The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-14
MOTHER MURDERS
SEVEN CHILDREN
Slays Babies by Cutting
Threats With Ak as They
Enter the House.
STARTS FIRE IN OIL SOAKED BED
Woman Cuts Her Throat With Knife
and FIees From Burning House
Husband and Father Ends Life
When He Learns OF Crime.

Alpha. ILL.,. special: The entire fam
lily OF Clarence l.. Markham, nine
members In all, who lived on a farm
near Andoyer. twelve miles north OF
this place. was wiped out Saturday by
murder and suicide. Mrs. Markham.
who is believed 10 have been tempo
rariIy Insane. first killed her seven
children with an ak. set fire TO the
house in which the bodies lay and
then cut her own throat. inAictlng
wounds from which she died soon aft
er. fleeing from the burning building
The husband and father. several
hours after learning OF the dreadful
tragedy committed suicide by shoot
ing himself after tying rope around
his neck SO that Il would choke him
to death In case the bullet failed OF
its purpose.
Mother Kills Her Children.
Mrs. Markham, after killing her
children, the eldest OF whom was
years ard the youngest babe in arMs.
placed their bodies all on one bed.
saturated the bed With oil and set fire
TO II. The mother then hacked her
own throat with a knife and threw
herself upon the corpses OF her little
ones In the midst OF the flames.
II was shortly before noon when
nelghbors saw smoke coming from
the farmhouse and sent out an alarm
Within few minutes score or more
persons who lived near by were on the
scene.
The first 10 arrive saw the woman
rush from the house. which was then
envelored In flames. and fall in the
yard The neishbors found II lmpos-
sible 10 enter the house because the
fire blocked every entrance. From re.
marks dropped by the almost uncon.
scIous woman suspicious as to the
fate OF the rest OF the family were
aroused. and Sheriff STEERS was sum.
moned by telephone. the woman mean.
while being taken 10 a neighbours
home.
Woman Tells Story OF Tragedy.
Speaking with difficulty because OF
her Injuries. she said:
II called the children into the house.
ore at a time, and cut their throats
with the ak. Then I put them In a
row on the bed. and. after pouring
Kerosene around the house. | set fire
TO the place. / cut my throat with the
butcher knife This Is the truth"
Her story finished she fell into I'M
consciousness and within a few min
utes was dead.
The building In which the children
we're slain was burned 10 the ground
The bodies OF the seven were so char
red they were unrecognlzable. They
were fourd side by side In pile OF
ashes in one corner OF the little farm.
house where the mother in her frenzy
had placed them.
Mrs. Markham posted letter in
rural mail box addressed TO her hus.
band. In this she had written:
II did II 10 save the children"
Father Ends His Life.
The meaning OF this statement s
not known The father had left home
as usual early In the day. leaving his
wife seemingly In good spirits. lie
had been made uneasy. however. by
her conduct recently. and had kept
the children home from school to be
with their mother as precaution.
When Markham heard OF the trag
edy he was inconso!able. lie was
watched by friends. who feared ne
would do violence TO himself. but
eluded them. and soon afterward Il
was found that he had Killed himself
near the ruins OF his home.
The family lived on the Alfred
Johnston place as tenants.