The Washington times., 1911-01-15
CHILD MURDERESS
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
Fellow-PrisonerS Are Kept
Awake by Mrs. Melber's
Screams.
NOTHING TO LIVE FOR,
THE WOMAN MOANS
District Attorney Scouts Theory
of Physician That She Is
Deranged.

ALBANY. n. Y, JAN 15.-Heart-rend-
ing screams coming from the cell of
Mrs. Edith Melber. who has confessed
to the murder of her fve-year-old son
in lonely bog east Of Albany on jan
uary 6, kept prisoners in the Jail here
awake all night.
Il want to die" she cried, over and
over again. Send me a priest"
Chief of Police Hyatt sent for the
coroner's physician, who examined the
woman and declared that she was de-
ranged most of the time, being rational
at rare intervals.
Il have nothing to live for now." she
exclaimed dramatically, beating her
breast and trying to shrink away from
the physician and the jailers. Let me
pass into eternity"
Guard Is Watchful.
So fearful are the keepers that she
will commit suicide that a night and
day guard has been established in her
cell TO watch her every movement.
Several times early today she tried
TO tie a sheet around her neck.
Mrs Melber wears heavy eyeglasses
and these were taken from her before
oaybreak so that she could not harm
herself. a heavy gold plated chain
which encircled her neck when ar
raigned at police headquarters. yester-
day, the only conspicuous ornament
which she had, was also removed de-
spite her protests.
She will he taken before the grand
j4ry TO repeat her confession some time
this week.
Mrs. Melber has not prepossessing
face or appearance. Her face is small,
her ears set TOO closely in. and her lips
are thin and cruel. She is less than five
feet sin inches tall, and does not weigh
more than 12G pounds. An aversion TO
children is one of her characteristics.
Her eyes are pale blue and not par
ticularly intelligent.
Scouts Insanity Theory.
District Attorney Sanford refuses to
entertain any idea Of her insanity. and
says he will present the case against
Mrs. Melber to the grand jury now sit
ting, and will endeavor to bring her to
trial within a month.
The district attorney claims that suf-
ficient motive for Mrs. Melber's awful
deed is found in the fact that she ex-
pected to marry Howard Kirk, of Sche- |
nectady. Her representations to him |
tally with what she told Mrs. J. F. |
Bartlett, of the same city. George was |
her nephew, and she was his guardian, |
vas the story she told Kirk and Mrs |
Bartlett.
The police have investigated Mrs.
Melber'S statement that she had no |
means of support for the boy and that |
she killed him rather than see him des- |
titute. They claim to have evidence |
that relatives of the boys father had |
frequently offered to take him and care |
for him we'll To this Mrs. Melber an |
swered that she refused to give George |
up to them because they demanded of |
her a complete surrender Of all claim TO |
him thereafter.
When the news spread about town of !
Mrs Melber's expected arrival from |
Rochester yesterday thousands of peo- |
pie gathered at the railroad station. !
In order TO avert any possible disorder, |
the authorities had the express from |
Rochester stop at West Albany. three
miles from the center of the city
Although she has admitted her guilt, |
she will have to be tried. The laws of |
this State provide for a compulsory |
trial when the offense charged is first |
degree murder.