Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-02-06
the REIGnING SENSATION
Memphis Talks Of Nothing but the
Fearful Murder.
The Murderess Haggard and Anxious
Looking, but Declines to Talk to Re-
porters--Miss johnson Arrest
ed as an Accessory.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, January 2s.--The
butehery of Miss Freda Ward at the
hands of Miss Alice Mitchell is still the
reigning sensation here. On the
streets, in the clubs and exchanges,
in the street cars and at the homes of
the people it is almost the only topic
discussed. All day long throngs of
the morbidly curious visited the under
takers shop where the body Of the vic
tim was laid out for bnrial, but ONLY
reporters and friends of the Ward fam
lily we're permitted to see it.
IL was a grewsome sight 10
those Who had known the dead girl.
In life she was very attractive, but the
awful manner of her death had set its
marring marks upon her face, leaving
scarcely a trace of her former beauty.
The blue eyes were wide open and fixed
in horror. One ghastly cut on the
cheek extended from eye TO mouth.
Another almost divided her chin, and
a third encircled the throat from ear
to ear, penetrating TO the spinal col
umn. This was what the father of the
girl saw when he answered the sum
mons that brought him to
the place. lie was nearly
crazed with grief and it was some
time before he could command him.
srff 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
specially fitted up for her use. She
was haggard and misunderstanding 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 n appearing to
answer. 1t was continued to Friday
morning. 1t is understood that
her counsel will waive examina.
ton, the cas- not being bailable.
Report is hat they have evidence TO
show that the killing was not so ex-
tremely unprovoked as generally sup
posed. From a friend Of the family
ZONES 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 10 go aboard the steamboats, stop
ping 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. III. Volkmar, with whom the girls
lived.
Mrs. Volkmar sent Miss Mitchell home
and wrote Mrs. Mitchell q note
explaining the cause, and insisting
hat in the future her sister must not
associate with Miss Mitchell, and hat
they no longer be considered acquaint-
ances. Mr.. Vofkmar made his sister
in-law promise not TO speak to Miss
Mitchell again. They kept their word
and this is given as the cause of the
killing. The generally accepted
theory, however, is that stated in these
dispatches last night, and co~rroborated
10y Miss Mitchell herself, and
Miss Lille Johnson, who was
with her when the bloody deed
was done, namely, that Miss
Mitchell and conceived an unnatural
infatuation for Miss Freda Ward, and
brooding over the loss of her friend
ship, resolved TO kill her idol rather
than meet her as a stranger
A next-door neighbor of the Mitchells
tells of many queer actions Of Alice's
that he had noticed, such as spending
the day shooting sparrows with a rifle
IN her fathers yard and riding horse
bareback ut breakneck speed around
the premises. lie had also observed
that she showed O positive distaste for
devoted herself entirely to girls, par
ticularly Miss Freda Ward. Miss Joe
Ward, the elder sister of Ereda,
and Miss Christine 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 o bench warrant was issued for
the arrest of Miss Lille Johnson on
the charge of murder. The girl was
found at her fathers handsome resi-
cence 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 al
ready occupied by her former compan-
ion. When she entered Miss Mitchell
said in greeting, well, Lille. have
you come to visit me. too?"
NO." said Miss Johnson, 81 am q
prisoner. charged with murder"
"Why, you had nothing to do with
IL, nothing Whatever" said Miss
Mitchell, and then the two girls en-
braced each other and mingled their
tears Miss Johnson's attorney has a
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 John
arrest is due chiefly TO the fact
that she was in the buggy with Miss
Mitchell when the latter followed the
Ward girls from a distant point in the
to the place where the killing