The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-04

closely about her throat and black neck
scarf Of lace, held together by gold chain,
rather short, displaying pair of rather large
feet as far as the ankle. It seemed to be i'm
possible that this woman before me could
have deliberately, without any stronger
cause than q refusal to accompany her in q
walk, shoot her most intimate friend to
death.
PISTOL ARGUMENT.
The tragedy occurred on the 9TH of No
vember last. The professed friendship of
Miss Duer had become very unpleasant to
Miss Hearn, and every effort was made to
break off the acquaintance. Miss Duer
chafed at this, and would frequently upbraid
her dearest FRIEND for the GOODNESS of her
manner and the evident weakness of her
affection. The truth was that Miss Hearn
had reason to fear that her life was not safe
with her. Upon one occasion while the two
girls were in the woods gathering fallen
leaves for decorative purposes, Miss Hearn
started home some distance ahead OF her
companion, when she called upon her to
wait Not obtaining instant obedience to
her somewhat abrupt command she called
again quite sharply. The second summons
was not needed, when, without warning
Miss Duer pulled out her pistol and shot
twice directly at the now thoroughly fright
ened girl. When asked why she shot, the
only reply was that if she had not halted
then the next shot would have been more
WANTED TO MARRY MISS HEARN.
From that time Miss Hearn began to be
seriously alarmed when in company with her
friend, and on one occasion it is related
when she, with strange vehemence, asked
Miss Hearn if she did not love her, and
went so far as to actually propose that they
should get married. she fed from the parlor,
where they had been talking, and locked
herself in her room These little difficulties
nall nd <l,a
intimacy was renewed, but not so warmly as
before. Miss Duer was constantly complain
ing that "her passionate love was not
returned" and signing over her slost hopes
of bliss with her dearest friend when they
would be always together" There was
young man of the town. who, about this
time, began to pay marked attention to
Miss Hearn, about which Miss Deur
demonstrated with her in the most passion
ate manner, telling her that she would
shoot the man that took her friend from her.
A Miss Foster was also friend whom Miss
Hearn was very fond of, ana the two began
to be very close friends. La the morning of
the 4th of November Miss Foster and Miss
Hearn had taken a walk together, and upon
her return home she found note from Miss
Duer requesting her to call at her house, as
she wished to see her urgently. Late in the
afternoon she went with her little sister,
and when the two met Miss Duer asked Miss
Hearn to take a walk with her the next day
| in the woods. With the fear of possible
repetition of the former shooting IN her
mind, she very decidedly refused. This
appeared to arouse all the fire of jealousy OF
Miss Duer's nature, and she passionately and
upon her knees begged that her request
might be complied with, but in vain.
LILLE SHOOTS ELLA.
The next day, at an early hour, Miss Duer
called at Miss Hearn's house and was shown
into the sitting room, where the latter was
sitting with her mother. The conversation
that occurred in the room was of general
nature, and nothing was said there of the
walk. When Miss Duer was about to go Mrs.
Hearn requested her daughter to accompany
her to the door, and the two girls passed out
in the passage. After q few minutes had
elapsed shot was heard, and Miss Hearn
rushed back in the room with the blood
streaming from pistol shot in the mouth.
She was Immediately placed under medical
| treatment, when it was discovered that the
ball had entered the mouth and lodged about
an inch deep near the right upper jaw. Miss
Duer had followed her in with smoking
/ pistol in her hand, but did not re-
main long. A young man named Clark was
near the house and heard the shot, and when
| he appeared Miss Hearn was lying upon the
sofa in the sitting room, while Miss Duer, in
frantic manner, was rushing about. crying
wildly, Il have shot her; On. my God, she
will die" Miss Hearn lived long time
between life and death, being at times delir-
ious and raving. She would hold up her
right arm before her face in her moments OF
mental arrangements, calling out nervously:
"Lillie, don't shoot; please don't sho)t me;
/ will go with you and always love you. -
| The arms had been bandaged on account of a
severe burn, supposed to have been caused
J by the flash of powder when she was shot
/ Much has been said and written abou
what really occurred at the ii me of the
shooting.
STATEMENT OF ELIAS FATHER.
The following testimony of Mr.. Hearn be
fore the coroner's ing uest throws some ligh
upon it: On the afternoon Of Tuesday atte
the shooting, he asked his daughter il the
shooting was accidental; she declined t.
answer; the next day he asked her again
she again declined, and turning away began
to weep bitterly. A few days afterward sh,
| voluntarily said that she followed Miss Due
! to the door, where Miss Duer accused her o
| loving Miss Ella Foster better than she did
her. Miss Duer trled to kiss witness daugh
ter, and in doing so fell, and then Jumped
to ber feet in an excited manner ana fired
Ella said she did not expect to recover, ana
therefore wished witness to know the cir
cumstances.
The following statement of the oircum
stances comes from lady well known here
and who attended Miss Hearn during he
illness. The story has never been told before
with so much fullness as coming from Mis-
Hearn herself, and will be repeated befor
the grand jury of the county for tde first
time. During long lucid interval Mis-
Hearn talked to the lady good deal abou
the shooting, and related how it all cam
about
A TRAGIC GOODBYE AT THE DOOR.
AS soon as the door of the sitting room hs
been closed Miss Duer, turning about locke
at her intensely for moment, and SAID
ELLA, why will you not walk out with me
Do you not love me?' "Oh. yes L low
you said Miss Hearn, "but am afraid G
you" do you love Mr." To this que,
ton she received no reply, when she becam
very much excited. and spoke again quickly
do you love Miss Foster better than you d
mer' The answer was, "Yss!" This az
, peared to terribly excite Miss Duer, an
she rushed wildly about in a terrible sta,
7 of excitement. Don't say that, Ellf