The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-06-05
From tho Baltimore American, April 1871
A LOVE TRAGEDY.
The Tables Turned-A Young
Woman Shoots her Lover.


The quiet village Of Jarrcttsyille
Hartford county, was thrown into n stat.
of tho utmost excitement and confusion
by tragedy which occurred in its bounds
on Saturday evening last about q o'clock
Nicholas McComas, young man living
about two miles from the village, was shot
and almost instantly killed by Miss Mar
tha j. Cairns, who resides the same dis
tancc from Jarrettsvillc; but in a differ
cnt direction from it than the house oi
McComas. The accounts given of the
melancholy affair render it certain that
McComas scdnced Miss Cairns over q
year ago, under promise of marriage, and
in January. last child was born, which
IS living at the present time, Miss
Cairns frequently importuncd McComas
TO fulfill his promise of marrying, her but
by cquivocationa and excuses he cvaded
her requests until she felt toward him no
other feeling than utter hatred, and de-
termination to avenge her injuries.
On Saturday evening he had ridden in
to Jarrettsville for the purpose of attend
ing a meeting OF militia company of
which he was member, and at the time
Of the murder was in the yard at the rear
Of the tavcrn. Miss Cairns followed him
TO Jarrcttsville, and on arriving at the
tavern dismountcd from her horse, fasten.
ed him securely, and passing into the Ia.
dies apartment removed her riding skirt,
hat, and other membranes that might
retard her movements. Leaving the Ia.
dies apartment with Colts revolver in
her hand, she walked directly through
the bar.room, which was full Of men, and
stepped out upon back porch, which
overlooked the yard where McComas was.
Standing S;@;i ~ the doorway, opening from
the bar on the porch, she took deliberate
aim with her pistol at McComas, and
fired, he being scarcely ten PAGES distant
from her. The bullet struck him in the
breast. aud as he rccied wildly toward
the pillars which held up the porch, she
fred two more shots, neither of which
took effect. lie clasped the pillars Of
the porch and endeavored to sustain him.
self by them, but weak as he was from
the rapid flow Of blood from the wound,
his strength failed him, aud he fell TO the
ground. She walked up to him, and,
over him, fred the two last shots |
from her revolver into the body, one |
lodging in his right leg and the other in
his groin. Still carrying her revolver in
her hand she passed back through the
crowd Of men, who, as if stricken sense.
ess by the awful scene being enacted be.
fore their eyes, did not move a finger to
bar her passage. Along the porch,
through the bar.room, aud back TO the
aides apartment she walked without,
showing a trace of emotion or 4 qualm Of
nervousness. In the dressing.room she
resumed her riding habit, and again
mounting her horse, she galloced toward
ier home, aud had gone considerable
distance from the village before anyone
thought Of following her. Mr.. jarrett
rode after her, and joining her about
mile from town, she asked him if Me-
Comas was dead. He replied yes, when
The said, ~ told him what | was going
10 do" She exhibited no signs Of re-
,ret, and was apparently as composed as
{ she had just finished the most ordinary
lction.
On Sunday she rode to Bellair, and
gave herself up TO the authorities. Miss
Cairns is about 80, aud McComas was 81
years of age. Both of the parties be-
onged 10 highly respectable families and
leld a foremost position in the social lie
IF the county. The feeling of excitement
n regard to this act OF summary retribu.
ion runs very high in the neighborhood.
but the public opinion is generally on the
Iide OF Miss Cairns.
McComas is supposed to have been killed
oy the first shot which struck him, and
he last two shots were probably fred in
% his dead body.
Some time since, Miss Cairns brought
suit against McComas for breach of
promise and seduction, but the case has
not yet come to trial