The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1903-10-22
AN AWFUL CRIME
Father, Gazed With Drink, Says His
Own Children
ARRESTED AND LOCKED IN JAIL
One OF the Most Fiendish Acts Ever
Committed In the Old North State
Occurred In Buncombe County.

Asheville, N. c., Special.-Trans-
formed into a monster after a weeks
debauch, DR.. ]. v. Jay. a physician OF
prominence in the northern part OF
Buncombe county, Saturday drove his
wife from home, brutally murdered his
three children, and attempted to burn
down his house. The man became vlo-
lent Friday night. and after going
home terribly abused his wife. Mrs.
Jay had put the children to bed and
was endeavoring to quiet her husband,
when the man attacked her and drove
her out OF the house She went to the
home of Thomas Dillingham;, not far
from where she lived, and there spent
the night Returning to her home next
morning she found her husband in a
dangerous mood The man was even
worse than before. Jay was continual
ly looking for his pistol, threatening to
exterminate the whole family. Mrs
Jay, however, had taken possession of
the revolver and hidden 1t from her
husband. During the time that Jay was
searching for the pistol, Mrs. Jay was
engaged in preparing the morning
meal, at intervals assisting the chii-
dIen to dress. When the children had
been dressed and Mrs. Jay had finally
finished getting breakfast, the brute
had worked himself into a ed
mood Failing in his search for the
pistol he had armed himself with a
claw hammer, and with this chased
| Mrs. Jay around the house. The fright
ened wife, feeling that her own life
| and the lives Of her children were in
| danger, went out of the frant door and
started for the little grocery, where
there was telephone TO ask the neigh
| bors for aid, and to notify the officers
at Asheville.
AS she reached the road she TUNED
and saw her three children standing
Oh the top step crying, and begging
for her return. The mother stood for a
moment in helpless agony, knowing
that the lives Of her children were in
danger, and knowing also that she was
of her own strength pOwerless tc
shield and protect them. Her indecis
ion was Of but a seconds duration
Steeling her heart to the cries of hel
little ones, she turned and ran with al
speed possible for the store. There
she hastily told the story Of the chill
dren's peril, and accompanied by sew
eral men who CHANGED to be at tht
place, hastened back to her home. Th'
mother had been gone but few mo
ments, but in that brief space the de
mon had done his work, and as sh
entered her home a sight met her eye
such as words OF no language can de
scribe Lying upon the porch with tn
blood oozing from their heads lay he
three children The two Oldest wer
already dead, while the baby was bare
" breathing. The men who had &C
companied Mrs Jay tenderly gathere
up the little lifeless bodies to plac
them in the house, but the door wa
fastened and Jay was called upon t
open the door. This he refused to Dc
!, and declared he would kill the first On
who entered 1t was then thought tina
he had found the pistol and had bal
ricaded himself in the room, and tha
death awaited the first one who eI
! tered.
, But this was not so. The man
that moment was preparing for sell
, destruction. Without waiting anothe
: moment the men burst in the door. an
, cs it swung open, instead OF the crac
: of pistol, the men were greeted wit
r Hello DOyS, come III, din just SIoi
2 Ing a fire to get warm by Jay We
= i found standing over quantity
+ burning clothing that he had gathere
I and placed on the floor near the mr.
: nlace. The men rushed upon him an
I succeeded in extinguishing the fame
; The man was slightly burned, but n
t seriously. His clothing was coVere
q with the blood of his children. as we
e his face and hands. Sheriff Reed WI
o telephoned for, and the man was he
: Until the sheriff arrived.
= Upon receiving word Of the horTlo
, tragedy this morning SnerlH neeu
x once notified Coroner Hemphll, al
~ then left for Barnardsville.
, Sheriff Reed returned to Ashevii
4 before dark with his prisoner VINO a
- peared to only half realize the terrlE
~ deed he had committed. lie is now
~ iail here. When asked why he had ki
n ed his children DR.. Jay said he lu
r could not help it after catching sig
Il Of their blood All Asheviile is shock
n by the tragedy. Dr.. Jay is brother
g ". n. Jay, who for many years he
o. q position as deputy clerk in the OIL
20 OF register Of deeds.