Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1883 — HORRIBLE TRAGEDY. [ARTICLE]

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

The Bloody Deed of an Intan» Mexican Mother. [Telegram from Laredo, Texas.] A gentleman from Lampasas, Mexico, gives the full particulars of a most horrible tragedy that occurred near that place. Mrs. Valdez k lied her five children and then her self during a fit of insanity. In one of the large ranches about twenty miles to the southward of Lampasas there lived for four years past a quiet, well-to-do Mexican named Antonio Valdez, whose family consisted of a wife and five children, the age of the eldest child being 10 years, and of the youngest 2 yeara The wife, who was about 30 years of age, had been subject to epileptic fits and spells of melancholy of long duration. During the last few months she has exhibited many evidences of insanity, and when in such mental aberration invariably sought to do violence to her little ones. A few days ago the woman was attacked with a fit of unusual severity. When she had recovered from her spasm her husband went out to herd a flock of sheep belonging to the ranch. He had been gone but a short time when his wife rose from her couch, and, with a huge butcher-knife, which had been carelessly left within her reach, com- ' menced her terrible work of destruction. Her eldest child, a sweet girl of 10. was the first to fall a victim to her manias mother's cruel blows, her head being almost severed from her body. With that method peculiar to insane persons, she in quick succession slew the other children, hacking and stabbing them in a sickening manner. The frantic woman, after five bleeding little corpses lay at her feet, viewed them with grim satisfaction, filling the air with wild and weird exclamations. Suddenly, taking a parting look at the dead before her, she plunged the knife into her own breast, reeled to a corner in the room, and fell dead During all the time th s fearful tragedy was being enacted a serving-woman, a Jieon, was powerless to prevent it from abectfear. The husband was soon apprised of what bad happened, and his lamentations were pitiable in the extreme and he could not be consoled. In due time neighbors came, and speedy arrangements were made to bury the dead. Six graves were dug, and the next morning the funeral rights were performed « John W. Duchaman, of Indianapolis, sued Mrs. Lily Hell, alleging that die had broken her promise to give him her band in marriage if he would give her a pianoforte. He added that die had al*o pat cheese in hie coffee, struck him with a broom,and thrown a lighted match in bis face She denied every allegation, and said that he gave her the pianoforte unconditionally, and other presents as well She admitted that she once playfully threw a piece of cheese at him when they were at the table, and that she pursued him with a broom when ho tried to kiss her. John lost both suits. James A Harris, of Florida, gets 963,000 net out of his orange crop this season.