Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1886-04-29
A MANIAC MOTHERS CRIME.
Seven miles south of Keyport, MOI

mouth county, on the back road to
Port Monmouth. there is a little one
story and attic house, picturesquely
pitched in the centre of a large field,
and flanEed by stream of running
water. 1t is the residence of farmer
J. Monroe Smith. Mr.. Smith, who is
50 years of age, has a wife a dozen
years younger than himself, and six
children, aged respectively 10, 19, 13,
II, and years. He has cultivated
his farm SO diligently that it is known
far and wide as a model property, fair,
too, to look upon with its neat hen
merry and hot-houses. But the neigh
bors knew that for all its thrift and
signs of happiness there was a skeleton
on the farm whose presence rendered
the Smith family objects of pity rather
than envy.
1t was fully twelve years ago when
Mrs. Smith, losing a child at birth,
also lost her mind. and was sent to an
asylum for treatment. She was absent
about year and returned apparently
cured and overjoyed to greet her GILL
dren. Yet the memory of her life in
the asylum seemed constantly present
to her mind, and she often implored
her husband never to send her there
again. As time wore away and the
womans intellect gave no further evi-
dence of insanity, the routine life of
the farm returned and once more the
Smith family seemed happy, as it ought
to be in its pretty house among the
trees.
All went well until the early Autumn
of last year. Mrs. Smith then com
planned of severe pains in her head,
and, thinking that perhaps a change
of scene would benefit her, Mr.. Smith
sent her to Elizabeth, at the home of
her brother. She remained few
monthsand returned plainly improved
Mrs. Smith arose about 5 o'clock
Friday morning, having retired rather
early Thursday night, and awoke her
husband. They breallfasted together
and parted, Mrs. Smith proceeding to
the hennery, and her husband to the
lighthouses, which are abouta hundred
yards distant from the dwelling
Reaching the hennery the woman took
from her pocket package of Rough
| on Rats" that she had concealed inthe
house for three years, and, emptying
a generous dose in the palm of her
hand deliberately swallowed it. She
then seized an axe, and, hiding it under
her dress, returned to the house.
Edna, the 7-year-old daughter, was
sleeping soundly when her mother
entered the bed-chamber Pausing an
instant the maniac woman then lifted
the axe and brought it swiftly down
on the head of her sleeping child.
Two more blows and Edna's skull was
split in twain. Then rushing into the
bedroom of Rufus, her 13 year-old son,
the frenzied mother dealt him three or
four savage blows on the head with
the blunt end of the axe. Little Bes-
sic, the 11-year-old daughter, knelt
praying with clasped hands, for she
had seen the horrible deed of her
mother, who now, turning wildly
about, poised her axe aloft and glared
madly down at the pallid, imploring
face of her child. Bessie begged for
mercy, but the terrible blood stained
axe whirled in the air and went crash
ing into the fragile little head.
Four were now injured, and the
maniac murderess retraced her steps
towards the adjoining room, in which
were her 1S-year old daughter and the
baby of years. A single startled
glance told the former of her mothers
crime and intent, and she sprang gasp
ing at the door to close it. A fierce
struggle ensued, but she finally sue
| ceeded in locking the door on the in
side, and then, laying the child on the
floor, ran. screaming outside to apprise
her father of the awful work within.
She met him at the door, for mean
while the housekeeper, faithful col
| ored woman, who, it seems, witnessed
the murder of Bessie, had hurried
ahead and notified him. After terri
BILE struggle the woman was secured.
One of the children has died, and two
| others are in precarious condition.
| The mother will not recover.
Not long ago the floors and other
wood work in the house of John Will
son of Mount Palatine, ILL.,, began to
give way. An examination showed
tLnf .1rca1al In tho hong II V