Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, January 15, 1888
pg. 3

KILLED HER BABY
Intelligence of a horrible case of child murder reached the city Tuesday morning, Carpenter's Bluff being the scene of the tragedy. Mrs. Louis Devault, the wife of a farmer of that section, has for several months past shown signs of insanity, but
as her symptoms did not assume a violent type it was not thought necessary to place her in confinement. She was pretty closely watched, and but little chance given her to do mischief, but Monday evening seeing her opportunity when no eye was upon her she lifted her 7-months-old baby from its cradle and rushing out threw it down a deep well. It was fished out
as quickly as possible, but was found to be dead, having received fatal injured by striking the walls of the well in its descent.
Judge Cook went out to the scene of the tragedy Tuesday morning and held such form of inquest as the law now prescribes, rendering a verdict in accordance with the facts given above. Judge Gregg arrived in the city Wednesday noon to try the unfortunate woman on a charge of insanity. The case came up before the Judge and a jury in the office of Fears & McLagan at 2 p.m., and resulted in the woman being declared insane.
The necessary papers were forwarded at once to Dr. Wallace, of the insane asylum at Terrell, and pending the securing of her admission to the asylum, Mrs. Devault will be kept under close restraint. The unfortunate woman is only 27 years of age.