The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-29
MASSACRE OF NN0CENTS.
ANOTHER TAKES POISON AND BRAINS
HER FOUR CHILDREN.

Tins Expected to Live-Repeated At
tempts of the Dcmentcd Woman to Conn
nit Suicide-Says She Killed Her Chill
dren to Save them from He'll.
kEYpoET. 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 4
dose of poison and crushed IN the heads
of four of her children with an axe. The
youngest child died Immediately and the
others are not expected to live till MORN
ING. Mrs. Smith is also very low and
will probably die.
The family consists Of j. Monroe
Smith, the father, about fifty-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 a cOlored wo-
man who has been in the family's ser
vice for years. After eating, Mrs. Smith
left her hus and in the kitchen, and
went out TO the hcn-house. Mr.. Smith
followed her in a few moments to Il hot
house. which was about one hundred
yards away from the house. In the hen
house Mrs. Smith took out Of her pocEet
a package Of Rough on Rats. which she
bought and concealed over three years
AGO. She swallowed a 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 bcdchambcr Of the tOur-ycar-old
daughter Edna, who was quietly Sleep
ing. 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 eleven-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 imploringly and
begged her mother in a faltering voice
to spare her, but this had no effect on
the frenzed woman: for she es.,sthe axe
come down on the poor little cliild's
head with as much force as at first, and
Il moment later her third victim was
ll 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 Bcldo. the
AGED colored housekeepcr, who ran to
the chlld's assistance up stairs. Mrs.
Smith had just completed her bloody
work. but she was still in Il 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 ,ne woman. who now began to
show her insanity by bowling at the top
of her voice. Finding that she could not
oycrtakc the colored woman, Mrs.
Smith threw the blOod-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
cightccn-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
with the axe raised above her
head, was upon her. Then a fearful
began. The girl knew that her
mother meant death, and all her encr-
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
inc to pattlc down the door with the axe.
The girl met her father and Bette
Bcldo Fastening from the hot-housc to
the 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 yrovcllcd at his
feet. Tears sprany into the mans eyes
and trlcklcd down his cheeks rs he cried:
''FaInlc. what made you kill my chill
lrcd?"
Without any apparent sorrow for her
terrible work she answered calmly:
"Why. Monroe. | was told by God to
To so. and obcycd his commands"
Then getting upon her knees and lopk-
ny up into her sorrOwful husbands face,
she said:
Il know | did wrong. but it was the
only thing to be done to save them from
hell -