Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1903-10-21
AN AWFUL CRIME
Father, Crazed With Drink, Stays His
Own Children
ARRESTED AND LOCKED IN JAIL
One OF the Most FiendisiI Acts Ever
Committed In the Old North State
Occurred In Buncombe County.

AshevilIe. n. c.. Special.-Trans-
formed into monster after weeks
0ebauch. Dr. j. Y. Jay. n 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 vio-
lent Friday night. and after going
home terribly abused his wife. Mrs.
Jay had put the children to bed. and
was endeavorng to quiet her husband.
Wnen the man attacked her and drove
her out OF the house She went to the
nome or Thomas Dillingham;. not far
f'cm where she lived. and there spent
the night. Returning to her home next
ming she found her husband in n
;erous mood The man was even
:" than before. Jay was continual
okinS for his pistol. threatening to
rmnate the whole family Mrs.
however. had taken possession OF
revolver and hidden it from her
Iand. During the time that .Iay was
ching for the pistol. Mrs JAY was
tSed in preparing the morning
II. at intervals assisting the chill
dren to dress. When the children had
, Deen dressed and Mrs. Jay had finally
hnished getting breakfast. the brute
Fad worked himself into frenzicd
mood. Failing in mis- search for the
pistol he had armed himself with
claw hammer and with this chased
Mrs Jay around the house The fright
ehed wife. feeling that her own life
and the lives of he" children were in
DANGER. went out OF the rrant door and
started for the little grocery. whore
there was telephone To ask the neigh
bors for aid. and 10 notify the officers
N ASheVillc.
As she reached the road she turned
and saw her three children standing
on the top stcD crying. and begging
for her return. The mother stood for u
mome NJ in helpless agony knowing
thai 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 inGCcis-
ION was of but seconds duration
Steeling her heart TO tine 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 at the
place. fastened back to hcr home. The
nother had been gone out few mo-
ments. but in that brief space the de-
mon had Gone his work. and aS she
entered her home sight met her eyes
such aS WORDS Of no language can de-
scribe. Lying upon the porch with the
blood oo2ing 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
ur the little lifelcss bodies to place
them in the 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. IL was then thought that
ne had found the pistol and had bar
ricaded himself in the room. and that
death awaited the first one who en-
tcIed.
But this was not so. The man at
that moment was preparing for self
destruction. Without waiting another
moment the men burst in the door. and
IS ii swung open, instead of the crack
of a pistol, the men were greeted with
Hello boys. come in. | am just start
ing fire 10 get warm by" Jay was
found standing over a quantity of
burning clothing that he had gathered
place. The men rushed upon him and
succeeded in eXtinguishing the flames
The man was slightly burned, but not
seriously. His clothing was covered
with the blood of his children. as were
his face and hands Sheriff Reed was
telephoned for. and the man was held
until the sheriff arrived.
Upon receiving word OF the horl ible
tragedy TINS morning onerin nvru at
once notified Coroner Hemphili. and
then left for Barnardsvillc.
Sheriff Reed returned 10 Asheville
before dark with his prisoner who ap-
peared to only half realize the terrible
deed he had committed. He is now in
Jail here. When asked why he had kill
ed his children DR.. Jay said he Just
could not help it 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 held
q position as deputy clerk in the office
OF register of deeds.
"nrcf i,.