The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1900-10-09
A Prominent New York Woman,
Becoming Insane, Attempted
to Wipe Out Her Family.
USED cARBOLIc ACID AND A PISTOL
She Shot Two of Her Children and
Forced the Third One to Drink
the Deadly Drug.
4he Mother Then Committed Sui
eide by shooting-Brooding Over
the Prospects of Death Ua-
settled Her Mind.

w YORK. Oct. UNITS. i5lilfdn
4 sca, of Inwood, borough of Nan
haitian, while insane Friday, shot her
two children, Ethel, aged II. years,
and Theodore, aged 8 years, and then
committed suicide by shooting her
self. Another child lies in Fordham
hospital AT the point of death as the
result of carbolic acid burns. Be
fore shooting the children Mrs Smith
tried to force them to drink carbolic
acid. Long brooding over the pros
pect of death is said to nave been the
cause of the woman's insanity. She
had for some time been in bad
health.
Mrs. Smith was the wife of Walter
NJ. Smith, who has been connected
with the grocery house of Austin,
Nichols & Co. for 21 years.
Drove Her Husband 40 the Train.
Mrs Smith drove her husband to
the station Friday morning and APP
peared happy and care free. She
promised to meet him on his return
from the city at night. 1t is believed
that she went out in the morning
from the drive to the train with her
husband and bought the pistol.
Where and when she bought the car
bolc acid is a mystery. With the
pistol she bought box of cartridges.
Ten of these were missing from the
box when it was found. In the pistol
were found three discharged cart
ridges and two loaded In the at
tempt to wipe out her family it is
believed Mrs. Smith fired eight shots,
all but two of which took effect.
Sent the Coachmnn Away.
At o'clock Friday afternoon Mrs.
Smith instructed her coachman to
hitch up tsie team and take his wife.
also a servant of the Smiths. for a
drive on the Speedway. The Moores
returned shortly before o'clock in
the afternoon and they were met by
Mrs. Smith at the door, The women
was only partly clothed but she did
not appear TO be agitated.
don't come in yet" she said with
a smile: stake long ride. There is
plenty of time IN the afternoon"
The Moores again went away but
they sid nor stay long. They return
ed at 4:4C o'clock and discovered the
tragedy that had been enacted in
their absence.
t.nve the Baby CnrboIic Acid.
Mabel. three years old. was killed
first in the front room on the second
floor of the house. The mother had
h. l,al 20 Hripl- aarhnlfp
acid. Then the mother got the re-
volver and fred three shots and the
chest of the little girl was literally
torn to pieces. 1t was about this
time that Ethel, the eldest daughter,
returned from school. She. TOO, tast-
ed the carbolic acid but rejected it.
Again the pistol came into play. Tie
mother shot twice at Ethel but only
one took effect. Only few moments
after the little boy returned from
school entering the kitchen through
Il. .,.-c h.ci. door. The mother met him
at the door and shot him. killing him
instantly After satisfying herself
that the boy was dead Mrs. Smith re-
turned up stairs.
Pistol Iurneu on ierheit.
Walking into the hall she shot her
self in the right breast. The bullet
tore through her body, killing her
instantly. Mr.. and Mrs. Moore at
once summoned Policeman schiffert.
An examination disclosed the fact
that Mrs. Smith, Theodore, the little
boy, and Mabel, the little four-year-
old girl, were dead. Ethel. the oldest
child, aged IL, will probably re-
cover.
Mrs Smith left two letters. One
was addressed to her husband and
read:
Dear Walter am responsible for
v<hat has happened. | am very sorry
but can find no other way.-Lill."