The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-03-20
A MOTHERS CRIME.
Startling Solution Of a Murder Mystery
Of Seventeen Years Standing.
The Shocking Confes.ion Made Upon HoI
Death-bed ofthc Mother OF
Christine Kett

DAYTON, O., March 16 On Friday night,
January II, 1867, Christine Kett, young
lady of eighteen years and comely appear
ance, was murdered in her own home in
this city. Her body was found lying on the
kitchen floor, with her feet hanging in the
hatchway to the cellar. Her head had been
crushed by blunt instrument and powder
marks were on her face. By her
side lay her brothers. pistol. This
brother discovered the body and gave the
alarm. No motive could be assigned for self.
destruction, and no satisfactory traces of
the criminal could be discovered. In the
cellar was an axe covered with snow.
There were also tracks to and from the
house, through the back yard and vacant
lots in the neighborhood. The mother of
the murdered girl was absent at the time
the body was found, and on being informed
of the murder made great demonstration
of grief. Dayton was startled By the
crime, and hundreds of people visited the
house, then on a lonely commons near
Wayne street. The brother, whose pistol
but discharged. Buck Hughes, then a
noted character about town, was also sus-
pected, and held for examination, but no
sufficient evidence could be produced
against him. Tom GoetE, a lover of the
girl, also had his turn as suspected muir
derer. Neighbors and relatives had sus-
pected the mother Of the crime, but no evil
dence could be produced, and motive
was lacking. At various times she had
acted strangely; was known to be wakeful,
an and inclined to be startled at every noise.
The house where the crime was
committed was given to a
son, and the mother removed. For time
she went West, stopping at st. Paul and
other Western cities, but, as the son now
says, seemed to have no peace. Last win
b ynf dav-o Oh,
struck wildly at her son, saying that there
had been blood on her hands once, and
might as well be again. She had told one or
two that before her death she was going to
tell something to her son, and that she
wanted no one else to hear. Sine the 1st of
January she has been ailing, but would
summon no physician. She was afflicted
with goitre and subject to choking spells.
Three weeks ago she took to her bed with
Inflammation of the bowels, and stubbornly
refused doctor. Growing worse and APP
pretending death she called her son to her
side, ordered every one else out of the
room, handed him the deed for her prop.
erty, and then told the startled and ag.
der. On the morning of the fatal
day the mother was washing, and told the
daughter, who went away with young
lady friend, that she should not stay long,
| as there was bread in the oven, and she was
wanted to get dinner. The daughter did
not return, however, until 4 o'clock, wher
she was called to account for her absence
and the mother, who was woman Of
| violent and uncomfortable temper, be
came enraged at the girl, and strucl
her with an axe-handle. AS she approach
ed, the frightened girl fed toward ths
cellarway and was about to descend whe1
struck. The blow was fatal, and mortified
| at what she had done, the murderess be
| thought to conceal the crime, by hunting
up the sons pistol and placing it beside
the body, and then to give some evidenc,
of its use by placing the girls finger in tn,
powder-fask and burning powder near hel
face,