Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-07-19
ITWAS,A STRANGE LOVE
Life of Alice Mitchell, Who
Killed Freda Ward.
SHE IS DECLARED TO BE INSANE.

Her Trial ia Now Taking Place in Mem
phIs. Tenn-Her Father Breaks Down
j When Called as 8 witness-one of the
! Most Curious Cases ON Record.
+ MEMPHIS, Tenn, July 19.-The trial of
Alice Mitchell on her plea Of present in
sanity, has been begun in the Criminal
Court here. This trial grows out of the
murder Of Miss Feda Ward by Miss Nit
chel1, who cut her throat from ear to ear
with a razor, and wounded her sister, 10
Ward.
The first witness was Alice Mitchell's
father, Robert Mitchell. In relating the
story of the girls life, he wept bitterly
when he spoke of his wife's insanity at the
time her first child was born, and his
emotion was so great that he was COM
PEELED is desist for few moments. The
Hypothetical story Of Alice Mitchelps past,
in which her infatuation for Freda Ward
and the killing is told, was submitted to
some Of the most eminent physicians in
the country, and upon the facts therein
related they are asked their opinion as to
the subjects insanity. Among those
whose judgment is called for are DR.. Belot
OF Paris, DR.. Hammond of Washington
and DR.. Calendar, superintendent Of the
insane asylum of this State, who testified
as an insanity expert in the trial Of Chas
y. Guiteau, the murderer of President
Garfield.
The life history of Alice is most strange.
From child she took no delight in the
pastimes of girls, apd delighted in mar
bles, tops and baseball and other boyish
pastimes. She would ride bareback, boy
fashion, and could not be induced to learn
to sew or wash. She was unmusical, and
was unequal in the manifestation of affec-
tion.
She had no intimate acquaintance or
child sweethearts. After she was grown
she had no beaux, and took no pleasure in
the society of men. At the change from
Ward, and loved her from the first time
time che saw her. The attachment was
mutual, but was far stronger in Alice
than in Freda. Freda took no pleasure in
the sports that Alice delighted in, her in
stincts and amusements being feminine.
Time made their love deeper, and when
Freda went to Golddust to live, over two
years ago, Alice visited her, and they were
| not only together continually, but were
often seen in each others arms.
In December, 1890, Freda visited Alice,
| and then the latter conceived the idea Of
taking her own life and that of Freda.
She bought laudanum, and one night
Freda opened her eyes and beIseld the girl
| sweetheart standing over her with a bot
tie in her hand, preparing to give her it's
contents. The next day she accompanied
| Freda to the boat, and, going to a state
| room, Alice swallowed the contents of
| the bottle.
She finally recovered and assigned as a
cause for this act that she saw Freda and
Harry Belger and Ashley Rosselle to-
gether, and she meant to end her existence
and leave Freda free to become the wife
of the choice of the young men named.
Soon after she entered the lists against
| the two young men and became a
| sutton for Freda's hand. In 1891 she pro-
posed marriage. She repeated the offer
! three times, and to each Freda replied
| agreeing to marry her.
: In January, two weeks before she killed
Freda, the latter surreptitiously sent her
a letter, swearing eternal devotion. On
| Jan. rs she followed the two Ward girls
to the Custom House in company with
Lille johnson. Jumping from her buggy
she ran down the levee, caught Freda
around the neck and cut her throat, kill
ing her at once. Never since the day of
the deed has she expressed any regret for
| the act.
On this state of affairs the physicians
| were asked their opinion as to her present
sanity. It is understood that DR.. Ham
mond concludes that she Is insane, as also
| does DR.. Belot of Paris. DR.. Calendar OF
this State says she is what is known as
progressively insane, and intimates that
| in time she will become q driveling idiot.