The record-union., 1897-04-25
Horrible Deed Committed by an Insane
Woman at WiIliamStOYn.
The Worst Crime in the History of the
City and State.
A Woman Decapitates Her Mother-in-
Law, and Places the Head Upon the
Dinner Table in Front of the Sons
Plate When He Sat Down to Eat.

WILLIAMSBURG (Mich) April a.
The people here were frightfully
shocked az the details of an awful trag-
edy which has just come to light. Never
before in the history of this town, or of
the State for that matter, has such a
horrible crime been perpetrated.
1t appears that Alfred Haney, a re-
spectacle and hardworking citizen here,
returned home at noon to-day, and
when sitting down to take dinner found
his mothers head on platter in front
of him. His wife had gone crazy cut
off the old lady's head, and placed it
before her husband for dinner
Haney was shocked beyond express
ion, and for some moments sat in his
chair in dumb horror. He could not
realize what had happened, or who
had done the heinous act His great
love for his mother, and the thought
of her frightful end, almost caused his
heart to stop beating. What passed
through his mind will probably never
be known, as he is a reticent sort of
man and seldom talks, except on rare
occasions
After remaining some moments in a
dull stupor he realized that something
must be done. He jumped from his
chair, and, rushing out of the house,
he called on some neighbOrs for assist
ance. He told them of the fearful
scene he had witnessed and begged
them to return to the house with him.
They all went into the house and made
a thorough search to find out if possible
if any of the murderers We're still
around the premises.
Haney had some enemies in town,
but he did not think it possible that
they could have been so fiendish as to
murder his mother and then shameful
ly mutilate her
After a thorough search of the house
they found Haney's wife hiding in one
Of the upper bedrooms. From her act
ions when they discovered her they
reached the conclusion that she was in
sane
1t did not take very long for them
to be confirmed in this suspicion The
woman laughed Historically. and said,
Did you see it?" She then shrieked
and laughed alternately until the peo-
pie who fC und her We're only too glad
to escape from her, after locking the
room securely so that she could not get
out
a further search revealed the pres
ence of a bloody knife hidden in one of
the front rooms.
1t appears that the mother of Haney
and his wife did not get along together
very well. The old lady was inclined
to be friendly with the wife, but the
latter always said that she had no bus
mess in the house and ought to go and
live somewhere else. The mother.
however, felt that she was entitled to
a home with her son, and for that rea-
son she would not go.
The wife then began to act queerly.
She would do the oldest things at all
times, and it was then seen that she
was verging on insanity.
Her husband however, and friends
never for moment imagined that she
contemplated any murder. Once she
was seen taking a big bread knife and
running her hand over its edge as
though to feel the temper. Her hus-
band asked her why she did that, and
she smiled and said nothing
AS far as her husband can find ont
the deed was committed just before
he reached home. His mother was ac-
customed to taking a nap in the fore
noon, and it is supposed that while she
slept on the lounge her daughter-in-
Jaw approached and severed her head
with the big knife.