TRAGEDY IN ALGIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 35, 12 February 1890, Page 4

TRAGEDY IN ALGIERS.

A MISSIONARY MURDERS HIS

CHILD.

News has been received thab Carson I* Powell, a Baptist missionary to Algiers, North Africa, has murdered his daughter* He went out distributing Bibles on December 21st, returned to bis house, took up a Bible and began reading. Little Ruth, hi* three-year-old daughter, sat on his knee, ay was her custom, and was prattling to him^ when he suddenly took a knife from hi* pocket and cut her throat.

Dr. Leach, of New York, who is also a missionary working with Powell, happened} to be in the house ab the time, and did everything possible to save the life of the child, bub without avail. Powell is now confined in a French Hospital in Algiers. Powell had frequently given evidence of possessing an unsound mind. Ooce at» Baptist State Convention in America, he demanded that he be seat to Africa as n missionary, but his application was refused. He procured some gayly-coioured calicoi ribbons and hairpins, returned to the church, went into the basement, stripped himself of his clothing, wrapped the calico and ribbons about him, fastened them to his body by sticking phis deep into the flesh, and then walked ir 4 to the auditorium whila the convention was in session.

He secured some work as a missionary in North Carolina. While travelling he met» a young woman and they became Ingaged, The day preceding the one set for the marriage he tried on his wedding suit and found, the coat too email. He regarded this as an indication from the Lord that ho1 should noc marry, and positively refused to' fulfil the engagement. His tiancee became insane over this and afterward died' in an insane asylum in Raleigh.