The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-04
POCONOKE'S TRAGEDY.
Details of the Most Remarkable Crime
on Record Shooting Of Ella
Hearn.
A Woman Who Wanted to Marry One of Her
Own Sex-"Come to the Woods

IPocomoke Letter in the Wilmington Dell
Every EVENING"
The sad tragedy of last November, in
which Miss Ella Hearn, a beautiful young
girl, Just blooming into womanhood, lost
her life by the hand of Miss Lille Duer, is
again the paramount matter of interest in
this quaint little Eastern Shore town. Miss
Duer. who gave bail for her appearance at
court, will on Tuesday be summoned before
the grand jury of the county, and over 20
young ladies of the town and neighborhood
have been subpoenaed in the case, which prom
Uses to be one of the most remarkable in the
annals of criminal trials, the circumstances
surrounding it being stranger in many
respects than French romance.
Miss Ella Hearn, the victim, rests
peacefully in the old Episcopal church yard,
her grave, as yet, unmarked save by the green
sod and bunch of roses and sweet violets
placed there this bright spring morning by
the loving hand of an old schoolmate and
friend. Miss Hesrn was originally from Lau-
rel, Del, where she spent most of her youth
full days, and where her pretty face and sweet
ways are remembered by large number of
friends and acquaintance That she was the
fairest and most lovely girl in all the country
about Is the testimony of all who knew her,
and her photographs, which are now pre-
served as interesting mementoes, with
all the defects country artist could make,
warrants one in believing that she was really
beautiful. Somewhat below the medium
height, she possessed slight, graceful but
well-devo oped figure, and there is sweet
smile lingering about the mouth in the pic
lures, which is said to have been habitual to
her. At the time of her death she was scarcely
II. She was girl of high spirits, and was
gay, cheerful and dashIng in her disposition.
She was highly esteemed among her friends
and those who knew her as young girl of
sweet and pure disposition. Although her
education was limited to the requirements
possible at the High School at Newtown, she
was fairly accomplished, without any bril-
liant attainments or pretentions.
MEETING WITH MISS DUER.
For some years during the last of her
school days she had permitted rather than
encouraged growing intimacy with Miss
Lille Duer, whose affection and passion at
last resulted in her death. The families of
the two girls, while very respectable, do not
Hearn, like Mr.. Duer, is well-to do me
-ehanic, and their residences are comfortable
and in some degree pretentiOus. The lines
distinguishing the classes OF society here,
which used to be very closely drawn, have of
late years, and especially since the war, been
somewhat relaxed, and the two girls, while
not belonging to the "old families" mingled
with the best people in town, and were re-
ceived to some extent in the best circles
Miss Lille Duer is about 20 or 81 years of
Ill Al
She is by no means pretty, and somewhat
awkward In her movements, as though her
female habiliments trammeled her, and she
would be better able to get about in male
attire. Her eyes are large and unfiinching;
she meets your gaze with a steady, firm,
somewhat defiant stare. The face is rather
thin and clearly cut, aud her forehead is
strlkingly high and broad. Her thin lips
close tightly which causes the frmness of
her expression to strike the observer at
once. With short and very dark hair parted
at the side, she wears roll at the top OF her
head. Altogether, the face is one which
would not fail to excite interest anywhere.
She talks quite intelligently and with ease,
appears to have entire confidence in herself,
and acts as though she would much prefer to
be man rather than woman. Her init
macy with Miss Hearn began some years
ago, and during last spring and summer the
two girls were constantly together, much
like sisters. Miss Duer appears to have OBJ
tanned mastery over her more womanly
but weaker minded companion, and it was
an affection more mixed with fear than love
that controlled Miss Hearn's actions.
LOVED WOMAN BETTER THAN MAN.
1t seems strange that she could love such
an unsexed being as Miss Duer appears, from
what is told of her, to be. She would smoke
with the sang froid of a Frenchman, and even
was fond of tobacco in its other forms. Her
dresses were always worn short and little
iooH of zith 10
filed with tobacco or hcorice, with boys
hat, which she always tipped when ac-
knowledging salute, composed the most
striking articles of her usual costume.
The young girls with whom she associated
tell numerous stories of her curious lido.
syncrasies. She never cared for the society
of the sterner sex, and would make hot love
like Romeo 20 her female friends Some
times they would laugh these strange tancies
away; at others she would frighten them
with her vehemence and they would run
away from her. She was always mystery,
and young lady who knew her well says
that it was favorite theory of hers that
two women could be quite as happy and get
along quite as we'll married as woman and
man. In all outdoor sports she excelled
all her lady friends, and could jump, shout
and play base ball as web as any young man
in town. She always carried a pistol and
was an expert shot. / have the following
story from a lady who was party to the af
fair, and which illustrates the popularity Of
Miss Duer's character:
DUER WANTS A DUEL
There was reception at one of the coun
try houses near the town at which Miss
Duer was present. Miss Duer was during
the afternoon exhibiting her skill with ths
pistol, when a lady present rather CURLY
SAID that such sport was in no way becominf
8 woman. Miss Duer said nothing at the
time; but the next day wrote challenge te
the fair critic of her target sport, insisting
that the insult should be wiped out in blood
and asking her to name time, place ant
weapons. No notice was taken of the mes
sage, and Miss Duer was about to have tn
lady posted as a coward, strictly according
to the code duello, but was dissuaded by he
friends, and the matter dropped. Afterward