The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-29

Two of his fingers are cut off. Aida,
the remaining daughter. was lying in
another bed, where she appeared to have
been asleep when she received the blows
from the axe.
Mr.fSmith could say nothing. lIewas
completely prostrated by the blow he re-
ccived from his wife's actions. He beg
ged to be,left alone with his misery. lie
wouldiaepeatedly ask how his children
were. and the doctors would glre him
very little encouragement.
Little Edna never breathed after the
axe strueNher. The other three child
rcn are in a very low condition. and the
four doctors who are IN attendance fear
that they, vii Nye dead before morning.
They eSliehalf unconsclous, and when they
rally their stupor their minds
wand2rland. they begin to humble in
coherantiy. The doctors can do moth
Ing for them at present as their skulls
are all crushed in. At this writing. 10
p. NJ, they fear that both the mother
and children will die during the night.
The poison that Mrs. Smith took ap-
pears tothave just taken effect upon her
ard shesis sinking rapidly.
Little Edna was buried yesterday
morniag. Hundreds of people gathered
around. the homestead and the road to
the cemetery was crowded for an eighth
OF a mile with wagons. At the grave 4
sad and impressive sermon was deliver
ed blythe clergyman, and when the last
words were spoken and the coffin was
about to be concealed. the father an.l his
cightee!;-year-old daughter, Laura. gave
way to their feelings and threw them
selves on the ground. The father called
upon heaven to save his other children
from tic fate Of little Edna. Kind hands
placed the heart.brokcn father and
daughter in their carriages, and they
were taken home to their house OF sor-
row.
Whilt the funeral services were being
read at the grave, 4 far different scene
was occurring at the house. Mrs. Smith.
who lad noticed the funeral leaving the
house, zhad sharply watched the move
ments'@ Mr.. II II. Willitt, who had been
left to- watch her. Noticing him leave
the room for q moment, she jumped
from her bed and made for the closet
wherc, the remainder of the rat poison
was steRea away. She intended to take
another: dose tor the purpose OF ending
her lie, but Mr.. Willitt returned in time
to save. her., She struggled vainly to
get possession Of the poison, but finally
had tolgiye UP when overpowercd. 1t
was the second time she attempted to
finish The deadly work. During the dead
of night, she got up when Mr.. Willitt
was ~ tloze and gained the stairway
slratfiit 70 the children's bedchanlber.
When she was discovered and brought
back, Mr.. Willitt said to her:
"Why. Fannie. what do YOU want
up-stairs:"
II want to keep my children from
going to hell" she answered THE
devil had 4 hold on me last night and
now he has deserted me, so there Is
nothing for me to do but to finish my
work and meet him in hell"
"Rcgaining her senses again. she asked
how the children were and begged pitc-
ously to see them. She expressed great
sorrow for the deed she had done and
hoped that God would forgive her.
Since Friday morning she has not par
taken of a particle Of nourishmcnt. y
lite cold water is all that she asks for
or will take"
1t was only about ten days ago that
Mrs. Smith, willie on avisit to her uncle,
John Eastmoud, at Port Monmouth,
sald to his wife that if Monroe. meaning
her husband. would not take her away.
she would do something terrible. Mr..
Smith was told of what his wife had
said, and asked what he intended doing.
"Oh. l think I am able to take care Of
her" he replied. Il always lock our
door and hide the key away. so if she
wanted to get out she could not"
Rufus, the thirtccn-ycar-ol1 son who
received three terrible gashes. is entirely
unconscious of what had happened.
When he awokc during the night he
lifted his hand to his head and sad;
20! that pains me. What did IT,"
lie was told that q log had fallen from
the barn and struck him. He appeared
to be satisfied with the explanation. for
he sank back into sort of stupOr again.
Bessie. the pretty clcvcn-year-old child
who had prayed her mother not to kill
her. gained consciousness during the
early morning. and the first thing she
said was:
"Whcrc Is mammal"
She was told that the physicians had
forbidden her to speak, but she insisted
on knowing, and when told that her
mother was down stairs dying. she
said:
"Oh. poor mamma! | know she did
not mean to hurt me. II was not her
fault. hope she will 20 where Edna
is"
In the next room was Litla. the sew
cn-ycar-old daughter, who had three deep
gashcs in her head. Three Of the fingers
Of her left hand were gone. and her right
arm was almost of. For 4 few moments
ut tunes she gains consciousness. and