New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-21
KILLED BY A CRAZY MOTHER
TRAGEDY IN A HAPPY HOME.
MRS. GEORGE r. KELSO FATALLY SHOOTS
HER TWO CHILDREN AND THEN
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
DISCOVERED BY THE AFFLICTED FATHER.

DISCOVERED BY THE AFFLICTED FATHER.
NO DOUBT THAT THE WOMAN WAS INsANE-sHE
wEEPs PITEoUsLY WHEN TAKEN TO BELLE
vUE. TALKS OF HER OWN MENTAL con-
DITION. AND DECLARES THAT SHE
WANTS TO DIE-HER HUSBAND is
SUPERINTENDENT OF MARTIN B.
BROWNS PRINTING ESTABLISH
MENT AND SON OF THE
LATE POLICE SUPER
INTENDENT KEI.so.
An overwhelming misfortune overlook George
Radford Kelso the well-known superintendent
Of the Martin T. Brown Printing Company yes
terday afternoon, when his wife killed her two
little children and made unsuccessful at
tempt to commit suicide. Sudden insanity
the only explanation Of the unexpected and
heartbreaking tragedy.
Mr.. Kelso le.t a happy home at No. 14S West
Nnetyhfth-st. yesterday morning. having no
suspicion that his wife's mind was af-
fected that his children were in danger. He
busy all day In his office In Park Place. at
tending to the business of the printing establish
ment, and when he returned to hs home late
in the afternoon he was the first discoverer of
what had befalen MIN. His wife. suddenly gone
mad. had shot to death her daughter Ethel,
four years oI, and her Radford. two years
old. and then she had cut deep gashes in her left
wrist with razor In the effort to end her
life
THE RESULT OF ILLNESS.
For some time Mrs. Kelso has been III, but
never before had she shown any symptoms OF
an unscdnd mrd. Yesterday afternoon she was
sitting in the front room Of the second floor OF
her house, and the two children and their nurse
were with her Ethel and Radford were playing
about the room and the children were happy.
The girl paid particular attention to
them. but conversed with their mother. Mrs.
Kelso abruptly ended the conversation by or
dtring the nurse to leave the house and never
return. The nurse obeyed promptly and went
away.
The mistress Of the house then went down
stairs TO the kitchen. where she found the cook.
and told her to allow no one to enter the house
ard TO permit cards to be taken to her room.
This Is the only Indication that the mothers
fearful deed premeditated.
Mrs Kelso then returned to the second floor
ing themselves with their toys She closed the
door a. she entered the room. and exactly how
she killed her children will never be known.
since no her fire the pistol and the cook
Iid not even hear the shots
Her husband is n son OF the late ex-Superin-
: lendent oi Police James Kelso who upon his
trement from the police force made superin-
tendent II the city markets. He returned home
unusually carly yesterday afternoon. arriving at
the hons, AT +:3O o'clock. He went directly 70
the from, room OF the second floor where his wife
sitting He looked about the room and
every side saw bloodstains. He greatly agi-
tated when he saw the CLASSY stare In his wifes
eyes, but gave way T. overwhelming emotion
when he discovered little Ethel lying dead upon
the sofa with Il bullet wound through her right
ear and another IN her breast. Then he walked
into the back room. which Immediately adjons
the one where his daughter lying dead. and
there the first sight that met his eyes that
Of his boy Radford. who apparently jus,
breathing his last
The stricken father rushed TO the street and
hastily summoned Policeman Thomas F. Cash
man. who was on post Mt Ninety -hfth-st. and
Amsterdam-ave Mr.. Keso amid sobs OF agony
told eastman OF the horrible which
greeted him when he returned hcme. and the
for doctor until he finally found DR.. John f.
Moore at his home. No. 156 West Ninety
fourth-st.
TRIED TO KILL HERSELF. TOO.
DR.. Moore accompanied the policeman to the
Kelso home. When he arrived the boy was
still alive. but Iay motionless and unconscious.
The doctor made every effort to revive him. but
the child's llfe was rapidly ebbing away The
Kcso. who sat trembling violently In a chair
near the window of the front room. lie dis
covered that she had severed artery and
twelve tendons with razor with which she
attempted to take her life after having
shot her children lie bound up the wounds.
and as he did talked with the woman, VINO
appeared to be still I'm her senses, but appar-
emily unconscious Of the frightful deed when
she had committed.
In the mean time Detective Conway, OF the
West One-hundredth-st. station had arrived at
the house and he went upstairs TO put Mrs. kelso
under arrest Her husband standing near
her ana trying To- calm her when the detective
went into the room. The woman was still greatly
excited. and. az she saw Conway, exclaimed
Historically:
"Who are you? What are you|
Her husband repeated:
Keep quiet Ethel: keep quiet
Conway slipped out OF the room when he saw
that his presence added to her excitement soon
Patrolmen Dunno and Herson came 10 assist
but their services were not needed. as, aier
slight resistance Mrs. Keso submitted to arrest
Policeman eastman told her husband that she
would have to be taken 10 Bellevue Hospital as
a prisoner Mr. Kelso, though still much agi-
tated saw the officers duty and quietly SUB
mitted. His wife clung 10 him, gaspihg ana
crying ftfully. while she said: -
Didn't cut them or did | cut myself? |
meant 10 shoot them. You knew IT, Rad.
| told you before We were married that my
mind was not quite right. And I've told you
since. oh. do hope they'll execute me- us my
mind. Why didn't shoot myself'
TALKS OF HER INSANITY