The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1884-01-09
FItRTAEk DETAILS OF THE
RATHB0NE TRAGEDY.

Sfsr ChtRtfen.
HASovER, Dee. 3G.-Though many
details of TIC Rathboue tragedy are
concealed from the public, vet enough
- known ,toshow that Mrs. Eathbo0c
sacrificed hsrseIf for her children.
Col, Rathhone, formerly noted f..
his ~kiatiiy and genial character.
hecame lately melancholy. mo.osc and
suspicious, aud sahject to- its of strong
passion. -Four years ago he went to
Carlsbai CIR l. cure, but returned
rather worsr than la tier. Rrcrurlv
his family di,cn,,cd the wi.aom o.
alio' ing II, ai't AMI her sister, Miso
Hal *. a1SS the thn'ircn +" re'ra.n
with him. Afhe Cvl. becam, su-mcioI,
that t,L, ca,sGren wuuli be takvi.- Away
and Shunned the society OF all strange
persons. fyc became .phy OF huEan
'sins..
n few 6'ys before the tragedy ho
was restless and excited, and .ustranSc
were his actions that hie wife said.
"Woll the end is not far off, Her
fears were that lie would commi:
suicide. She is described rs a lady o.'
une1cep,ionablo character, gcutl".
loving and untirinz in her devotion to
her husband, living only that she
nigh. watch over him.
Lately ~ .rpl, slept p.ilh loaded
,.crniver urtior his pillow ~. Sun
day evening ho sa; mootliiy II, table
III the Drawing room for some hours.
silent aud aring 5!au!;Iy, aEd pick.
ing at handkerchief. lie had i
slecplcs. ni,}ht and rose at .J.3N iu TIC
morn.ng. 3tasSing plt ~ the room lie
gent alongJNrith y light in one hand
auI q revolver in the other. 70 th,
do2r where pie little daughter, Pauline.
slept with sher nurse. Knocking, he
asked "NSrse, is Pauline in bed =
YES" she answered. Are the boys
IN their roSn Z" "Yes." "0pen the
door; L wan to see them
Mrs. Ran bone had now aiisssi e.
husband, anf came up just IS the
nurse wss r?euing the door. She
said, Dead husband, do cal,a BUR-
SELF" and khen cslle,i: "Narse:V.o, k
the 'i0er a eays the chilirsn-th era
is gaiae 70 - dreadfulVHk r
Tkc na1G Gclosed the doSf-, and Mr-.
RathbonN ppealed to tl3s Col. 80 60
and scengfhi, design thwartrd, Col
Ra'hbnne burned with upgovcrnabIc
psssionzss ixsd hisrwifshy the up,
per part q fltbs arm. He sl.nkged her
into the be{room The nurse ssports
that she he3rd Sounds of the strneglc.
aud that Il door was locked and un.
locked thrt1 times. Miss Hsrris VI as
aroused, entered the aparsmes,., hat
was put oui quickly by the Colonel.
Mrs. dsathbone was heard CRYING,
Henry, lee nc live" then shots were
heard, and hhen silence ensucd.
When tip door was burst open, Mrs.
Rathbone was found lying on tho bed
covered with blood. She merely said
10 her sister: ''rie has killed us both
st last, and expired without pain in
less than five minutes. She had re-
ce'vsd two pistol shots in the breast.
| out the fatal wound was inflicted hv
'the blade "f II dagger, which pierced
her heart. Col. RathbJne war living
on the moor conscious, though wounded
five times by the dagger, one cut reach
ing tie lung, lie asked FIR brandy,
and said he was much hurt, and exc
claimed "Who could have done this?
| have no esemies." He asked where
was the city hospital, and called
piteously fnr his wife.
Afterwari he remembered what he
had done. lie said he had great pro-
vocation, and had found the children
dressed anelevidently about to leave
-him. Evepsbing points TO the. CON
clusion that he is quite irresponsible.
The Rev. Mr.. Mills, Mr.. S,urgts
and others whom have seeu corrob-
crate this suPpGii;on. Th".Col. lately
iabored ul'@Y tac-aelus!pc! ,aat.pcrsons
were hidden behind the pictures,iu II the
.room, aud Sso,e in note book con .
fused ds4Gt VI y .mill. Dr. GottIey.
the fsm'lv nsvsiriar. 'h;.ls his mind
w. g.. .s!1a.ed ,n.". ,ls de-. VI
Lj.2. -. ~ T. -'os' 80. .. ...i.
the "rm .roa Bonrh's dagger Sub
sequsntiy hs had an attack Of brain
fever. lfbe RECEIVERS he will I've de-
Tended ~ ifsry M,;nathorst, recently