Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-06-23
An Insane Mothers Deed.

POISONING HERSELF AND HER FOUR
CHILDREN THAT THEY MAY ALL GO TO
HEAVEN.
When Casper Seybolt, a baker, who had
been working all night. arrived at his
home, No. 81 Finneil street, in Chicago,
at O'Clock Friday morning, he was met
at the door by his wife, dressed in white
robe trimmed with lace and ribbons. She
seemed scarcely able to stand. and seizlng
him by the hand. said. with fsverish ex-
element: "Come in, Casper; con in, and
see our fonr little children are dead Gone
to Haven, Casper See, how pretty they
are. Ever, one has nice flowers for the
.usels.''
For mon;ent the husband was stunned
aid Thought is wife crazy. He hurried
to the bedroom and there laid out, AS for
burial, were the four children, Matilda
II years old; Anton, years old; Annie.
years old AMI the baby, Agnes, less than
fou; months I'D. They were dressed in
white trimmed with blue ribbons, thei,
hair nicely Snnothe,i back from their fore
heads and tied with blue ribbon. aud in
their hands brQuets of flowers. ALI were
dead except Matilda and she was breath
i.g har last.
Mrs. Seyiult follow ed her husband into
the room and said Yes, sent them all
t., heaven bee ,tlse G I'd wanted them"
Casper Sc, h 1t at last recovered suni
GENTLY t, re- i re the awful deed and then
hastsned acres, the street and summoned
Mi Martin, a Srecer, who hastily pIOcur-
ed the services Of Dr.. Moe, but he c,u!d
do nothing for the diving girl NJ stilda.-
Suddenly they noticed that Mrs Seybolt
was in commissions. She was just able t"
tell the physician that she gave poison to
her children first, then prepared herself for
d.ath, taxing the remains of large dose
of stIychnine. She died in great agony
shortly after O'Clock and was laid out bs-
side her children. The motives of the Wu
man in thus killing her children and her
self my be Cleaned from the following
notes and scraps of writing found in the
room. They were written by the old
est child Matilda:
Il wish to all nay playmates a better
and happier time than had. So good by
to you all. You all are welcome to the
place where have gone. Remember me-
Another paper contained the verses of the
hymn, ''There is Happy Land" Another
note is addressed to a playmate, as fol-
lsws:
"Mary Murphy Please tell Lizzie Mar
tin, Minnie Often and Lizzie Reymould
that | have forgotten their dispute and
forgive them. l guess they will feel sorry
for it. May thsy think of rue as their
friend. TILLY SxYBOLT."
Other notes rad rs follows:
''Dear Papa: Forgive me. We have to
leave you. Mamma thought it was thu
best we could do. am now in the better
land where we all live in freedom.
Your daughter,
MATILDA"
Dear Papa: Please bury us decent at
Wandel's Gene terry. that we may all be
buried together that's all request from
you. My knife and money is for your
present and is in the collar-box. Buy for
Anton, Annie and self flowers from the
money which | have saved. 1t is mine. The
knife is yours.
"For Mary Murphy. 1 will tell the
story OF our trouble. My mother was al
ways sick, you know, and thought of dy
ing often. AID thought how if she was
dead how we ~ould be treatad, q so
thought best for all OF us to die at once,
and bought something to kill us. The
baby first, Annie second, Tony third and
after. and then my mother. We did
not suffer much and now we are all out
OF trouble"
For R,sey M,rris: Take the book I've
brought hons from school. 1t is not mine.
1t is the history vt the United States. Take
it to room 5 to Geo. Caproni. It is on the
lower shelf Of t, clOset.''
This is for IL Try and Nell Murphy: my
two dear playmxtes. [ wish yon happier
and better time han had. Goodbye
you ara all Welc me-
No cause for the tragedy other than that
which the notes convey is known. The
family bore a good reputation and no one
ever suspected Mrs. Seybolt of insanity.