Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-04
BABY BOY AND GIRL
OF NINE MURDERED
BY INSANE MOTHER
0. B. Slaughter, Father,
Discovers Tragedy on Re-
turn to His Home.
DAUGHTER OF FOUR ALIVE,
BUT SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
Woman Believed to Have Com
ritted Deed Shortly After
Husband Left for Work.
DEsPoNDENCY GIVEN AS CAUSE
Had Operation OF Revolver Ex-
pIafned at Breakfast E'ynroscipu
DAUGHTER OF FOUR ALIVE,
BUT SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
DEsPoNDENcY GIVEN AS CAUSE
planned at Breakfast, Expressing
Fear OF Passing Tramps.

Returning TO his home near Oak
wood Cemetery at s O'Clock last night.
o. b. Slaughter, contractor found that
his wife had shot 10 death their six
teen months old baby boy, a daughter
OF nine. fatally wounded another daugh-
ter Of four and then killed herself
The children had been shot in their
beds. presumably about o'clock yes
terday morning. within an hour after
the father had departed for work
The only sounds heard by Mr.. Slaugh-
ter when he entered the homo last
night were the faint means OF four
year-old girl. Marjorie. They came
from an upper bedroom. and when the
father stepped through the doorway.
the tot. faint from loss OF blood and
helpless. cried:
''Oh. daddy I have been calling for
mother all day and she won't answer
Victim Found In He'd.
Beside her in the bed. corpse. was
her older sister. Evelyn. aged nine. Al
the foot, OF their bed in his crib was
her baby brother. Robert Mercer
Slaughter. also dead. The mothers
body. with three bullet wounds IN the
region OF the heart, was stretched
room and her OWE. \ small calibrc au-
tomato was found lying near her hand,
When the father left homo at 6
O'Clock yesterday morning. his wife
was in good spirits. he SAYS She had
asked him during the breakfast hour
expressing fear Of tramps which she
said had been passing frequently. He
explained the mechanism Of the gun
and left for work. the children SUI
asleep.
AS far as could be learned last night
no one heard the shots which snuffed
the death or fourth. Every evidence
pointed TO the fact that the children
had not awakened from their nights
sleep when the shots we're fred into
their breasts
Mrs: Slaughter before her marriage
vas MISS J. Evelyn Waller daughter OF
Avenue.
Survivor Goes to Hospital.
Mr.. Slaughter ran to neighbor's.
and Drs. S. NJ. Cottrell. Woodson and
Harwood were called 10 the scene Or.
TO the Johnston w ILLS Hospital az once
where her condition was reported as
proba bly, fatal late last night.
TO the scene, and upon investiga tion
found an inquest unnecessary. giving
as his verdict that the children met
BY a revolver in the hands OF Mrs
Slaughter. while temporarily insane.
and that the mother died from self
lnhicted bullet wounds.
Upon examination OF the bodies the
coroner expressed 1t as his opinion
mat the tragedy occurred about I
o'clock yesterday morning There was
no sign OF struggle anywhere
Mrs. Slaughter arose early Yesterday
morning morning TO cook breakfast for her
parture of her husband for work she
evidently started back TO bed. AS her
body was found clad in night clothes
The empty shells from the automatic
were found scattered around the room.
Nol Trouble Is Known.
No trouble whatever between Mrs
Slaughter and her husband had oc-
CURED. 1t was testified BroodinG over
the loss Of a child which died several
months ago was advanced by friends
as possible cause of the tragedy.
Mrs. Slaughter is survived by her
parents. Mr.. and Mrs. b. j.. Waller:
three sitter and a brother, who are:
Mrs. Walter Slizer. Miss Grace Waller,
Mrs: Henry Damn and Witt Waller.
The bodies were removed TO the Nell
sen Morgue. in Fulton. The Slaughter
family had recently sold their farm In
ienrico County. where they have lived
for twenty-five years, and were living
on a farm owned by T.. w. Brittle.
one mile north OF the Williamsburg
Turnpike. MIR. Slaughter is "A brother
OF r j.. o. B. and V. T. Slaughter.
No funeral arrangements were made
last night.