Smyrna times., 1903-11-18
CAMDEN WOMAN KILLS HER
HUSBAND WHILE SLEEPING
IN A FIT OF INSANITY EDITH HOLLIS TAKES
LIFE OF DELAWARE T. HOLLIS.

MRS. Hollis Had Been MentaIly Unbalanced
and Was tO.fiave Been Taken to Farnhurst
the Next Day After the Tragedy.
Delaware T. Hollis was shot and in
stantly killed by his wife. Edith. at
MS home IN Camden about four O'Clock
on Wednesday morning The story
ls sad one and while it is one of muir
der the wife who committed the act
cannot be dealt with harshly. Mrs.
Hollis is not mentally responsible for
her rash act, and while she is now raw
ing Tor her dead husbadd she hardly
reailzes the enOrmity of her crime
olnce last February Mrs. Hollis mind
mas been unbalanced and her family
realizing her condition, sent her to
Farnhurst for treatment last June.
Her mental condition improved while
there to such an extent that about
three weeks ago she was permitted to
return to her home on parole She
appeared to be cured of her mental
snlctlon and conducted her house,
hoId duties In her usual manner and
all went we'll until about ten davs aoo |
when she came to Dover and pnr-
chased pistol of Slaughter & Bice.
IL was learned by her family that she
mad made the purchase and the pistol
was taken from her. Suspicion as TO
her condition was then aroused and
watch put upon her, though she was
allowed to come and go es she pleased
purchased Revolver in Dover Week Before
Last Thursday she came to Dovar
ana purchased another pistol from
william Culveyhouse and it was with
thls pistol, a 32-calibre, centre fire
that she shot her husband. IT. 10 not
oeleved that Mrs. Hollis bought the '
pistol with the intention of shooting 7
ner husband, but as she said. to end '
her own unfortunate existence sbonId O
an attempt be made to take her bock a
10 Farnhurst. Unfortunately her hus- D
oand had threatened to take her there n
unless she became better, and if was
tnis dread thought that caused her 70
ulscnarge the pistol in his brain that II
she had intended for herself h,
Mr.. Hollis had become afraid of her n
ana mad refused to sleep in the bousa h,
Win her, but at her solicitation on
tuesday night he had consented and
instead OF going to bed sat in q cboir M
beside the kitchen stove intending TO
Ieep vigil. He dozed into a sleen and
was then his wife appeared and fear. as
ng that he would carry out his threats so,
eveled the pistol at his head and fred be
sue shot ESS fatal and he died in biz
SEAHng5s 1IJffraor. moving a muscle. The sio
COR demented wife ran at once TO the in
ouse OF his brother-in law, DR.. I'm. Ia
ler .. Conwell, and told them of ber
eed. The sheriff was notified +bo 7
ext morning and the poor demented inc
'lsoner was brought to Dover. Tn Fr,
er rawlings she asked that she no cut
lnged IN Dover rather than be taken Il
Farnhurst. c.
ramllies Were Prominently Connected. hal
Mrs. Hollis is the dauobtar of I'll on
ard jackson and owns in her own Is
sht two farms and considerable mas
operty and Sheriff Melvin realizino
circumstances hesitated to Lock L
r up In cell with the other prison sug
). Word was sor+ - - -'Ou- levi
'neral Ward and his deputy Rober+ mat
Richards, advised that she be beld Ho'
nding the Coroner's inquest The tles
roner's jury fixes the crime unon emo
unfortunate wife and she still re 'e'o
.ins in the cpstodu - sum re- crea
1ugh she ia NOT oo,e, SnerlH' terit
ACTION is now being taken to have =,
removed to Farnhurst or Soma al
ler institution and that is hoped 70 tne
Z accomplished by having her de. -
red insane and having a trustee an. mem
nted for her estate. equa
layer