The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-10-22
AN AWFUL CRIME
Father, crazed With Drink, Stays his,
Own Children
ARRESTED AND LOCKED IN JAIL
One of the Most Fiendlsh Acts Ever
Committed In the Old North STATE
Occurred Ia Buncombe County.

AshevilIe, N. c., Special.-Trans-
formed into q monster after a weeks
debauch, DR.. ]. v. Jay, physician OF
prominence in the northern part OF
Buncombe county. Saturday drove his
wife from home. brutally murdered his
three children. and attempted 10 burn
down his house. The man became, Vio-
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 chill
dren to dress. When the children had
been dressed and Mrs. Jay had finally
finished getting breakfast, the brute
lad worked himself into frenzied
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 lie
and the lives of her children were In
danger, went out Of the frant door and
started for the little grocery. where
there was q telephone to ask the neigh
bors for aid, and to notify the officers
al Asheville.
AS she reached the road she turned
and saw her three children standing
on the top step crying. and begging
for her return. The mother stood for
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 to
shield and protect them. Her indecis-
ion was of but a seconds duration.
Steeling her heart to the cries on ner
little ones, she turned and ran with all
speed possible for the store. There
she hastily told the story OF the chill
dren's peril, and accompanied by sew
eral men who chanced to be at the
place, hastened back to her home. The
roother had been gone but few mo-
ments, but in that brief space the de-
mon had done his work, and as she
entered her home a sight met her eyes
such as words Of no language can de-
scribe. Lying upon the porch with the
blood oozing from their heads lay her
three children. The two Oldest were
already dead, while the baby was bare
ly breathing. The men who had ac-
companied Mrs. Jay tenderly gathered
M the little lifeless bodies to place
them in the house, but the door was
fastened and Jay was called upon 10
open the door. This he refused to 90,
and declared he would kill the first one
who entered. It was then thought tnat
he had found the pistol and had bar
ricaded himself in the room. anu tnst
death awaited the first one who en-
tered.
Rut this was not 50. The man at
that moment was preparing for self
destruction. Without waiting another
moment the men burst in the door. ana
es II swung open, instead OF the crack
of a pistol, the men were greeted with
Hello boys, come In, am Just start
ing a fire to get warm by jay was
found standing over quantity OF
burning clothing that he had gath erea
and placed on the floor near the nre,
nlaee. The men rushed upon him ana
succeeded in extinsuishing the flames.
The man was slightly burned. but not
seriously. His clothing was covered
with the blood of his children. az were
his face and hands. Sheriff Reed was
telephoned for. and the man was held
until the sheriff arrived. "
Upon receiving word OF the horrlDie
tragedy TINS morning onerln noeo as
once notified Coroner HemphtE, ana
then left for Barnardsville.
Sheriff Reed returned to Asheviile
before dark with his prisoner who ap-
peared to only half realize the terrible
deed he had committed. He Is now in
iail here. When asked why he had kill
ed his children DR.. Jay said he just
could not help 1t after catching sight
Of their blood. All Asheville is shocked
by the tragedy DR.. Jay Is brother OF
w. N. Jay. who for many years nelo
q position as deputy clerk IN TIE ONCE
OF register OF deeds.