The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1883-03-24
A Real Tragedy.

in Bastrop, Texas. He was enga-
ged in the livery business, aud was
repnted to be worth from sa0.OO0
to $4,000, a sum which in that To-
cality caused its possessor to be
looked upon as a man of wealth.
His father was the wealthiest man
in the country, his possessions be-
ing estimated at over 100000.
The son, who was thirty-five years
of age, had married some years
previously, and was the father of
four children-two boys and two
girls-the eldest of whom was
about thirteen years old and the
youngest five years. He was de-
votedly attached to his wife, and
the two had lived very happily to-
gether since their marriage. About
five years ago, his wife, after se-
we're attack of illness, betrayed
evidences Of mental trouble. This
continued but for a short time,
when she apparently regained her
usual health.
About the middle of last month
the wife again began to talk and
act queerly, and the fears of the
husband were once more aroused.
He became more assiduous in his
attentions to her, and was careful
to be in her company as much as
possible, fearing she might do her
self bodily harm.
On the morning of the 10th of
January the mother prepared the
children for school at an earlier
hour than that to which they were
accustomed. The little ones de-
murred to being sent off so early,
but the mother insisted, and they
finally started for the schoolhousc.
Something demanded Mr.. Greene's
attention at the barn, which stood
not far from the house, but his
wife was acting so oddly that he
feared to leave her for moment.
Calling the servant girl, he instruc.
ted her to pay close attention to
her mistress, and not to let her
out of her sight. This the girl
promised to do. There was meth
cd IN the madness of the unfortu.
nate woman, however, and her
tactics betrayed q certain crafty
shrewdness. No sooner had her
husband left the house than she
directed the girl to attend to Ger
tain household duties in the kit.
chen on the floor below. The ser.
want hesitated to comply, but upon
her mistress reiterating her com,
mand pcremptorily she did as she
was directed. Then the unfortu'
rate maniac--for such she had be-
come-proceeded TO carry out the
purpose which she had evidently
been planning.
Seizing large lamp, full of oil
which stood upon the mantel, sh c
poured its contents over her head
and saturated her clothing with
the infammable fluid. Then she
applied a lighted match, and in an
instant was a mass of flames. The
affrighted servant, hearing the ag
onized screams of the unfortu
nate lady, hurried up the stairs
but when she tried to enter the
room found the door locked. The
poor deranged mind had laid its
plan well. Mr.. Greene, too, heard
the shrieks, and his heart at once
misgave him. Rushing out of the
barn and looking toward the house
he beheld sight that almost froze
his blood in his veins. Standing
at a window which looked out up.
on a low balcony was his wife, the
flames curling up about her, while
she made frantic efforts TO open
the easement. A dozen bounds
brought him to the spot, and dash.
ing through the window he took
his. wife in his arms, carried her
over the yerandah, and threw her
upon q grassy lawn, rolling her
over and over in the effort to ex.
tinguish the flames. He finally
succeeded, with the help of his
servant, but not until his hands
and arms had been badly burned.
The flames, however, had done
their cruel work. The unfortu.
nate woman fingered in terrible
agony from 8 o'clock in the morn.
ing until 2 o'clock in the afternoon,
when she died.
The husband was physically and
mentally prostrated. He. was put
under medical care, but though
his burns were severe and painful
they were nothing to his mental
anguish. For six days he did not
sleep and refused to eat. On the
morning of the 9th he developed
symptoms of mania, and in very
short time thereafter became a
raving maniac. His physicians re.
commended that he be brought to
New York for treatment. and