The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-20
HORRIBLE
CRIME IS
UNEARTHED
Parents Arrested for Murder
of Their Babe.
LYE MAS THE WEAPON
Is Thought Twas Done to OBJ
tain Charity.

Guthrie, O. T, July 1s.-warrants were
issued yesterday morning by the county
attorney for the arrest Of Moses Davis
and wife on the serious charge Of poison
ing their eighteen-months-old babe, by
giving it concentrated Iye. This action
by, the authorities on the complaint Of
neighbors and after Investigations had
been made by Chief Of Police Henry Rey-
nolds and Drs. J. W. Duke and R. V.
Smith.
Davis and his wife reside on South
Third street between Grant and Lin
coin avenues, in the property owned by
the late James Brittonstit. They are de-
scribed as very peculiar people. The wo-
man is said to be a paralytic, subject to
epileptic spells q character that might
be termed demented, at least half-witted
The fact that she has but one eye adds
an uncouth appearance to this already
strange figure. The man is said to
know but very little more than the wo-
man Although q hard worker, he is
described by employers as being not men
tally sound. They are. according to gen
eral opinion. not fit persons to have a
family OF 10 attempt to raise children.
The eighteen-months-old child died sud
denly Wednesday. having previously been
in good health. Drs. Duke and Smith were
called and believed death was the result
Of some poison. possibly Of I've. When
questioned Davis and his wife denied
at first that thee was nay I've in the house
They then admitted that a can Of I've
was In the kitchen. but had never been
opened. The doctors found the can open
ed and a portion Of its contents missing.
The parents denied knowing what the
I've had been used for and maintained
that the can had not been opened by
them. IT is said by those who heard the
remark. that Mrs. Davis stated that she
would kin the child. Upon all these re-
ports the authorities based their reasons
for ordering an autopsy and issuing the
warrants Cor the arrest.
The only reason known why the babe
should be killed by the parents is that
they might work the charity dodge to Sc
cure money. This was done last winter
when another child died suddenly. The
parents got money from about town TO
bury the child and then had it buried at
the expense Of the county. They thus
had a SUM of money for their own use
After the last child died Wednesday the
parents again took up money 70 defray
funeral expenses and at the same time
had made application to have it buried
also by the county. To thus secure a few
dollars in money seems to be the only
pretext for committing such a crime.
The first child died last winter under
peculiar circumstances. It had been
burned alive, supposedly accidental. but
the report now is that its clothing had
been saturated with kerosene. Before it's
death, ten DAYS or two weeks. it also
come near dying from drinking concen- /
trated I've. The child was between two
and three years old
Several weeks ago Mrs Davis attempt
ed suicide by taking poison. She had
been told that the drug would net get in /
IT'S work until the next day and accord /
ingly, it is said. she had a doctor sum /
moned for a certain hour ready TO attend I
her when the poison should act If she /
took any drug at all. she escaped unhurt. /
The sudden deaths Of the two children (
have created unbounded indignation and /
astonishment and the matter VIII be fully !
nrObed