The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-29
MASSACRE OF INN0CENTS.
TAKES POISON AND BRAINS
HER FOUR CHILDREN.

tempts of the Dclnented Woman to Com
NIT Suicide-Says She Killed Her Chill
dren to Save them from He'll.
KEYPoRT. n. j., April 25.-Mrs.
Fannie Smith. the wife of farmer liv-
ing about seven miles South of this place.
became insane Friday morning, took
dose of poison and crushed IN the heads
of four of her children with an axe. The
Youngest chlld died Immediately and the
others are not expected to live till morrl-
ing. Mrs. Smith is also very low and
will probably de-.
The family consists of J. Monroe
Smith, the father, about tifty-five years
old; the mother, who Is fosty-three years
of age, and their five children-nineteen,
eighteen. thirteen, eleven. seven and
four years old respectively.
The family retired rather earlier than
usual, so Mrs. Smith arose about 5
O'Clock in the morning and reused her
husband at the same hour. Their break
fast had been prepared by colored wo-
man who has been in the family's ser
vice for years. After eating, Mrs. Smith
left her husband in the kitchen, and
went out to the hen-house. Mr.. Smith
followed her in a few moments to a hot
house, which was about one hundred
Yards away from the house. In the hen-
house Mrs. Smith took out Of her POCKET
a package of Rough on Rats, which she
bought and concealed over three years
ago. She swallowed large dose of the
poison and threw the box away. On her
way back to the house she picked up a
large axe, which she concealed beneath
her dress.
Entering the house she went first to
the bedchamber of the four-year-old
daughter Edna, who was quietly sleep
inc. She took the axe from under her
dress and brought it down with terrible
effect on the child's head. She did this
three times until she saw that the little
curly head was split open. Then she
left and entered the bedroom of her son
Rufus, thirteen years old. She struck
him three or four blows on the head
with the back of her axe, which laid the
side of his head open. Next she turned
her attention to- her eleyen-year-old
daughter. Bessie, whom she found on
her knees praying. The child seemed
to know that her turn had come, as she
had witnessed the attack on the others.
She lifted up her hands implorlngly and
begged her mother il faltering voice
to spare her, but this had no effect on
dswomab. for she stl he IKE
come down zOn the poor little cliild's
head with rs much force as at first, and
a moment later her third victim was
ly ing on the floor with her skull fractur-
ed. A moment later she had struck
Aida, another of her children.
The sound of the child's voice had
reached the ears Of Bette Beldu, the
aged colored housekeeper, who ran to
the chld's assistance up stairs. Mrs.
Smith had just completed her bloody
work, but she was still in frenzy OF
excitement. She turned on the old wo-
man and raised her axe with the intent
of adding another victim to the list.
Bette turned and ran down stairs, pur-
sued by the woman, who now began to
show her insanity by bowling at the top
of her voice. Finding that she could not
overtakc the colored woman, Mrs.
Smith threw the blooG-staincd axe after
her. but it struck the wall, and the COL
orcd woman ran out OF the house scream
ing with terror.
The insane woman picked up her fear
full weapon again and retraced her steps
up the stairs TO the room where her
eighteen-year-old daughter was. This
girl had seen some of the tragedy, had
picked up the baby. two years old, and
fled to the apartment for safety. She
had not time to lock the door when her
mother, with the axe raised above her
head, was upon her. Then fearful
struggle began. The girl knew that her
mother meant death, and all her ener-
gies were aroused to keep the door fast
until assistance would come. She threw
her body against the door. while Mrs.
Smith struggled to force it in. Finally
the brave girl succeeded in turning the
key. Then she laid down the baby and
hurried away to tell her father Of what
had occurred, while the mother was try
ING to battle down the door with the axe.
The girl met her father and Bette
Beldo Fastening from the hot-house to
tho scene of the tragedy. The husband
ran up the stairs. The insane woman
turned with rage and raised her weapon,
but at sight Of him she covered and let
it fall nervously to the floor. Then she
fell down herself and grovellcd at his
feet. Tears sprang into the mans eyes
and trlckled down his cheeks as he cried:
''Fannle, what made you kill my chill
dred?"
Without any apparent sorrow for her
terrible work she answered calmly:
"Why, Monroe. 1 was told by God to
do so. and I obeyed his commands"
Then getting upon her knees and look
ing up into her sorrowful husbands face,
she said:
Il know I did wrong. but it was the
only thing to be done to save them from
hell"