The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-01-29

upon her face, leaving scarcely a trace
o her former beauty. The blue eyes
were wide open and fixed in horror.
One CHASTITY cut on the cheek extended
from eve to mouth. Another almost
divided her chin, and third encircled
the throat from ear to ear, penetrating
to the spinal column.
This was what the father of the girl
saw when he answered the summons
that brought HIM to this place. He was
nearly crazed with grief, and it was
some time before he could command
himself so as to inquire into the particu-
lars of the tragedy.
The murderess passed a quiet night
IN the county Jail, where a room WAS
especially fitted up for her use. She
was haggard and anxious looking this
morning, but maintained her former
composure and declined to talk to re-
porters by advice of her ATTORNEYS. Her
case was called In the Police Court this
morning, but no one appeared to an
swer and it was continued to Friday
morning. 1t is understood that her
counsel will waive examination the
case not being bailable.
Report is that they have evidence to
show that the killing was not so ex-
tremely unprovoked as generally sup
posed. From friend of the family
comes the statement that some weeks
ago Miss Mitchell visited the Misses
Ward at their home in Gold Dust, Ark,
and spent some time there. During the
visit, Miss Mitchell, it is claimed, used
to go about the steamboats, stopping at
the landing and deport herself in a
manner that did not agree with the
ideas of propriety entertained by the
Misses Wards married sister, Mrs. w.
81. Nolk mar, with whom the girls lived.
Mrs. Nolkmar sent Miss Mitchell home
and wrote Mrs. Mitchell a note, ex-
planning the cause, and insisting that
in the future her sister must not assOci-
ate with Miss Mitchell, and that they
no longer be considered acquaintance.
Mr.. NOlkmar made his sIster-in-Iaw
promise not to speak to Miss Mitchell,
and they kept their word, and this is
given as the cause of the killing.
The generally accepted theory, how
ever, is that stated in these dispatches
last night and corrobOrated by Miss
Mitchell herself and Miss Lille John
son, who was with her when the bloody
deed was done, viz: That Miss Mitch
ell had conceived an unnatural in
fatuation for Miss Freda, and broodlng
over the loss of her friendship formed
brought the resolution to kill her idol
rather than meet her as a stranger. A
next-door neighbor of the Mitchells
tells OF many queer actions OF Miss
AWce's that he had noticed, such as
spending the day shooting sparrows
with rifle in her fathers yard, and
riding horses bareback at breakneck
speed around the premises. He had al
so observed that she showed a positive
ulSIdSl0 LOT Inc society OF the opposite
sex, and devoted herself entirely to
girls, particularly Miss Freda Ward.
This morning Miss Joe Ward, the
elder sister of Freda, and Miss Chris
tine Parnell, both OF whom were present
at the killing, were summoned to the
office of Judge Dubose, of the Criminal
Court, where they were questioned by
His Honor and the Attorney General.
AS a result a bench warrant was issued
for the arrest OF Miss Lille Johnson on
the charge Of accessory TO murder The
girl was found at her fathers handsome
residence on Vance street. She burst
into tears when the Deputy Sheriff told
of his errand, but quietly made ready
and accompanied him to the Jail.
Arriving there she was assigned to the
room already occupied by her former
companion. When she entered Miss
Mitchell said in greeting:
"Well, Lille, haYe you come to visit
me, toO?'
NO. said Miss Johnson, 'I am a
prisoner, charged with murder"
"Why you had nothing to do with it,
nothing whatever" said Miss Mitchell,
and then the two girls embraced each
other and mingled their tears. Miss
JohnsOn's attorney has note written
by Miss Mitchell last night to her sister
Matte, in which she entirely eXculpates
Miss Johnson from all knowledge of
her intention to kill Miss Freda Ward.
Miss JohnsOn's arrest is due chiefly
to the fact that she was in the buggy
with Miss Mitchell when the latter fol-
lowed the Ward girls from a distant
point in the city to the place where the
killing took place.