The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-02-11
A MAIDEN MURDERESS.
A MEMPHIS GIRL MURDERS HER DEAR
EST FRIEND.


Alice Then Murders Her.
Last week VIC published briet ac-
count OF the murder OF one young lady
by another on the streets of Memphis.
The Memphis Appeal-Avaianche gives
the following particulars Of the remark
able crime:
About 4 O'Clock Monday evening one
young girl killed another and wounded
q third with a razor. 1t was probably
the most shocking and sensational crime
ever committed in Memphis. The muir
lress is Alice Mitchell, aged 10 years,
laughter of Mr.. George Mitchell, of the
former firm of Mitchell g. Bryson, furDi-
ture dealers, who did business on Main
street, near Monroe. The murdered
girl was Frederca Ward, aged 18 years,
Gold Dust, Tenn. Her sister, 10
Ward, aged 10 years was wounded by
Miss Mitchell. The deed was done on
the sidewalk that lead, down the lovee
rom Front street, north Of the custom
house.
The sisters Ward had been visiting
rlends in Memphis aid intended to 90
ONE yesterday on tho Ora Lee, which
steamer passes Gold Dust small town
~ miles above Memphis. AS they and
friend, Miss Chri 'tlna Purnell, crossed
FrODt street at Madison, buggy occu-
pied by Miss Alice Mitchell, Miss Lille
Johnson and Thomas Maier, 12-year-
old-boy, was driven up to the cumton
house walk. Miss Mitchell got out just
as Misses Ward and Miss Purncll passed.
She said something to Miss johnson,
then followed the trio. When they
were about half way between Front
street and the railroad tracks on the
levee, and picking their way carefully
along the recovered walk, Miss Mitch
ell overlook them, and drawing a razor
slashed at Miss Frederica Ward. Miss
10 Ward screamed, "you shant hurt my
sister," and struck Miss Mitchell with Il
club, knocking her down. She recovered
herself, and after one sweep with her
razor at Miss 10 Ward. which wounded
that young lady in the left breast, again
turned her attention to Frcderica, who
was running toward The river with blood
streaming from several wounds in the
face. Her thought was that if she could
reach the steamboats, on the levcc she
would be safe from the fury Of her as
s,allant, and forgetting the slippery con-
dition OF the walk she sped swiftly to-
ward the river. AS she reached the end
OF the walk she heard pursuing footsteps.
and glancins back she saw Alice Mitch
ell close upon her with the bloody razor.
Realizing that she could not get to the
boats, the wounded GIRL turned obliqucly
to the northwest toward railroad flag
man, who was standing with his back to
the girls watching train. She crossed
the first track in safety and was on the
other when the bloodthirsty amazon
overlook her and, grasping her with her
left hand, threw her head back and cut
her throat.
Through the far SKIN from the socket
'i one jaw bone to the other, the cruel
steel cut, severing the jugular vein,
carotid artery, wlndpipe and cs ophagus.
There was great gush of blood and
freddie Ward sank down IN heap, the
:urgle OF her life blood minglinS with
'ho sound Of escaping wind as she
Oreathed through her severed windpipe.
The murdercss ran back up the hill
ust as Miss 10 Ward and Miss Purnell
cached the dying girl. She did not
pause to get her hat which had been
Knocked of during the first struggle, and
ls she dashed her hand across her face
she lett broad streak of blood, part Of
which came from her victims veins and
part from her own, she having cut her
lett hand before she succeeded in over.
powering Freddie Ward. On reaching
the buggy where Miss Johnson and the
Mailer boy sat waiting for her, she said
quietly: "l've done it," Then she got
III the buggy, and scizing the reins struck
the horse savagcly with the whip and
drove rapidly on Front to Court street.
MISS JoIINsON's STORY.
Miss Johnson, who was in the buggy,
tells the story as follows:
1--WE drove past Mrs. DR.. Kim
brough's house, on fernando street,
where Misses Fred and 10 Ward were
stopping, and saw them come out of the
house, accompanied by Miss Purnell.
Allie had told me Fred and 10 were 60
ing home that afternoon, and knowing
the affection Allie felt for Fred, l did
not think it strange that she kept them
in sight until we reached the postoflicn,
where we alighted. Intended going to
Inquire for any mail there might be for
me, and thought Allie would do the
same.
ust as we had gotten on the pave
ment the Ward sisters and Miss Pur-
nell passed us. Neither of them spoke
to Allie, and they had gone some twenty
steps when she said, "Llllie, l must see
Fred once more before she goes away,
don't you want to go?"
II replied no, whereupon she left me.
was afraid to leave the horse unat-
tended and got back into the buggy with
my nephew. 1t was about five minutes
atterward that l saw Alice come run
ming toward the buggy, with her hat
OIL. She jumped over the wheels, and
grabbing the reins began driving turi-
ously up Front street. A negro man
ran and gave her her hat, which had
fallen of. 1t was then l noticed her
hands and dress were bloody, and asked
her what was the matter.
II have cut Fred's throat,n she an
swered, and continuing, said: 81 don't
known if l killed her or not, but | loved
hertso lcouldn't help it," hardly know
what happened atterward. The sight of
the blood on Allies gloves and dress
frightened me 80 that l very nearly
tainted. Allie was whipping the horse,