, 1870-06-16
THE SUMMERS TRAGEDY,
A Cold-Rlooded Murder.

FfoHR tRs quincy tiR-) 00hT7tdl, JHHs III ....
The startling and melancholy news rala-
tive to the murder Of Miss Abbie Summers,
daughter OF cur worthy fellow-citizen, Mr..
Nathaniel Summers, rs heretofore published,
are Ill incorrect, only SO far as the fact that
the young lady WAS most fou1ly and cruelty
murdered in cold blood by designing villain
named Ambrose Coe. II appears, from what
we haVe been able to g1oan from those con-
ve1sznt with the facts in the case, who arrived
from the scene Of the murder to day, with the
body, that the murder WAS perpeGated It tho
i residence ace; Of q ~. II 7; GFiggs at Ashley, At
soom used BY her in which to give music les
sons, and that the crime was perpetrated
about noon, Sunday.
The murderer. We are informed, has msde
several Sisits to Pike County, rect ntly, and has
attempted to persecute the unfortunate young
yet firmly, repulsed- he had Just returned
from Kansas, OF VAS just going to Kansas, and
had stopped over at Ashley, undoubtedly for
the purpose Of urging his suit with Miss Sum-
me1s, and had attempted to hire ont to farm
eE near the town, Sunday morning he visited
one Of the churches in search Of his victim,
but it appears that she Uxs not At the one he
visited; he then went to the Presbyterian
Church where she was, and remained at tho
door until services were over, and preceded
tarce. Just before noon, Abbie VAS seat
ed in tho music-room at Mr. Griggs'
house, in company with Mr. Watkins,
Professor Of the Seminary, when Coe. tho
incarnAte villain, passed the window, and ap-
preached tho door Of the residence. Pro
Abbie IS related to Coo, and remarked to her
when he approached the door, It is that man
Coe, Abbie, ahxll admit hiIn?" She replied
Certainly and the Professor Immediately
admitted him When Coe entered the music
room, Miss Summers MAS seated near the door,
@T5 rrHo rrna nho t1y-c
cealed from view. Coe walked across the
room. and the door was closed, and he had
taken . sent before he observed her. he then
arose and advanced toward her, at tho same
time extending his hand, which familiar greet
then said, ''Abbie, I wish to speaf few
words with you privately" and Professor
Watkins was requested to leave the
couple few minutes, which he did, very
reluctantly. Abbie followed the retreat
ing form Of the Professor to the door,
and before she closed it, the Professor, as it
impressed With \ presentimcnt Of owl, re-
marked. III you need any assistance At any
time, just call, and Will not be far or" The
door was closed, and the Professor stepped
scrosa the hall md entered a room opposite
the one in Nbich Miss Summers waa. What
was said by Coe IL not known But short
time elapsed, however, probably two minutes.
from the time the door WIS closed upon his
1et1eahng form, before the Professor waa
startled By scream from the young lady, and
be Immediately ran to the door and kicked it
open He was met ut the door by liz. G1ie9s,
the owner Of the house, who was also It.
tsacted by the screams, and, On entering,
found the unfortunate young lady lying upon
the floor dead, and welteripg in her gore, and
the hend Coo calmly standing BY the PROS
trste form OF the victim whom he hid 80 foul1y
murdered.
It was but the work Of an instant to throttle
the murderer, who stood there 10 stolidly, and
Professor Watkins caught him and threw him
to the door, and there he lay, Limp and quiet
nsver Offering the least sign Of resistance
The body OF Abbie Was picked up. and four
wounds were found inflicted upon it, one In
front cutting the flesh on her breast ard ann;
and the others in her back The murderer hsd
evidently struck at her breast first and failed,
and frightened, the terrified girl had Started 70
Zee the room, when sle hAd been pursued and
cut down BY his cruel band A. ene ~ nee.ne-
tix inch 6lade, was found fastened in her back,
bayin9 entered and severed the spinal column,
and offended through the body to the heart.
Professor WAtkiua withdrew the Instrument OF
whom it, In the ha11da Of the sssaaain, had cut
down in the bloom Of her youth and useful
ness. The rpom presented bloody sight the
CRIMSON gore saturated the carpet, and hsd
spotted the ceiling With it's scarlet tiuee, hAv-
ing been hurled there from the knife that WAS
Withdrawn dripping and wreaking NTH the
vital duid as it was quickly made ready for
another plunge into the lovely form OF Abbie
Summers.
These are all tho particulars as Wa learned
them.
The murderer was taken charga of by the
city authorities and confined in the county jail
At Bowling Green, whore he will ronaaln until
the day OF trial.
The body Of the murdered victim was imme-
dizteIy taken charga Of by friends and there
were many there who loved the dear girl in
hfe-2nd fobed for it's last home, the grave,
and this morning vas placed on the Harry
made desolate and place Of mourning be-
cause Of beE death
At II o'clock tbs steamer arrived Ut our
levee, bringing upon it the weeping sisters and
mourning friends of the deceased. We ylalted