The log cabin Democrat., 1916-05-06
AGED NfCRFSS IS SHOT BY DAUGHTER MATRICIDf SURRENDERS Daughter Fires Upon Mother at Close Range, Killing Her
 Instantly.

Laura Jane Thompson, negress, said to be 83 years old, was shot and probably instantly killed at 10 o'clock last night by her daughter, Missey Curtis, 26 years old, at the Thomp- son home, Clayton and Walnut streets, in the eastern part of Con- way. The killing was done with a single barrel shot gun, fired at close range.
 Immediately after shooting her mother, the Curtis woman hurried to town and informed Night Marshal John H. Durham of her deed The officer incarcerated her in the cala- boose and went to the Thompson home, which he found to be on fire. It is believed the fire was started by the firing of the gun. A bucket of water was found and the fire was ex- tinguished. All of the Thompson woman's clothing had been burned off, and the flesh was considerably charred in places.
 A tive-months- old baby girl of the Curtis woman was found on the bed by Officer Durham, who removed it from the house in an almost suffocat- ed condition.
 The body of the dead woman was lying face down between the bed and the wall, with large hole in the left side. It is believed that scuffle pre- ceded the shooting, as the furniture in the room was disarranged, accord ing to the officer.
 When seen in the county jail this morning, where she was removed by Marshal Durham, the Curtis woman apparently was not worried. She talked to Log Cabin Democrat re- porter in straightforward manner hestitating only when asked why she killed her mother. To this interro- gation she replied she didn't know When asked if she did not tell Officer Durham last night that she killed hel mother because she was running hel crazy" she said that she believed she did. What did she do to run you crazy" she was asked. In reply she said her mother had been constantly "grumbling at her because she did not provide better food" She said she was her mothers sole means of support, and that although she had three brothers and three sisters none aided in their mothers support There was no struggle before the shooting, she said. After her moth, CT had quarred with her last night said the Curtis woman, she siezed a shot gun which was standing in a corner of the room near the bed and with her mother looking at her, pull ed the trigger and left the house She did not know the house had caught fire until told by the officer she said.
 The Curtis woman had been living with her mother about six months coming here from Muskogee, Okla. according to John Thompson, broth. CT. He said he had never heard o1 any ill feeling between his mother and sister. He is unable to account for the tragedy, he.said.
 A coroner's inquest was conducted into the death this morning, presided over by Coroner J. A. Pence, which found that the woman came to hel death from a gun shot wound inflict ed by Missey Curtis, and that the killing was unjustifable. The jury recommended that the Curtis woman be held in the county jail without bal to await an investigation by the grand jury.
 A warrant charging Missey Curtis with first degree murder will be issued this afternoon, it is said. She has not employed counsel.
 Aunt Jane" Thompson was one oi the best known "negro mammies" 1T Conway. She had lived here about 25 years.