Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1846-01-01


One OF the most horrible tragedies ever enacted il
real life. occurred in Dallas county, Alabama on tho
18th ut., of which the " Alabama independent
give the following account We well rccol!ect the
bank robbery which the prelude to all these
dreadful crimes 1t occurred but a few years ago
Our readers will remember Thos. &. Mexican of Bank
robbng memory. Previous to his oulbreakinc depreda
tons, Nick. occupied fair standing community being
OF highly respectable family and man of Estimating adj
dress. He succeeded obtaining the objections of
young and artless school girl, Marion Perry county
and III opposition TO the wishes and advice of her friends
off with and married her This young and suspect
ing girl was the daughter OF Mr. j. X c. Poole of Per.
ry county. And amid all the hardshps TO which her
connection with such as Mexican subjected her
she remained firmly attached him. and could not be
prevailed upon to leave him. until the commission o the
Columbus Bank robbery from which time she has never
him. Being intelligent and remarkably beautiful and
her friends having deter mined procure divorce from
her unfortunate marriage she become an object
considerable attraction and many been the suirors
for her hand Among these the unfortunate Bethel
Holmes, gentleman highly respected aud esteemed in
Dallas county where he resided On the evening of Sat
urday the 29Ih Nov, at the house Of Col VIM. H.
Richardson who had married the sister of Mrs Mexican
and where this unhappy lady spending portion of
her time, Holmes perpetrated the horrid deed
1t seems that Holmes and Mrs Mexican were left alone
IN the paor, and 1t presumed that receiving final
lection of his suit he seized with an
phrenzy, and shot Mrs. Mexican with pistol the ball en-
terng her heart, and then Immediately shot himself
COL Richardson had been out Of the room but short
time when the report of the pistol induced him to return
He found the unfortunate lady already dead in her chair
and Holmes staggering in the oor-he also died soon af.
ter Neither having spoken the fatal deed the par
tcuar matters that led to the denouement were not
known. These all the facts have been enabled 10
gather concerning the transaction which has shocked an
entire community, and filled large circle of friends and
relations with heartending anguish for both the unfor-
tunates were greatly beloved.
The Mobile Herald of the 9th, gives an extract of
letter in which full and more correct particu
lars
1t from what learn from other sources that
Holmes medltaed this double murder for weeks The
letter says After dinner Saturday Holmes ordered
his horse Alter was brought he told the servant
girl to go up and tell .nrs. Mexican that he wished TO
speak with her In the parlor. She down and he
closed the door. The girl remained outside and listened
at the door, She heard him ask her if she was willing to
promise to marry him. She answered she had already re-
quested him again subject to her for
she would never marry him. Immediately after she heard
her exclaim. Lord have mercy on my SOUL and at the
same moment report of pistol then another and ano
err aud tall. She then opened the door and saw him
fall on the floor The pistol had fallen out of his hand
aud he was feeling to find it fire again she screamed
to the boy who holding the horse the door, that M
Holmes had shot himself She and brought out the
pistol fearing that he would get hold of it, Unfrtunatev
VT H. had gone 10 the Clubhouse, and .Nrs r. had also
gone out in the yard somewhere Two or three gentle
men happened to be riding by horseback They dis.
mounted and came into the house at the same moment
that M snd Nrs. X got there and all in together
AT first they did Mrs. MKeen--she was sitting
up in rocking chair; she shot right through the
temples, nsead Of the hearth and from her position he
must have held her with hand. and her with the
other lie then, is supposed aimed his temple
but pointed too heh for the ball glanced from the upper
part Of his head aud lodged in the ceiling above He
then fired again. but too low for the temple the ball enter.
ed below the cheek bone, tearing his face all to pieces
They neither of them spoke. Ms .cKeen lived an hour
and half; he lived about three hours On his person
two letters were found, directed to Maor Poole beg
gng pardon for the he had committed and reouestne
him to have both bodies laid in one grave