The Monroe journal., 1910-08-23
KILLED HIS OWN BROTHER.

Jesse c. Edwards, One Time In
the Hospital for Insane. Shoots
His Brother Without Apparent
Cause.
As Cyrus Edwards Of Arson coun-
~ returned from church Sunday and
walked into the house, his brother,
Jesse c. Edwards, picked up a pis-
toll and killed him instantly. Jesse
then put on his Sunday clothing
and went to the home of Mr.. Fl. B.
Edwards, where he was later per-
suaded to give himself up, and was
carried to Jail at Wadesboro.
The dead man and his slayer are
sons Of Mr.. James I. Edwards, a
substantial citizen who lives in An
son county near the New Salem line.
The neighborhood is not from the
one where the Curran and Thomas
tragedy occurred two weeks before.
Neither of the brothers had been
married and both lived with their
parents, who are quite old, and the
mother at least is very feeble. Some
two or three years ago Jesse Ed
wards was sent to the hospital for
the insane at Morganton, but after
staying four or FIVE months escaped
and came back home, walking all
the way. As he seemed to have i'm
proved his people did not send him
back. He was working this year in
the crop with his father and brother,
and it is reported that he had taken
up an idea that his brother was try
ing to cheat him. He is about thirty
years old.
Another Account.
The Wadesboro Messenger and
Intelligencer gives this account Of
the killing:
Yesterday Cyrus went to preach
ing at Flint Ridge church, after
which he drove to the home Of his
parents, reaching there about four
o'clock. As he drove up his father
and mother and brother, Jesse, were
sitting on the front porch. He
hitched his horse and, just as he
stepped on the porch, Jesse rose
from his chair and told him he must
take back something he had done or
said. Cyrus replied that he had
nothing to take back, whereupon
Jessie drew his pistol. Cyrus then
jumped behind their mother for pro.
lection, but this did not deter the
desperate man, who Immediately
reached aronnd the woman who bore
him and, pressing the pistol against
the left side of his brother, fired
three times in rapid succession. The
fraticide Immediately left the house,
and the wounded man sat down in a
chair, remarking to his father as he
did so that he was killed. These
we're the only words he spoke, as he
Immediately fell from the chair and
expired. The bullets all entered the
left side below the heart, two of
them passing entirely through the
body.
Edwards has not yet employed a
lawyer but there is no doubt that in
sanity will be plead when he is
brought TO trial. In June, 1907,
Edwards was sent to the State hos
pital at Morganton for treatment be-
cause of his mind. After staying at
the hospital six weeks he escaped
and returned home. The hospital
authorities, so far as known, made
no effort to recapture him and in
JAN, 1908, the clerk OF the court re-
ceived his discharge, the reason for
the discharge being given as his i'm
proved condition.
On the l4th OF july cyrus Ed
wards and another brother, j. W.
Edwards, went before Clerk of the
Court Dunlap and procured exami-
nation papers for Jesse Edwards in
requisition Of lunacy proceedings.
Edwards was brought here on the
10Th Of July and sent back home on
the recommendation of DR.. j. M.
Covington, Jr., county physician.
At this time the proceedings we're
not formally dismissed and Thurs
day afternoon Edwards was again
brought before the clerk of the court.
At this hearing DR.. Covington stated
that so far as he could tell there was
nothing wrong with Edwards mind,
and that he did not think his re-
lease would be a menace to the COM
munity in which he lived. After
the hearing Edwards was given his
liberty.