The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-24
merce between the two countries, amounting
to $50. 100000 annually, will be destroyed.
HORRIBLE CRIME
One of the FouIest That Ever Disgraced
Criminal Annals.


CAMDEN. Ark. Feb. 2I-Iast Monday
night Behestean Township, in this, Qua
chita County, some twenty miles west OF
here, was the scene OF most horrible crime.
1t seems that on the night above stated the
family of John Carroll were suddenly
startled by the report OF two guushots, fred
in rapid succession and piercing cries for
help, all proceeding from the direction of
cabin on the place, about 200 yards from the
residence This cabin was occupied by Ma
thilda Green, colored woman and her five
children, the youngest a child in arms.
Looking in the direction Of the report and the
screams what was the horror Of Dir. Car
roll, upon discovering the cabin in
flames and the poor woman covered
with her own and her children's blood tot
tering and dragging themselves to his resi-
dence for prOtetaiOn. Mr.. Carroll hastily
helped them into his yard and then, for the
first time, learned the extent of the horrible
CHIME that had been committed 1t appeared
that this cOlored woman had but Just re-
turned to her cabin. after washing the sup
per dishes at the white residence when she
discovered the pungent Odor OF coal Oil.
Suddenly she saw match lighted, then a
flash. and her cabin was envelOped IN flames.
Selling her baby and budding the rest OF
the children before her she started for the
door. AS she stood in the doorway there
came a crashing report OF dOuble-barrelled
shotgun and the poor woman shot through
the left breast. her babe through one OF its
thighs and the oldest daughter. about eleven
years OF age, in the side, fell back into the
flames The girl was the first to recover
from the shock of the wound, and in a mo-
ment was on her feet and assisting her
mother TO make her escape from the build
ing. Frank Summerall, a young married
man, living near the scene or the disaster,
was arrested by Sheriff Anthan Bragg as the
perpetrator of the fiendish crime Summerall
had an examination before local magistrate
and was held without bail TO await the re-
suit of the wounds inflicted. The woman,
although probably MORALLY wounded, was
present at the examination Of the prisoner,
and after having been informed of the
probable fatal termination OF her injuries,
testified that she had been the mistress
of the prisoner. and that he was the father
of her babe and that since his marriage
Of quite recent date he had threatened to
kill her. That on the night of the shooting
affray and when smelling the coal
oil so strongly. she saw the defendant
through the large cracks between the logs of
her cabin holding a lighted match in his
hand, and when the wood saturated with
coal-oil caught fire. from the glare of the
flame envelOping that side of the building
she clearly recognized the prisoner as the
one who fired her cabin. Summerall was
committed to Jail here to-day. The children
viii probably recover, but it is not thought
possible the mother can live. This is con-
sideIed here the most horrible crime that
ever disgraced our annals as county. The
prisoner denies his guilt but public senti-
ment is entirely the other way, and in favor
OF q speedy vlndicatiOn Of the majority of
the law-abiding citizens.