The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-20
LAID IN THE GRAVE
Little Victims of a Father S
Murderous Madness.
Mo,her Not Allowed TO Attend The funera---
Jay Preserves an Air OF To'al In
dlff.r.nce.
Especial to News and Observer

Asheville, N. c., Oct. 19-The funeral
services over the remains of the two
children, two, four and six years old, of
Dr. J. V. Jay, who, Saturday morning met
with such d tragic death at the hands
OF their father, occurred yesterday after
noon about / O'Clock from the little
church at Barnardsville. The nterment
was at the old Dillingham; place, several
miles from the scene of the tragedy.
The congregation that gathered at
BarnaTdsville yesterday afternoon to pay
the last tribute OF love to the three ut
tie victims of a drunken father was the
largest that has ever assembled in that
section of the county. For miles and
miles around the people came in wagons.
horseback and on foot.
During the service tears streamed from
the eyes of the assembled audience. Stur.
dy farmers with hearts of steel, who
for years perhaps had never been known
to shed tear, wept like children The
scene was altogether a pathetic one. At
ter the service was over the people silent
ly passed out and into the big main road
The eyes of the women were still swim
ing in tears, while the faces of the men
bore a stern and determined look; their
eyes blazed dangerous fire.
Mrs. Jay, the mother of the murdered
children. is Frustrated. Early yesterday
morning she went to where her children
lay and gazed earnestly and ongingly
into their cold still faces. She finally
had to be taken away, and was not al
lowed to attend the funeral.
In jail Jay maintains an air Of indiffer-
ence, and when he does speak Of his deed
says that he is sorry, but that it couldn't
be helped After being placed in jail Sat
urday night he talked freely. He said
that he had had but two attacks of in
sanity-the one Friday night, when he
tried to get his pistol, with wh.,4l he de
clared he intended to kill his wife and
children-and the attack Saturday when
he murdered the three children two girl>
and one boy. He said that he didn't re.
member anything that happened after
the attack came on until he was arrested!
by the deputy sheriff.
However to Sheriff Reed, while on the
way from Barnardsvllle to Ashcville, he
told different story.
He told the sheriff that he knew PER
fectly well that he was killing the chill
dren, and told him which he killed first
He also told the sheriff that the children
were crying when he murdered them.
Saturday night after being placed in q
cell he went to bed and slept as soundly
as a new born babe. Yesterday morning
he ate a hearty breakfast and appeared
as though nothing had happened.
AT dinner yesterday though he krew the
funeral Of his victims was in progress he
treated the matter with total indifference
and expressed no desire to be present or
to see the children again.
Jay said that he wentAo or an excursion
the middle of September and While away
on that trip commenced drinking and that
he had kept drinking and using cocaine
ever since that time, and up to the hour
of the tragedy.
Before leaving Barnardsville Jay spoke
to the large crowd of people who had
gathered around the house where he was
confined, and told them goodbye, and |
advising them to let whiskey alone.
Further details of the killing say that
while the wife was engaged in getting |
breakfast on the morning of the tragedy |
her Infatuated husband was searching for
his pistol which she had hidden. Finally
he seized the hammer as related and |
chased the poor woman from her homo
She hesitated in the road a few moments
held there by the cries of her frightened
little children, but knowing that she her
self was unable to defend them, she ran
as feetly as possible to grocery store
near by for assistance.
AS already stated, when she returned
With aid. she found her three little ones
yng upon the porch with the life blood
lowing from their crushed heads. Jay
lad gone into the house and locked tho
lcors. The men who accompanied his
wife called on him to open the door. He
efused declaring he would kill the first
Who entered. Nevertheless they burst
II the door when instead of the crack OF
pistol there came the glare and stencil
f burning clothes and the words Hello,
oys, come in, / am just building fire ,
o get warm by from Jay standing over
heap he had just fired The men ex ]
inguished the flames and hand-cuffed Jay :
rho was slightly burned. His clothing :
nd face were covered with the blood of !
he children he had slain. ,
AONTHER HOMICIDE IN CUMBERLAND