The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-14
A TRAGEDY.
Horrible Denouemeu at of an EIope-
ment From the Town of
Paw-Paw, Illinois.
A Lotharlo Abducts q Little
Girl, Then Shoots Her and
Kills Himself.

CHICAGO, March THE Evening Jour
nails special from PawPsw, ILL.,, says an
elopement which threw this community
into excitement last Monday morning has
ended in tragedy as horrible and shock
ing as any that the Oldest citizens remem-
Der for years. 1t was regarded as an ab-
duction rather than an elopement, owing
to. the extremely tender age of the girl
and the unenviable reputation of the
Lothario who abducted her. Last Monday
night Cora Carnahan, the 16-year-old
daughter of the landlord of the Delam
house, disappeared from her home and it
became noised abroad she had fled with
young fellow named McLochlin, who was
notorious for his evil conduct among wo-
men.
To-day the abductor and his child VIC
tim are corpses, the supposition being
that McLochlin first took the girls life
and then his own with the same weapon
probably heavy revolver.
just at dark Monday night the girls
mother saw her go 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. Next morning the discovery
was made by tracks in the mud that the
girl and her abductor had gone north out
of the town. He had led her
through cornfeld for some dis
tance in which the mud and water
were almost knee deep. After crossing
the cornfield they turned to the east until
they reached the railroad track, which
they followed going south to Earlville.
The trip thus far made was eleven miles
walk over slippery, muddy track, full of
bridges and pits on dark and foggy
night
The only protection of the girls feet
was pair of fine shoes with heels, aGd
on this account the footprints as far as
Earlville were easily traced. On the last
part of the Journey the little girl was
much fstlgued. The little walker had
stumbled and staggered from side to side
on the track
AV ~" eCOuo buS JOuuR SOuplo IcdCnou
the farm house of Albert Williams, six
miles east of Earlville, Thursday night,
and applied for shelter. The place is,now
occupied by Elmer Davis, young married
man. He is well acquainted with Nc
Lochlin, and, having been to Earlville the
same day the couple came to his place,
asked him if he knew of the eopement.
Davis claims, however, that McLochlin
said they were married couple, and
stopped at the place Tuesday night and
occupied the same room. They remained
closely confined in the house all day.
They retired early Wednesday evening
shortly after supper, claiming they were
only tired.
They retired at about o'clock, and
shortly afterward the report of a revolver
was heard, and Immediately man named
Phillips made for the room up stairs
occupied by the young couple. Before
he reached it another report was heard,
and upon reaching the room horrible
sight was presented to view. McLocklin
and the little girl were both dead.
They had undressed aud got into bed.
The young man had evidently put the
weapon back of the girls ear and
sent bullet through her head.
Not satisfied with the first 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 under the chin. The hand
some little girl had evidently died without
struggle. The expression on her face
was calm and peaceful. The tragic end
of the couple is, in accordance, pre-
concerted arrangement. The young girl
left in her trunk before leaving home a
note as follows:
"Dear Mamma-By the time you read
this 1 will be in the grave"
short time previous to the elopement
the parents discovered that Cora was
deeplp infatuated with McLochlin and
they strenuously opposed all intercourse,
but, by the assistance of Gilbert Still a
regular correspondence was secretly car
ried on aud meetings. held. Young Still
is now under arrest. The coroner will
hold an inquest over the bodies to-day,
and some startling facts will probably be
revealed. 1t was found McLochlin had
brought the girl to Chicago,and Mr.. Oarna-
han secured detectives to find his missing
daughter. He first heard of her fate this
morning, and at once lef for the scene of
nAry