The Indiana State sentinel., 1889-03-13
A YOUNG GIRLS INFATuATIoN.
She ElOped With tho Man She Loved, whS
Murdered Her and Killed Himself.

nuTueFcu her anu hlllcU nimheits
PAW PAW. H., March THE elopement
which threw this community into high state
OF excitement last Monday NOR IS ended
ended in a tragedy as horrible t-.,I shocking as
any that the place can remember for years. 1t
was regarded as an abduction rather than an
eIopement, owing to the extremely tender age
OF the girl and the unenviable reputation of
the man with whom she fled. Last Sunday
night Cora Carnahan, the sixteen-year-old
daughter of the landlord OF the Detainoe house,
disappeared from her home and it became
noised abroad tnat she had fed with young
fellow named McLachlin, who was notorious
for his evil conduct among women. To-day the
abductor and his child victim are cOrpses, the
supposition being that McLachlin first took
the girls life and then his own with the same
Weapon-a heavy revolver
Just at dark Sunday night the girls mother
saw her 90 out of the back door OF the house
and disappear into the darkness. The haste
she made caused suspicion and an alarm was
given and several parties started in search Of
her, but owing to the intense darkness OF the
night she made her escape. The next
morning the discovery was, made
by tracks in the mud that
the child and her abductor had gone north out
of the town. lie had led her through a corn
field for some distance, in which the mud and
water was almost knee-deep. After crossing
the cOrn-held they turned tn the east until
they reached tine railroad track, which they
followed, going sOuth TO Earlvilie. The trip
thus far was an eleven-mjle walk over a slip
perry and muddy track, full OF bridges and pits,
on a dark and fOggy night The only pTotec-
tlOn for the girls feet was a pair oi fine shoes
with high heels, and on this account the loot
prints as far a Earlviile were easily tr1iled.
On the last end of the jour ey the tracks iudi-
Gated that the litIle girl was much fatigued, she
having stumbled and staggered from side 20
side on the track.
1t now seems that the young couple reached
TIE farmhouse of Alber. Phillips, about six
miles southeast of Earlville, Tuesday night and
applied for shelter. The place is now occupied
by Elmer Davis, young married man. lie Is
well Gcquai4 ed with McLachlin and having
been TO Earlville the same day the couple
came to his place, it is. the belief
Davis claims, however, that McLachlin said
they were married. The couple stayed at the
place Tuesday night and occupied the same
room. They remained closely confined in the
house all day Wednesday. They retired early
wednesday evening, shortly after supper.
claiming they were very tired. This was about
Z O'Clock, nd shortly afterward the report of a
revolver was heard, and Immediately d.. Wis
made fOr the room upstairs occupied by the
yourg couple. Before he reached ii another
report was heard, and upon reaching the room
c horrible sight was presented to view Nc
Lachlin and the young girl were both dead.
They had undresseG and got into bed. The
young nau had evidently put the weapon back
of the girls and sent bullet into her head.
Not satisfied with one shot, he again placed the
weapon TO her temple and discharged it. He
then shot himself in the crown of the head the
bullet coming out dnder the chin. The hand
some little girl had evidently died without a
struggle. The expression on her face was calm
and peaceful.
The tragic end of the couple is in accordance
with the note the young girl left in her trunk
before leaving home. The note was as follows:
Dear Mamma-"By the time you read this
viii be in my grave"
A short time previous to tle elopement the
parents discovered that Cora was deeply in
fatuated with McLachlin, and they strenuously
opposed all intercourse, but by the assistance
Of Gilbert Still, mutual friend, q regular cor
respondence was carried on and clandestine
meetings held. Young Still is now under ar
rest. The coroner will hold an inquest over
the bodies to-day, and some startling facts viii
probably be revealed. 1t was thought that
McLachlin had taken the girl to Chicago, and
Mr.. Carnahan went there and secured the SER
vices of detectives to find hIs missing daughter
He frs, heard of her fate in that city this
morning, and at once left for the scene of the
tragedy.