The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-01-29
CUT HER THROAT.
A Sensational Tragedy on the Streets
OF Memphis.

OF Memphis.
MEMPHIS, Jan. 25.-The most sensa
tionaI tragedy which has occurred il
Memphis for years was committed
about 4 O'Clock this afternoon. Th
victim was young lady aud her slaye
was of the same sex. Both wer
familiar figures in society, and the aw
full affair is tO-Light the talk OF the town
A few minutes before O'Clock
| buggy containing Misses Alice Mitchell
and Lizzie Johnston drove up to thu
broad sidewalk around custom house
block leading to the levee. The lines
were in the hands of Miss Johnston
and beside her, calm and self possessed
sat Miss Mitchell. Coming slowly ~
the steep incline to the river were Miss
! Freda Ward, of Gold Dust, Ark, anG
her sister 10, who had just put another
sister, Mrs. Cummings, aboard the
! steamer Rosa Lee for Gold Dust, Ark
The young ladies were soon opposite
| the carriage, chatting pleasantly and
| paying no attention to surroundings.
! Suddenly from out of the carriage, al
a bound, came Miss Mitchell. Grasp
ing Miss Freda Ward by the neck, she
drew bright razor from out the folds
| of her dress, and without word drew
! it across the throat of her victim Miss
Ward sank to the pavement in an in
slant, the blood pouring in torrents
| from the severed jugular.
The murdered girls sister who had
! by this time recovered from her aston
ishment, grappled with the woman
| and tried to hold her, but in a twink
! ling, she, too, had received a cut, but
luckily only trifiing one, near the ear.
| Miss Mitchell being freed from Miss
| Ward, jumped into the buggy in an in
slant, and with the exclamation, "Drive
quick, I've done it," seized the whip,
and with Miss Johnston still holding
the lines, the pair were soon around the
corner into Madison street, and away
from the scene OF the tragedy.
Miss Ward was tenderly picked up
by the gathering crowd, and a passing
carriage, which was pressed into SER
vice, conveyed her to Rogers Infirmary.
She was, however, beyond human aid
and expired just as the infirmary was
reached. The body was then taken to
an undertaking establishment.
At o'clock this evening Chief of
Police Davis had arrested Miss Mitch
ell, who was found at her home on
Union street, and conveyed her to the
The cause of the killing is tonight
not positively apparent, as Miss Mitch
ell refuses to say word to any body on
the subject. 1t is said, however, that
Miss Ward, who is visiting in this city,
had on former trips to Memphis been
the guest of Miss Mitchell. Lately,
however, she has refused to partSke of
the hospitality of the Mitchell house
hold, and refused also to recognize Miss
Mitchell on the street. 1t is alleged
further by several persons that Miss
Ward has made remarks of decidedly
uncomplimentary nature regarding
Miss Mitchell, and this latter allegation
is supposed to have been the cause of
the tragedy.
daughter of George Mitchell, retired
furniture dealer, and she and Miss
Johnston, in the Iatter's stylish "turn-
out" were familiar sight on the diff
ferent drives about the city.
Miss Ward was the daughter of John
Ward, planter and wealthy merchant
of Gold Dust, Ark. At the inquest this
evening the Jury rendered a verdict
and that it was premeditated.
Miss Johnson, in an interview to-
night, said that when she and Miss
Mitchell saw the Misses Ward coming
up the street Miss Mitchell became
greatly excited and said she must speak
to her, and she Immediately got out of
the buggy. The murder ensued i'm
mediately.
Gas she got back into the buggy"
said Miss Johnston, al asked her W hat
was the matter. She replied: Il have
cut Freda's throat; l don't know that /
have killed her; loved her so / could
not helm it, i have known of the in
fatuation for some time. Alice said she
loved Freda and could never give her
up. There was an estrangement some
time ago, and since that time Alice has
not been herself"
Miss Joe Ward Tonight could give no
cause for the killing. She was not ac-
qaainted with Miss Mitchell, and knew
nothing of the former intimacy exist
ess. Miss 10 Wards wound is not dam
gerous, but she, as well as Miss john
ston, is the victim of a severe attack of
by sierra.