Sothern went to Captain Jack Smiths camps to begin her service, but never has she worn stripe or been sub
 
 other conyicts. She was there nearly a convicts. She then fell to the lot of Taylor county. She stayed there eleven months, and then Colonel Howard car ried her to Barlow county. During the time she acted as a domestic in the family, and her husband was with her o1I hn lt of he of the time when she was in Barlow county. Last February Colonel Howard brought her to Atlanta, and she has been here since that time. Since she came to Atlanta her husband has been with her constantly. In fact, one would never suspect that the patient and painstaking domestic in the family of Colonel. How ard was serving out a ten years sentence for murder. She has the freedom of the city, as it were, and with the balance of the world went to see the Exposition. She went under the escort of her hus- band, and displayed much interest in what she saw. She began her service in 1878, and was eighteen years of age. She has six years yet to serve before she breathes the air of liberty. Her little girl died when eleven months old, and
 
 This tale twice told may vex the ear but as circumstances have aroused new interest in her case, we give below brief sketch of how and why, and when she dipped her hands in blood.
 About four or five years ago Kate Sothern was the greatest sensation of the times. Her name and history, with the tragic details of the crime which she committed, her flight, capture, trial, sentence of death, and it's communication to imprisonment in the penitentiary for ten years, furnished a theme which was taken up by the press and used for all 1t was worth. There was much in these facts that was of interest and the case grew in interest until it was known all over the entire country and written of and talked ofby the people of the North as much as by the people of the South, or even of Georgia almost. The details of this woman's history furnish the ma terial for a romance as thrilling as could be desired by the most extravagant con cocter of yellow backed literature.
 A well-to-do Pickens county farmer named Hambrick, was the father of a more than usually good-looking noun tain lass named Kate. Her eyes were blue, her cheeks were rosy snd her dark hair fell about her shoulders, while wee bits curled in sly confusion above a brow that was broad and as white as alabaster. Her step was elastic and she had in her all the life and health that the pure breeze of the mountain could bring her.
 Within the circle of this fair damsels s