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

L
the; remaining daughter. was lying in
another bed, where she appeared to have
been asieep when she received the blows
from thesaxe.
Mr.SSmitll could say nothing. Hewas
completely prostrated by the blow he re-
ceived from his wife's actions. He beg
ged to be left alone with his misery. He
would peatedly ask how his children
were. and the doctors would give him
very little encouragement. ~.
Little Edna never breathed after the
axe strUeAher. The other three child
ren a.ss iii d very low, condition, and the
four;loetorsy who are IN attendance fear
that they vii DE dead before morning.
Tbekais Unconscious, and when they
rally s+sir,en- their stupor their minds
wanderand they begin to humble in
coheraAtly. The doctors can do moth.
ing for them at present as their skulls
are all crushed in. At this writing. 10
P. M,,Sthey fear that both the mother
and children will die during the night.
The poison that Mrs. Smith took ap-
pearsto ohaye just taken effect upon her
{ shesis sinking rapidly.
h. tie Edna was buried yesterday
mon mar. Hundreds ofpeople gathered
around the homestead and the road to
the cemetery was crowded for an eighth
OF mile with wagons. At the grave a
sad. and impressive sermon was deliver
ed blythe clergyman, and when the last
words5Werc spoken and the coffin was
about to be concealed, the father AMI his
eighteei-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 tile fate of little Edna. Kind hands
placei,t the heart.broken father and
daughter in their carriages, and they
were taken home to Their house Of sor-
row. >..,.
While the funeral services were being
read .at the grave, 4 far different scene
was ocratThg at the house. Mrs. Smith.
who lad noticed the funeral leaving the
house had sharply watched the move
ments6 Mr.. 81 H. Willitt, who bad been
left toswatch her. Noticing him leave
the room for a moment, she jumped
from her bed and made for the closet
where The remainder of the rat poison
was slowed away. She intended to take
another dose tor the purpose of ending
her lifes but Mr.. Willitt returned in time
to. save herr She struggled vainly to
get possession of the poison, but finally
had sto,giye up when oTerpowercd. 1t
was Che Second time she attempted to
finish The deadly work. During the dead
of night, she got up when Mr.. Willitt
was ri i tloze and gained the stairway.
90 the chiIdren's bedchamber.
When she was discovered and brought
back. Mr.. Willitt said to her:
"Why. Fannie. what do. you want
up-stairs?"
IT want to keep my children from
going to HE'LL" she answered. 1.-The
devil had 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"
''Regaining her senses again, she asked
how the children were and begged pite-
ously to see them. She expressed great
sorrow Tor 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. \
lite cold water is all that she asks for
or will take"
1t was only about ten days ago that
Mrs. Smith, while on avisit to her uncle,
John Eastmoud, at Port Monmouth,
SAID 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, | think 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 thirleen-ycar-old son who
received three terrible gashes. is entirely
unconscious Of what had happened.
When he awoke during the night he
lifted his hand to his head and SAID;
20! that pains ME. What did it?"
He was told that a log had fallen from
the barn and struck him. He appeared
to be satisfied with the explanation. for
he sank back into a sort Of stupor again.
Bessie. the pretty eleven-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:
ssWhere Il mamma.'
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! l know she did
not mean to hurt me. 1t was not her
fault. hope she will go where Edna
is"
In the next room was Lida, the sew
cn-ycar-old daughter, who had three deep
gashcs in her head. Three Of the fingers
ofher left hand were gone. and her right
arm was almost Off. For few moments
at times she gains consciousness. and
thrn masses OtrlntO q SnnlcOnSciOllS con-