The Daily Dispatch: January 30, 1861., [Electronic resource]

The Tragedy in Alabama.

‘ "He went to Mobile with a draft on the bank of that city, calling for $60,000, which he failed to get. Supposing it lost forever, and himself and family impoverished, he returned home with a heavy heart. On the first evening after his return home he ordered the nurse to assemble the children in the parlor, which she did, not suspecting his murderous intentions. As soon as the nurse had left the room he approached the cradle in which lay his youngest child, an infant nine months old, and cut its throat from ear to ear. The nurse happened to look through the window and saw what he was doing, and hastened to the garden where Mrs. English was superintending some work, and gave the alarm.--Mrs. E. started for the house in all possible haste, and entered the parlor just as he had cut the throat of the third child, and was in the act of cutting his own. Rushing forward, she seized him by the arm, and casting a woeful look at the bleeding and mangled forms of his children, demanded his reason for killing them. He gently pushed her away, saying at the time that it was all for the best. Before she could get to him again he made a lick at his throat, completely severing the jugular vein, and falling into a chair, gave way by degrees and fell dead upon the floor, surrounded by the bleeding forms of his innocent children.

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