Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-07
A Dreadful Memory,
The Result of a Terrible Mo.
ment of Madness.
A W0MAN'S AWFUL DEED OF BLOOD.

She Almost Decapitates Her Husband in
His Sleep and Is Prevented from MUIR
derins Her Sons-Mad When She Com
mitted the Crime She Returns to Rea-
son to Realize Her Tragic Bereavement
and Suffer an Agony of Remorse.
WAUKEsHA, Wis, March 7-One Of the
saddest tragedies in the history of Waukesha
county was enacted Tuesday evening in a lit
tie farm house on the Anderson property, be-
tween Delafield and Nashotah mission. Dur
Ing fit of temporary insanity Mrs. Ann
Driscoll killed her husband, nearly decapi-
tating him with an AK and attempted to slay
her two sons The woman was arrested and
brought here yesterday morning She has
recovered her reason and recalls every Incl
dent of the terrible affair.
Timothy Driscon WAS about SO OF 60 years
old, tenant on the Anderson farm His
family consisted of his wife, Ann, about IS
years old, two sons aged respectively 81 and
%, and a daughter about % years old-all
living at home Mrs. Driscoll has been in
poor health for several months, but until
within few days no fears were entertained
that her reason would give away During the
idst week VI loIl uOWtNeT, IueT6 nave
been indications that her mind was becoming
affected
Tuesday evening about $50 o'clock the
younger son left the house, going to the barns
to look after the stock. All the afternoon
and evening Mrs. Driscoll says she was OPP
pressed with a strange presentiment that
something was about to happen to her hus-
band and children--a feeling that to save
them from the impending calamity she must
take their lives. Mrs Driscon according
ly followed the son from the house
and, securing an ak. concealed her.
self behind some shrubbery and with
weapon uplifted awaited the COM
ing of the young man. When the moment
arrived for the fatal blow to be struck the
woman says she became unnerved and hest
tated a moment. At that instant the son dis
covered her. She hastily concealed the ak in
the folds Of her dress and accompanied the
young man TO the house. Entering the bed
room she hid the deadly weapon under the
bed. She also secured a large, keen-edged
knife, which she placed in the bed, retiring in
few minutes Half an hour later Mr. Dris-
coll retired, exchanging few words with his
wife, and soon went to sleep.
When Mrs. Driscoll was convinced that her
husband was asleep she arose softly, secured
I1o az, nibn ABOVE 06f DHa0
prepared to bring the keen blade down on the
neck of the sleeping man. She seemed to
realize what she was doing, the woman says,
and lowered the weapon. Five times she did
this the last occasion bringing the ak down
on her husbands neck, the keen blade sever
ing cords and arteries. Driscoll raised him
self systematically and gasped: "Oh, Ann
you've killed me" and fell TO the floor. He
did not speak again. Securing razor the
woman started for the apartments on the
second floor where the sons and daughters
were asleep, to murder them.
Miss Driscoll occupied a room near the
head of the stairs, and heard her mothers
step as the woman stealthily assembled Peer.
ing through the half open door she saw her
mother move to the bedside of the young
men and carefully unfasten the collar of the
younger and bare his throat Over the neck
OF the sleeping youth was held the razor.
The young woman did not hesitate an in
slant, but sprang forward and grasped the
woman's wrist. A desperate struggle ensued
lasting but moment, in which the daughter
wasssuccessful in disarmingfher mother The
young men were aroused and the woman
overpowered. Then the tragedy in the Sleep
ing room below was discovered
Mrs. Driscoll when brought to Waukesha
yesterday was in q terrible condition oftmind,
grief and remorse struggling for the mastery.
There is no doubt that she was insane when
she attacked her husband, as the life of the
family is known TO have been peaceful and
tue relations OF the members affectionate