A Horrible Crime.

Renfroe’s ore bank, about six miles from town, was the scene of a most horrible crime, on last Friday night.  Mary Simmons, a negro girl, age about 14 years, killed her step father, Ed Williams, by splitting his head with an ax while he was lying in bed asleep.  The girl made known the crime about ten o’clock next day, but said that a man had spent the night with them and did the killing.  Later in the day, however she confessed the crime to Maj. Renfroe, but gave no reason for it.  The body was found under the bed in a goods box.  The coroner was immediately summoned and after holding an inquest, the jury rendered a verdict according to the above statement.

The girl was arrested together with her younger sister, as an accomplice, and placed in jail.