Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-20

outside, as both Mr.. and Mrs. Booth
intimated they believed, on the first
discovery of the murder. There are
several possible solutions of the crime.
Some one may have entered the
room and cut the baby's throat. This
theory has to support It the statements
of Mr. and Mrs. Booth that the door
was open, ana that neither of them
committed the crime On the other
hand not a great deal of consideration
is to be given this, for the officers
made thorough examination and con
WINGED themselves that no one had en-
tered or left the building near the
time of the murder. Another fact in
contradiction to this theory is that the
crime was committed with Mr. Booths
razor These were in a drawer of the
commode and mir. Booth said that this
drawer was on The table when he got
up. The argument is advanced that
no enc not thoroughly familiar with
the room could have found the razors
without arousing the sleeping parents.
Which Is Guilty:
The evidence brought out at the in
quest, it appears from the jury's YER
| dict most strongly points to Mrs.
Booth as guilty of the atrocious crime.
Assuming thai the cOroner's jury ar
rived at a good part of the truth of the
case in its Investigations. the discus
| son of the case brings out even other
theories, as TO which of the parents
Iactually committed the crime, if either
of them did 1t.
| The father OH the stand yesterday
admitted that it might have been pos
sible for him 20 have killed the child
without it's mctber knowing of it, and
that the mother might possibly nave
committed the murder without his
knowing of it, He declared emphati-
cally that he did not take the baby's
life and that he knew nothing of the
crime itself Mr.. Booths evidence
was straightforward and convincing
and it was generally remarked by
those who heard it that while perhaps
said he did. it was difficult to believe
that he killed the child.
Did Mother, Do 1t:
! Did the little childs mother end its
life herself? The question is one
which may never be satisfactorily
answered. Mrs. Booth seems to have
had the mother love for the little girl.
and it is of course very difficult to be-
lieve that if she was mentally sound
she would have ended the childs life
with such horrible bloody butchery.
! She herself IN defending her hus-
band against an intimation that he
might have done the deed, said: mo.
no, can not telieve that. 1t is too
terrible. No one but a coward could
have done it"
States Attorney Scott suggested
| to Mrs. Booth as well as
to her husband that she might
have awoke to attend to the
child. and in IA frenzy have taken it's
life, and then left it for her husband
to arrange an explanation to direct
suspicion from them.
Is She Insane:
But there seems no motive for the
mother to have killed her baby. Nor
is there any suggested that might have
caused the child's father to commit
the murder
The question of motive is puzzling
and gives rise to a suggestion that
possibly Mrs. Booth is mentally unbal
IanCed, and afflicted with puerperaA in
sanity.
Those who have looked into the case
carefully have come to the conclusion
ltion Of the mystery of tbs
chiId's death. Mrs. Booth was
questioned yesterday as to whether
she thought herself sound mentally
I and she responded promptly in the at
firmative. Asked if she was in fac
sane. she replied that the thought so
but that a physician should be asket
rather than heraelf.
Would Confess IL.
, Mrs. Booth several times yesterda
, said that if she thought she had com
5 mitted the murder, she would readil
: confess it. She said that if she did d
) it, it was not while she was awake
( This suggests that she might hav
!. killed the baby girl while walking i
( her sleep, but this theory is not a
2 readily accepted as that of insanity.
( Rev. G. II. Sherwood of Trinit
I Episcopal church, who has known Ell
!, sign and Mrs. Booth since they cam
I here in November, visited them las
) evening in their cells at the jai
Neither had anything further to sa
3 CT the case, and the only thing Mr.
Z Booth said when the rector urged he
2 to tell the whole story if she had con
: mitted the crime, was that if God col
Z WINGED her that she had done it, sh
3 would readily confess.
Z Mr.. Sherwood, among others, is col
9 vinced that the unfortunate girl-sh
Z is but II years old-has become mel
g tally unbalanced.