The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-10-30
VOL. KxVTT.
n a WFUL CRIME.
f;A Father, Crazed With Whiskey,
Kills His Three Children.
ARRESTED AND LOCKED IN jar.
One; OF the Most Fiendish Acts
Ever Committed in tho
Good Old State of North

b T. .i. / . Il \ /.
Transformed in monster after
weeks debauch, DR.. j. ". Jay, a
PnYslcian OF prominence in the north
ern part Of BuncOmbe county, N. G.,
4 Saturday week drove his wife from
2 home, brltally murdered his three
children, and attempted to burn down
his house. The man became violent
Friday night, and after going home
terribly abused his wife. Mrs. Jay
had put the children to bed, and was
I, endeavOring to quiet n husband,
when the man attacked her and drove
her out Of the house. She went to
the home Of Thomas Dillingham;, not
Z Tar from where she lived, and there
spent the night. Returning to her
nome next morning she found her hus-
band in dangerous mood. The man
4 was even worse than before. Jay was
continually 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 pre-.
pairing the morning meal, at inter
Is.
i When the children had been dressed
and Mrs. Jay had finally finished get
ting breakfast, the brute had worked
himself into frenzicd mood Fail
Ing In his search for the pistol he had
armed himself with claw hammer,
aDd with this chased Mrs Jay around
the house. The frightened vile, feel
ing that her own life and tbs. lives q
her children were in danger, went out
or the front door and started for the
llttle grocery, where there was tele-
phone to ask the neighbors for aid,
anu to notify the officers at Asheyille.
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 we're in
danger, and knowing also that she
was of her own Strengt til poweress to
shield and protect them. Her indeciS-
, lon was Of but a seconds duration
Steeling her heart to the cries Of her
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 ut the
place, fastened back to her home.
The mother bad been gone but few
!. moments, but in that brief space the
& demon bad done his work, and as she
entered her home sight met her
:: eyes such as words Of no language can
4 describe. Lying upon the porch with
The blood oozing from their heads lay
her three children. The two oldest
We're already dead, while the baby was
blrely breathing. The men who had
accompanied Mrs. Jay tenderly gath
cred up the little lifeleSs bodies to
place them in t.lc house, but the door
was fastened and Jay was called upon
to open the door. This he refused to
do, and declared he would kill the first
one who entered. 1t was then thought
that he had found the pistol and had
FABRICATED himself in the room, and
that death awaited the first one who
entered.
Bnt this was not SO. The man at
that moment was preparing for self
destruction. Without waiting an
other moment the men burst in the
door, and as it swung open, Instead of
oiAS ~ eASh vi d plSlOl, Cllt~ Iueu were
greeted with Hello boys, come in,
am just starting fire to get warm
by" Jay was found standing over
quantity of burning clothing that he
had gathered and placed on the floor
near the fireplace. The men rushed
upon him and succeeded in cxtinguish-
Ing the flames. The man was slight
ly burned, but not seriously. His
clothing was covered with the blood
of his children, as we're his face and
hands. Sheriff Reed was tclephoned
for, and the man was held until the
sheriff arrived. Upon receiving word
of the horrible tragedy Saturday
morning Sheriff Reed at once notified
Coroner Hemphill, and they left for
BarDardsyille. Sheriff Reed returned
to Ashcville before dark with his pris-
ohGsf iiS 6 appa;lfea ;- u ol..y iiai. realize
the terrible deed he had committed.
He is now in Jail. When asked why
he had killed his children DR.. Jay said
he just could not help it after catch
ing sight Of their blood. All Ashe-
vile is shocked by the tragedy. Dir.
Jay is brother Of w. N. Jay, who for
4 many years held a position as deputy
clerk In the Office Of register deeds.
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