Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-15
Su,daI T.Ieeram @ q. R.al.sr.

Special TslecrGm 70 pis Register.
PARKERsBURs, w. VA, June IA
The most horrible affair that has occur
red in this section Of the State for years
the murder OF four persons and the
suicide Of the fifth, happened at Pleas
ant Hill, 10 miles from this city, yester-
day afternoon, but was not known In
this city until this morning.
Mr.. Philip Kench. well-known and
respected farmer lives near Pleasant
Hill. Yesterday he was away from home,
assisting at house raising on . neigh
boring farm, and il was during his alb
sence that the terrible affair occurred.
About noon yesterday Mrs. Kate
Kencb, who was the wife OF Philip
Kench and the mother OF eight children,
called two OF the boys. John, aged about
Is, and Frederick, aged IL, from the
corn Geld, whore they had been at work,
TO their dinner. Instead OF giving
them, as WAS the custom, warm meal,
Mrs. Kench set before them some cold
victuals, with bread and milk. The
woman bad placed strychnine In tht
milk, intending TO poison all oil th9
children, but three OF them were noaWt
home at the time. After the boys hHd
eaten their dinner and drank the D6is-
oned milk, Mrs. Kench went outinto
the yard and
TOLD HER ELDEST DAUGHTER,
Mollie, young lady OF 16 or II years,
nd lna
Miss Mollie's taking some OF the pol
soned stuff. The horrllied girl refused,
OF course, and ran into the house, where
she found her two brothers wrlthlng In
the pangs OF death. While she Was
looking on too Mortified 10 speak tho
crazed woman seized tho S-year-old
daughter and ran with her to the well
I'm the yard, and before the frightened
girl could reach her she threw the child
into the deep well. She then turned
about and after terrible struggle with
Mollie got possession OF - 626y, ~
infant OF tea months old. and rRh =
we'll and threw II In also. She tkrS
turned upon the girl and tried 20 throw
her over the curb into the well. The
two women struggled and fought around
tho low curb, the one trying 10 throw
the other into the well and the other
making desperate efforts 10 escape. Az
last both OF the women fell 20 the
ground completely exhausted. Mrs.
Kench finding that she could not sue
ceed I'm drowning her daughter, got up
and ran 10 the well, intending 10 throw
herself 10, and the daughter made all
the effort possible 20 dissuader her and
TO hold her back, but IN vain. Tho
woman at last tore herself loose aud
THREW HERSELF HEADLoN0
10 the bottom, many feet below, Into
deep wa.or. Miss Molle struggled TO
her feet, and dazed with horror and
weakness started down the road for
help. She was met by neighbor who
took the half conscious girl back TO tho
house and then summoned tho neigh
bors. In short time everybody for
miles about was on the ground. Mr..
Kench was found and told OF the fear
| ful affair, AMI then the well was
searched and ths three bodies recovered,
and the two boys were dead In the
house. The foer dead children
and the suicide mother were
taken 10 the house and laid
| SIDE Dy Sue. ue hCtub ~ NDseiAvee =
a most pathetic one, with the still half
conscious daughtera the dared and bor-
rifed husband and father, and the three
children who had escaped like fate oy
being absent from home, and the neigh
bors gathered about to view
THE INNOCENT VICTIMS
Of q crszed mother. an the snIcide.
The doctor who has b prescribing
for Mrs. Kench, says woman has
been complaining for al months,
and that she has show lcatlons OF
insanity. lie says he h satisfied
that Mrs. Kench was her right
MIND, but had no idea & phase OK
the disease would termI fatally.
Mr.. Ewing, Of Vocan end hndf
neighbOr OF tho family 70 thl
city this morning after or
dead. He told the story y
graphically 70 the CORES
said that none who KNEW
could have anticipated snch'V
end OF what they thought bot &c
rary indispostioD.
The terrible affair vas great 81
10 the citizens OF this city, man9oI
whom knew them Intimately and re-
spected them highly.