Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-04-05
MOTHERS TERRIBLE DEED.
mrs. Blashek AdmlB'S cred %Stryshnine TO
Her Two Little Boys.
TOOK A DOSE HERSELF.

Inc WnOle community WAS sHOChou US
yond measure last sunday about IL a. IN
at learning that Mfs. Anna Blashek, the
wife OF q. +. Blsshek, the miller, who,
with his family, lived about a half
mile northeast OF town on North Spring
river, had committed suicide by taking
strychnine after administering the drug
to her two smallest boys, Victor. u, ant
Fred, 4 years OF age.
Frank Blashek. the oldest OF the Eve
children (sll boys, came TO town for DR.
". I, JJyner shortly before IL o'clock On
Sunday morning, aud approaching bin
IA the doctor WA untying his borscvI
Main street, said: MY mother is dyinl
and | want you to 20 over and see hor.'
~ hat Ia the matter with herY" the doc
tor asked. She took something anC
gave something TO the little boys, ant
we're afraid they're going 10 die" wa
his reply.
Drs. Joiner aud Flourloy went over e
the home at once and ON going up stain
into the living rooms In the second story
Of the machine shop, found Mrs. Blashei
lying across tie bed with Victor by heI
side. both dead. and little Fred on 4
lounge ia the las. throes OF death. There
was every symptom Of death by strych
nine poisoning and an empty vial wa
found which had contained the terribl,
drug.
About | o'clock a cOroner's jury com.
posed Of +. II. Lea, justice Of the peace
j. p. White, j. A. simpson, l.. X. McGaf
fey, g T. Littleneld, Q ". Haynes and J
A. Gilmore arrived and viewed the bodice
and all surroundings. the taking Of eyi'
dencs being deferred until after thu
funeral, which took place Monday fore
noon.
The coroner's jury heard the evidence
Wednesday forenoon at the office OF Judg,
Lea. The witnesses we're DR., Joyner
Ms A.. j. Ballard, q. Z. Blashek aid hi
oldest son, Frank, who In about 20 year,
old. MIR. Blashek testified that on Sun.
day morning he was at work on the ditch
and about . O'Clock one of the small boys
came TO him and ssid his mother said
abe wanted to see him. Blashek, being
busy. did not go for nearly s1 hour, and
when he got near the house one OF his
boys told him that his mother and Victor
aud Fred we're sick and h. believed they
were poisoned. On going up stairs
into the living portion VI TIT
house, he found his wife on the bee
with one Of the little boys clasped tighI
In her arms and both Of them In conyul
sions. while the other hoy lay by her sid,
struggling for life. When asked about
the s~trychnine, he said u vial OF II wal
kept about the house and used TO Kill
rats and mice; that his wife had charg,
OF 1t and attended to setting 1t out fol
the rats. The last time he had seen II Il
was about one-third full. His testimon,
was oorroborated by Frank. Mrs. A. J
Ballard testified that she had assisted il
dressing the bodies for burial and ex
aminei them carefully and found n,
marks OF violence. She also said tina
Mrs. Blashek had said to her some tim
before, that she would not mind dying /
she could tsse her two little children
with her.
Frank Blashek and his father both ties
till d to the fact that Mrs. Blashek. 10
qnite a while before the suicide occurred
mad labOred under the hallucination tina
parties we're going to com to their hous
and murder them for their money or se
lire TO their house and destroy them. O
several occasions she got up in the nigh
and prowled around the premises ant
becoming very much excited, would or
out: Here they Gomez They're con
ing" The evidence satisfied tho jar
that Mrs. Blashak had become insan
, and administered the poison to herseI
, and two little boys, and rendered a vel
diet TO that effect.