A MANIAC MOTHER'S CRIME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 36, 10 January 1884, Page 2

A MANIAC MOTHER'S CRIME.

A special to the New York Herald.l Oct. 4, from Laredo, Texas,, gives full | particulars of a most horrible -tragedy that occurred near that place. 3 Mrs Valdez. killed her five children and then herself during a fit of'irisaiiity. On one of the large ranches about twenty miles to the southward of Larnpasas, there lived for four years past a quiet well to do Mexican named Antonio Valdez, whose family cOrisfated'of a: wife and five childf'eh; the Oldest child being ten years and the youngest two yeai"s. The wift^'whb Was about 30 yeais of age, bad been subjeefc^to epileptic fits, and spells of melancholy of long duration. During'the past few , months she has exhibite d r many evidences of insanity, and when m such mental abb ration invariably 1 sought; ; to do violence to her littlo ones. On a , reqeu^datethb affitctfed 1 wbhiati 'walr-kt-tacked with a fib of unusual severity. ■ TCTen^sbje 'lil.ti'^srecoyered-^oin -the spasm her husband, a weot to work to Her3~a flock of sheep belonging -to the ranche. He had been gone but a short time when his wife rose from her couch, and with a.hMge.butßh«j % knife, which had been carelessly^.ieft' Nvithin her reach, bogau her ter4b{§, wppk of destruction Her eldeat chifd^ a sweet girl of 10, was the first to f fall a victim to the maniac mother's cruel blow*, her hea4 being* almost severed froni her body. "With that method peculiar to insane persons,' the woman m quick .succession slew the other child^h, hacking 1 ;and stabbing them m a shocking manner. -The frantic woman,, after, the five bleeding corpses lie at her'&et, viewed them with grim satisfaction. , denly,, taking a par.ting look at the dead before her, she plilhged the knife into 1 her. own breast, reeled , into a cornet of the room, and fell dead. During all the time this horrible tragedy i.was being enacted, her .serving woman a peon, was powerless; t^o..' prevent it,; .ftpui -abject fear. ... The Kustymd was. soon apprised of what had happened. His lamentations were pitiable iv the extreme, and he cbuid not be consoled. In diie^ ttme the neighbors: came, and speedy arrangemeiQla were; 'made J to bctr/ 1 the 'dead. Six graves; were dug,: and the next morning cthett fu.ne.ral rites were performed.