Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2023
                           All Rights Reserved
                        USGenNet Data Repository

        Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page:
                <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>

Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
===========================================================================
Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
===========================================================================
Chicago Tribune
Friday, 9 July 1886

         TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN INDIANA
         
         A Crazy Mother Slays One of Her Children,
           Attempts the Murder of Another, and Ends
           by Hanging Herself.
           
         Princeton, Ind., July 8. - [Special] - A horrible
       murder and suicide was committed on a farm about five
       miles northeast of this place about 8 o'clock this
       morning. ASA TURPIN, with his wife, THERESA TURPIN,
       and four children, two of them by a former wife,
       lived in a small frame house near what is known as
       Severn's Bridge. Mr. TURPIN is a young farmer in
       moderate circumstances, and has always provided well
       for his family, and to all outward appearances the
       family was a contented one. This morning, after the
       family had eaten breakfast and Mr. TURPIN had gone
       to his work about a quarter of a mile away and the
       oldest stepdaughter had been sent blackberrying, Mrs.
       TURPIN told the youngest stepdaughter to carry some
       food to the hogs. Mrs. TURPIN then took a razor and
       almost severed her 7-year-old daughter's head from
       her body, and placed the body on a bed. She then
       took her 1-year-old child and hanged it until she
       thought it was dead, and placed the body in the bed
       with the other. She then went to the barn and climb-
       ing into the hayloft, hanged herself from one of the
       rafters. The little stepdaughter came back from her
       errand, and finding the bodies of the children in
       the bed gave the alarm. The youngest child when found
       yet showed signs of life, and is still alive. Mrs.
       TURPIN left a letter in which she said that no one
       was to blame for the deed but herself; that her hus-
       band had always treated her well and provided well
       for the family; that the Devil had been after her
       for two months, and that she was unable to get away
       from him; that for the last two weeks she had been
       planning the deed, and had finally worked herself
       up to committing it. She closed by asking her hus-
       band to forgive her and place trust in Jesus. She
       also gave directions for the burial of the bodies.
       
================================================================================