THE FATHER HEARS IT: New Details on the Plymouth Murderess

[…] Inquiry, [she] was very particular to know if it was possible that this unfortunate girl was in her right mind when she committed the bloody deed. The assurance that the public generally regarded her as insane seemed to afford the heart-broken mother great satisfaction.

In response to an inquiry concerning the story of her having formerly been in an insane asylum, Mrs. King said that she was once in the Taunton institution five or six months, but she could not tell me the particulars, but referred me to one of her neighbors, who was familiar with the circumstances. The heart-broken woman seemed to desire solitude in her great affliction, and all her sympathizing friends withdrew except her two sisters, who remained until late in the afternoon.

THE FATHER HEARS IT.

Mr. King, when he arrived home this evening, learned for the first time the terrible news of his daughter's crime, which had been the uppermost topic in the public mind for nearly a week. He was reluctant to believe it at first, but when he finally realized the terrible facts he gave way entirely, and all efforts to administer comfort were in vain. It is probable that he will visit his daughter in the county [jail] in a few days.

The fact of her nativity here, the respectability of her parents and her liberal education have all been alluded to in the Herald, but your correspondent, in mingling with her friends and schoolmates, has been able to gather many additional facts concerning the early life and career of this most remarkable criminal. [...] born here in Plymouth, and so was her father and mother before her, and she may, therefore, be considered as a pretty direct descendant of the little band who

CAME OVER ON THE MAYFLOWER

two or three centuries ago. She is the youngest of a family of two daughters, her elder sister being now Mrs. [...] of Hyde Park, Mass. It was her sister, and not [Betsey], who taught school here in Plymouth county, although Betsey is said to possess a far superior education. She is a graduate of the high school, and during her tuition she was particularly celebrated as a writer. Some of her compositions are said to have had a touch and elegance, and shown a depth of thought and study, which attracted universal attention. In every branch of study she was remarkably apt, and her proficiency often excelled the envy and jealousy of her schoolmates. While her father and mother are firm and enthusiastic

FOLLOWERS OF THE SECOND ADVENT,

the two daughters were always devout [believers], and Betsey was particularly regular and earnest in her Sabbath school attendance. In personal appearance she was always very attractive, nature supplying [...] which the most accomplished milliner and dressmaker could not embellish. One of her old schoolmates described her to your reporter as a 'real, sweet, full, round face, red cheeks, ruby lips, clear skin, graceful form, auburn hair, and altogether the best looking one in the family.' There was always something about her that was different from other girls, and her associates, knowing her little whims, used to gratify her most [of the time]; her parents, too, were very indulgent with her and always allowed the utmost freedom in everything. At school she was more fearless than most scholars, and when she did commit any very serious breach of the rules it was not because she feared the consequences. While she was clever she was still

SLY AND ARTFUL.

Perhaps no two words [better] describe her character during her school-day career. One day she would be all milk and honey with some of her associates, and the next day the same woman would insult them. She didn't seem to care particularly for the society of gentlemen, so far as any one in Plymouth knows. She never said anything about her sweethearts, if she had any, and it is more than likely that her burning passion was never fully developed until she left her home some six or seven years ago,

AS IN HER FIRST GOING AWAY,

in keeping with her singular and characteristic conduct ever since. One day she suddenly took it into her head to go to Boston, and when she declared her intention her parents fitted her out and gave her $100 in money. It is said by some of her lady associates that there was a young man in the case, in the shape of a Boston 'runner,' who had become acquainted with her during one of his peregrinations here to Plymouth, and that it was to share her fortunes with his that she left her home. She had cultivated a romantic disposition by a liberal perusal of story papers and novels, and it is more than likely that

CHEAP LITERATURE IS THE PRIME CAUSE

of all her woes and misfortunes. After a week's absence she wrote home from Chelsea that she was going to Philadelphia as a clerk for a female physician, and shortly afterwards she was heard from in the Quaker City. An interval of several months then elapsed, when her father was informed that she was sick in a hotel in Boston, and when he went to her assistance he found that she had been sent to the Insane Asylum in Taunton. The cause of her aberration of mind was never ascertained, although it is generally surmised that it was some affair of the heart. She was very sick during a couple of months of her hospital life, and was at all times very violent; she would tear her clothing to pieces, and was

GIVEN TO DESTRUCTIVENESS

generally. After about six months she began to improve, and about the time she was to be turned out as cured, the notion took hold of her head to leave without going through the usual formalities of a discharge. Securing a couple of dresses and some other clothing belonging to one of the matrons, she stepped surreptitiously into a buggy that was standing near the institution and drove off to a relative in North Bridgewater. And there were no apparent symptoms of insanity, so the officials thought, and after that little trial the patient was pronounced sane and allowed to go. Subsequently she went to Middleboro and learned the straw hat and bonnet business, in which she is said to have been an expert. Providence was her next objective point, but she remained there only a few months, when she went to New York.

OFF FOR NEW YORK.

This is about four years ago, and the story of her eventful life since that time has already been told in the Herald. Her parents have known little of her and have heard from her at intervals of six months or a year. She has always seemed to have an aversion to home and friends since she first left Plymouth, but for what reason cannot be divined. Her father is a man of considerable means, and has always been happy in expending his wealth for the gratification and comfort of his children, and this terrible tragic affliction in his declining years is, therefore, peculiarly painful.