Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-03-15
SAD END OF AN ELOPEMENT.
THE MAN KILLS THE GIRL
AND HIMSELF.


9th, Daniel McIachlan aged 22,
killed Cora Carnahan, aged l3,
and then committed suicide. The
pair eloped Sunday night fron
Paw Paw, H., and had weary
time eluding detectives. Mciach.
Ian was a blacksmith, and the girl
a daughter Of a weIl.to.dO hotel
keeper.
Just AT dark Sunday night the
girls mother saw hef 20 ont the
back door of the house All | lisap-
pear into the darkness. The haste
she made caused suspicion, and an
alarm was gwen aud several par
ties started in search of her, bat
owing to tue 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 town. He
had led her through a corn Geld for
some distance in which the mud
and water was aim st knee deep.
After crossing the corn field they
turned to the east until they reach.
ed the railroad track, which they
followed, going south to EarlvilIe.
The trip thus far made an eleven.
mile walk over slippery and mud
dy track full of bridges aud pits on
dark and ioggy night. Tue pro-
lection for the girls feet was a pair
of fine shoes, with high heels, and
on this account the footprints as
far as E4rIyille were easily traced.
On the last end of the journey the
tracks indicated that the girl was
much tatigued. The little traveller
had stumbled and staggered from
side to side on the track.
1t seems that the young couple
reached the farmhouse of Albert
Philips, about six miles southeast
OF Earlville, Tuesday night, aud
applied for shelter. The place is
now occupied by Elmer Davis, a
young married man. He was we'll
acquainted with McLachlan, and
having been to Earlvllle the same
day the couple came to bis place,
/ it is the belief that he knew of the
eIopement. DAVIS claims, however,
that McLachlan 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
Wednesday evening shortly after
supper, saying they were tired
Soon after the report of revolver
was heard, and Immediately Phil
lips made for the room upstairs oc-
cupied By the young couple. Be-
fore he reached it another report
was heard, and upon his reaching
the room horrible sight was pre-
sented to view. McLachlan and
the Girl were both in the bed dead
The young man had evidently put
the weapon back Of the girls eaT
aud sent a bullet into her head
Not satisfied with one shot he
again placed the weapon to bel
temple and discharged it. lie
then shot himself IN the crown oI
the head, the bullet coming out IN
der the chin. The handsome little
girl had evidently died without q
struggle. The expression on heI
face was calm and peaceful. The
tragic end of the couple is in &C
cordance with the note the young
girl left IN her trunk before leaving
home. The note was as follows;
"Dear Mama: BY the time yor
read this | will be in my grave"
A short time previous to the
eiopement the parents discovered
that Cora was deeply infatuated
with McLachlan, and they strenu
ously opposed all intercourse, buI
by the assistance of Gilbert Still,
regular correspondence was secret
~ carried on, and claDdestine meet
lDgs held. Young Still is how un
der arrest. The coroner will hole
an inquest, and some startling
facts will probably be revealed. /
was thought that McLachlan ha'
taken the girl to Chicago, and Mr.
Carnahan went to Earlville and Sc
cured the services Of detectives t
find the missing daughter. liz
FIRST heard of her fate Thursda!
morning and at once went to TN
scene of the tragedy.