Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-12-19
A TERRIBLE
A Galloway County Girl Shoots
and Kills Her Fathers
Farm Hand.

A terrible tragedy was enacted
five miles below Barkersville, in
Galloway county, Monday, which
resulted in the instant death of
Julius Hopper, a German, 26 years
of age, whose home is in Cole
county, ssat the hands of a young
lady, Miss Louisa Epperson. The
story OF the tragedy is told by a
young brother of the deceased,
who witnessed the shooting. The
girls father, Abraham Fpperson,
owns a large stock farm and en-
ploys considerable help. The de.
ceased and his brother, together
with several negroes, have lately
been employed on the farm. Sun
day evening Phillip Akerson, the
son of a neighborlng farmer. called
on Miss Epperson and spent some
time in her company. The de-
ceased commenced tormenting the
girl about her beau and made some
remark at which she took great Of
Tense, and warned him if it was
repeated she would kill him. Hop
per promised to say nothing more
about the matter, but at dinner
time he commenced again in
the presence of the girl. She
quickly went into another room and
returned with a revolver. No one
was aware that she had a weapon,
or even thought that she seriously
intended to carry out her threat.
In ignorance of his peril, Hopper
continued to use the language
which offended the girl, and with
out a seconds warning she raised
the pistol and fired. One of the
negro hands grabbed her arm, but
too late. Hopper vas in the act of
taking a bite of meat when the fatal
shot was fired. The bullet struck
just above the right ear. The
brother of the dead man fled from
the house at once, and after notify
ing a Justice of the Peace and some
neighbors, started to Jefferson City
on foot. He arrived there late
Monday evening and was nearly
crazy. The deceased was 26 years
old and unmarried. The young
lady is 10 years old and bears an
excellent name. Her father is a
prominent farmer, well known and
highly respected. 1t is believed
that the girl thought that Hopper
was attacking her character, and
hence committed the deed.
A special dispatch from Fulton
gives another version of the mur.
der, as follows:
MIR. and Mrs. A. B. Epperson, OF
Barkersviile, this county, came to
Fulton Monday, leaving their 10.
year-old daughter in charge of the
house in their absence. Two
Swedes, who were employed about
the place as farm hands, attempted
an assault upon the daughter. She
noticed their suspicious actions,
and when they appeared at the
house and questioned her about
some trifes she carefully noted the
position of q shotgun in the room.
| They entered the house and began
taking liberties with her, which
she promptly resented. They con-
tinued their conduct and finally
laid hold of the badly frightened
girl. Breaking away from them
she seized the loaded shotgun, and,
taking aim, fred q load of heavy
shot at one of her ASSISTANTS, kill
ing him instantly, whereupon his
companion fed. Excitement is
very high, and it is feared that
summary justice will be inflicted
upon the surviving party to the
crime. At present M trace of him
can be found. Mr.. Epperson. the
father of the girl. is a well-to-do
farmer, and enjoys the highest re-
spect of his neighbors. who unite
in praising the conduct of his
daughter.
Elder D.. NJ Grandfeld, who is
foy.1 he aao - .-l