The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-31
A ROMANTIC GIRLS ELoPEMENT.
The Deserted Lover Revenges Himself in
q Very Sanguinary Manner.

CHICO. Cal, July 26-An elopement which
occurred here a few days ago eliminated in a
tragedy this afternoon. The wedding was to
have taken place last Monday between young
man named Raymond Bierce, son of San
Francisco journalist, and Miss Eva Adkins,
beautiful young lady seventeen years of age.
Bierce's most intimate friend was a handsome
young man named Neil Hubbs, and he was to
have acted best at the wedding cere-
mOny. The day before the marriage was to
occur Miss Adkins left her home and went to q
neighboring town with Hubbs. where the couple
were married. They returned here next day,
and this morning prepared to make a call
upon the brides mother, Mrs Barney.
Bierce heard of the intended visit
and went to Mrs. Barney's house before them.
When Hubbs and his wife arrived he entered
the parlOr and fired At Hubbs with a revolver.
Hubs fell to the floor, but also drew a reyOl-
yer and fired. Four shots apiece were fired,
when Hubbs ran out OF the room. Bierce then
placed the revolver to Mrs. Hubbs' head and
fired, intiicting a severe but not dangerous
wound. Hubbs re-entered the room and beat
Bierce to the floor with his revolver. Bierce
hen dragged himself into an adjoining room,
paced the pistol to his head and blew his
rains out. He lived about an hour and a half.
l!e also received two bullets in the body, and
ilubbS was shot through the abdomen, the ball
penetrating the spleen. His recovery is doubt
ful.
Later investigation shows that when young
Bierce heard of the couples intended
visit to Mrs. Barney, he went quickly
to the house. of the latter stated he was
i'll, and asked TO lie down on
the bed just off from the parlor.
He had evidently been running, and as he ap-
peared quite exhausted, he was at once shown
to the bedroom. In this he remained until
Hubbs and his wife had taken seats in the
parlor. Mrs. Barney had set her heart on the
marriage other daughter to Bierce, and when the
elOpement and marriage to Hubbs took place
she expressed the wish never 70 see her daugh-
ter In her house again. In a day or two, how
ever, she relented and invited the couple
home. 1t was in response to her invitation
that the couple called to-day, this being
their first visit. After O few words had
been spoken, Berce stepped into the parlor,
spoke formal word or two, then said: you
area happy looking welded couple" and re-
tired again to the bedroom. Hubbs suspected
trouble. and drew his pistol, holding it at his
side. Bierce then opened the door again and
the shooting occurred as stated above.
The room where the fighting took place pre-
sented a horrible spectacle. The walls were
spattered with blood. the furniture turned
over and broken and large pools of blood
covered the floor. Miss Adkins is Mrs. Bar
ney's daughter by her first husband. She
graduated from the high school here a few
months since. Bierce has been employed on a
newspaper at Red Bluff until lately.
Mrs. Barney was placed under arrest tonight
on suspicion of being implicated in, or having
previous knowledge of the plot Of Bierce
against Hubbs