Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-14
AT PISTOLS POINT
A Memphis Woman Trifs to Per.
suads a Doctor to Marry Her.
AwEALTHY CHICAGO MAN oNAsPRE
ln St. Louis Meets a Girl, Falls in Love
at First Sight, Gets Married,
and Now He Wants
Divorce.

MEMPHIS, Tenn May Is quite senSi.
ton was created yesterday at noon BY Mrs
Ella Ennis, handsome widow OF about
thirty years OF age, who went into the
Office of DR.. H. ". Purnel, well.known
physician in this city, and demanded OF
him that he should at once proceed to the
County Court Clerks office and procure a
license to marry her, as he $50 she alleges
had promised to do. This demand was
backed up by navy six.shooter, which
the woman held in threatening manner
DR.. Purnell had no alternative but to
Accede 10 the Demand.
He however. discreetly sent friesd who
was in the Office and witnessed the affair
10 notify the police to be on hand at the
Clerks Office. Mrs. Ennis followed the
Doctor up Main street towards the Court
House, where the Clerks Office is located.
She Kept about six feet behind him, and
with a handkerchief, her trusty weapon.
On arriving at the Clerks office, Detectives
Pryde and McCune, who had been sent in
post-haste to the scene, siezed her hands
and wrested from her the pistol. She at
once realized the trap that had been laid
for her, but
Boldly Demanded OF the Doctor
to fulfill his promise, saying: You have
wronged me and must marry me- Pro-
tected as he was by the officers. DR.. Purnell
declined TO go any further in the matrlmo-
nial way, but was himself taken under ar
rest, as he, too, had pistol upon his per.
son. The tive were soon after admitted to
bail in the sum of $500 each to answer the
charge of carrying concealed weapons.
While going to the station house Mrs. Ennis
told Detective Pryde that pr, Purnell
might just as well lie today, as she in.
tended 10 kill him il ii was the last act OF
her life. The cause OF this little episode
in the hitherto peaceful career OF the lady.
is alleged by her TO have been due to the
failure Of the doctor TO keep
His Pledge OF Marriage with Her.
which dates back to last September. At
that time DR.. Purnell left the city. nut was
followed by the lady to Denver. He, how
ever, succeeded in eluding her. She after
ward found him in New Orleans. and
brought the subject matter to a crisis 10.
day in the manner mentioned. She has
been widow for five years, her husband
having died during the epidemic of ln5S.
She has some property, besides about s. 900
in bonds. The doctor and his friends claim
him TO be the victim OF either crazy or
designing woman. 1t isknown that several
days ago she went to bis Office
Armed With Two PistoIs.
and made the same demand of him as was
made to day. On that occasion the doctor
displayed more courage and quietly dis.
armed her.
Mrs. Ennis has four children and has
always borne good reputation. The es-
capade of to-day has set the gossips going
and there is a general feeling of sympathy
for the woman. 1t is understood tonight
that the affair will not be prosecuted, but
be permitted to disappear from public gaze
Mrs. Ennis, however, has two brothers
residing here, and in all probability they
will see that justice is done her.