The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-11
DEATH AND MARRIAGE.
An Awful Sequel to an Elopement-The
Bridegroom and Two Men Killed.

Atlanta Special.
A terrible tragedy, in which three men were
mortally wounded, occurred here after dark to-
night. The parties were John and Matthew
Maxwell, father and son, and John r. Shelton,
who had eloped with and married Miss Ida Max
we'll. Mr. John Maxwell is highly respectable
citizen, living at No. l, Elliott street His son
Matthew is well-known carriage manufacturers
Mr.. Maxwell has three comedy daughters aged
fifteen, sixteen and nineteen. The second, aged
sixteen, Miss Ida, has been quite a belle, having
host of admirers. Among them was one John
H. Shelton, young man OF good family, but
careless habits, whose visits were forbidden by
the girls father. Nevertheless they contrived
to meet secretly and pledged their love.
A o'clock this afternoon gentleman ap-
preached Mr. Mathew MAXWELL, and told him
that his sister and Shelton had planned an
elopement, and that the appointed time was half
past o'clock. Hurrying home young Maxwell
rushed up to the second-story room, which his
sister occupied, and demanded admittance, which
was refused. With terrible kick he burst it
open, and found there Miss Ida, already dressed
fer the escapade.
''My God sister, he exclaimed, ''you will not
disgrace the family by such a proceeding as
thisq"
Il will marry John, she replied, 'if have to
Gle Ia the attempt 1t is useless for you to try
and prevent it"
In vain the brother expostulated. The girl re-
manned obdurate. He then went out, locked the
door and left her a prisoner, and went to his
room Returning in ton minutes he opened
the door ard found the room empty 1t soon
developed that the girl. finding herself impris
oned, opened the window, jumped to the roof
below, fifteen feet, and thence to the ground be-
low, another fifteen feet; thence her tracks were
followed to a side alley, where new-made car
riage tracks told that she had reached her lover
and was away
By this time the elder Maxwell was upon the
scene. The two men were fearfuly agtated
They went into the house, and at 6 o'clock,
armed to the teeth, emerged and proceeded to
Davis street, whittier Shelton had taken his
bride after having been married by Rev. Virgil
Norcross. Several clergymen had previously
refused to perform the ceremony. The two
furious men went up to Shelton's door Shelton
was standing on the threshold with a Ratchet.
Damn you," exclaimed the elder Maxwell, II
will shoot you to death unless you give up my
daughter"
DO not come near me-" shouted Shelton,
raising the Ratchet and advancing.
just then the younger Maxwell, seeing his
fathers danger, stepped in between and received
the cleave from the tomahawk Dropping the
bloody instrument. Shelton then drew his pistol
and fired at the elder Maxwell. simultaneously
Maxwell also fred and all three men fell across
each other wounded and bleeding The girl
who had been the cause of all this bloody work,
rushed out upon the scene and embraced her
dying husband, calling him by endearing names
while her father and brother lay neglected.
In five minutes hundreds of people had collect
ed, and officers came and had the men removed
Shelton and young Maxwell will certainly die,
while the death or the old man is highly proba-
BILE.
just month ago Matthew Maxwell was him.
self the hero of an elopement scrape. A young
lady engaged to another, with the day set
eloped with him the night before. The excite
ment is intense.