Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-03-18
AFATAL ELoPE MENT.
TWO MEN KILLED, TWO WOUNDED.
The Father Pursues With Two
Neighhors Both Of Whom
Are Slain-The Lover in
Jail Gu ses His Sweet
heart.
Special Dispatch to The Commercial.


from this village to-day, in which
three men were shot, two fatally and
one seriously. The afl'ray grew out
of q love affair between Ezekiah Hen
ry,a young farmer, and Mary Chris
terman, the daughter afa well known
farmer living about eight miles from
here. Two years ago Henry met
Miss Christerman. For year he con-
tinued to pay her attentions, and her
would have married her but for faith
er's opposition. A yearago he order
ed Henry to stop visiting his daugh-
ter. Up to about two weeks ago the
relations of the young people appe; d
to have been at an end, but at that
time the old farmer discovered a boy
in the act Of carrying a note from
Henry to his daughter, in which
Henry notified his lady love that he
had completed prehraations for their
elopement The enraged farmer
sworc he would kill Henry if he ever
caught him and went to his house in
search Of him. Early this afternoon
the young women was missing. A
diligent search was made for her,
but no trace could be found. Upon
her fathers arrival home he was in
formed of her absence and instantly
divinen the cause. lie learned from
a farmer that his daughter and Hen
ry had been seen driving down the
Lebanon road. lie called on two
neighbors named Israel Meyer and
Isaac Swope, TO accompany him, and,
hilehing up light spring wagon, the
trio started in pursuit. About ten
miles from Goldmine they came upon
the cloping couple, who were driving
along very slowly. Christerman call :
ed out to Henry to stop and give up
his daughter. Henry laughed and
lashed his horse into a gallop.
The faster horse of Christerman
made the race between the parties q
brief one. Driving alongside, Christ.
man sprang from the wagon and
grasped llenry's horse by the bride
bringing him to a short stop. lie
then began to abuse Henry in the most
violent terms. AT last Henry sprang
from the carriage and struck the old
farmer. Both men then grappled
and fell, Henry on top Ofhis oppo-
Eent. Henry broke loose sprang W
ran for the carriage and was about
to jump in, when Christerman,' draw
ing large navy revolver, fired point
blank. The bullet grazed Henry,
forehead, inilicting a slight hesl
wound. With an oath Henry pulled
a pistol and discharged it at Christcr
man, the ball stricking him in tht
leg. The old farmer fell, and as Hen
ry turned Moyer and Swope, VIII,
had been passive spectators, jumped
y out of the wagon and ran toward
Henry, who then fired twice at Moy
er. One bullet struck Meyer in tn
shoulder and another in the side, il
close proximity of the heart. A
Moyer fell Swope fired at Henri
which took effect in his left arm
After firing Swope turned and raj
toward the brush, As he di
Henry fired another shot, striking
Swope in tho back, Swope continue,
running for few yards when Henr,
emptied the last chamber of his re
volver the bullet taking effect il
Swope's left shoulder. Swope fe
among the brush and Henry jumpe
into the carriage and drove rapid
toward Lebanon.
During the shooting Miss Christel
., man had jumped out of the carriag
and sprang to the side other wounde
father, who cursed her and attempte
to drive her away, She says Henr
did not ask her to accompany hil
after the shooting, and that he swor
at her for being the cause of tn
trouble.
The shouts and cries of the wount
4 ell farmers soon brought assistanc,
and the four actors in the affray wei
driven to Christerman's home, whel
physician dressed their numeror
wounds. He pronounced the inju
les of Swope and Meyer as fata
Christerman's leg was found to
broken, the bone having been sha
tered by the pistol ball Pursuit W.
at once instituted.
Henry was captured and brougl
back, and was taken before a Justit
: and held to await the result of til
injuries inflicted. AT last accoun
Swopc andMoyer,were said to be RAJ
II, idly sinking. A bitter feeling againl
's. Henry is spreading. He is an evi
looking man, twenty-five years oil
= Miss Christerman is tall, tinc-lool
- ing girl of about nineteen years bl
like Henry, is very ignorant. Sh
= said that her father had no right
> interfere in their love affairs, an
when told her lover would be col
victed of murder she went into hy
terics and raved like one insane. NJ
3. yer and Swope are two respectful
farmers. Threats of lynching W.,
r. made, but as he hss friends his safe
III is assured.
to -..----...
A self-acting sofa, just large enouI
for two, has been invented. If pro
erly wound up if will begin to ring
warning bell just before 10 o'colc
At l00l IL snlits ahart and while m