Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-27
A SHOCKING AFFAIR.
The Chico Elopement Ends
in a Tragedy.
THE JILTED LOVERS REVENGE.
Raymond Bierce Shoots His False
Atfiancee, Her Husband, and
Kills Himself.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERAL1

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
CHICO, CAL, July 26.-The elopement
case of Neil Hubbs and Miss Eva Atkins
eliminated in a tragedy this afternoon.
Hubbs and wife were preparing to make
Mrs. Barney, Mrs. Hubbs' mother,
a visit this afternoon, as she had forgiven
them, and invited them to visit her.
Raymond Bierce, the young man who
was to have married the girl the night
after her elopement, and who is the son
of the widely known San Francisco
journalist, Ambrose Bierce, heard of the
proposed visit and
WENT AHEAD TO THE HOUSE
Stating to Mrs. Barney that he was sick
and wanted to lie down. He laid down in
bedroom next to the parlor. On the
arrival of Hubbs and ife Bierce stepped
out of the room and said: "You are
happy-looking married couple" Then
he walked back into the bedroom, clos
ing the door. Hubbs drew a pistol,
holding it at his side. Bierce threw
open the door and fired, the bullet strik.
ing Hubbs, who fell to the floor, return
ing the fire.
FOUR SHOTS APIECE WERE FIRED,
when Hubbs got up and ran outside.
Bierce locked the door and seized Mrs.
Hubbs. Mrs. Barney grabbed Bierce
and was thrown to the floor. He
then placed the revolver to Mrs. Hubbs'
head and shot. She screamed and fell to
the floor. Hubbs broke in the door,
fired another shot at Bierce, grabbed
him by the throat and hammered him
over the head with his revolver. They
fought for about ten minutes, when
BIERCE FELL TO THE FLOOR.
Hubbs picked up his wife and carried
heI to neighbours house. Bierce drag
ged himself to the bedroom, covered his
head with cloth saturated with chloro-
form. placed his pistol to his right
temple, and shot himself His brains
were scattered over the counterpane. He
died an hour and half later. He had
received several bullets in his body dur
ing the fray. Hubbs was shot through
the abdomen, the bullet penetrating the
spleen. His recovery is extremely doubt
full. Mrs Hubhs was hit behind the right
ear; the bullet struck the skull and
plowed its way round the head. Her
wound is severe but not dangerous.
The room where the fighting took place
presented
A HORRIBLE SPECTACLE.
The walls are spattered with blood;
the furniture was turned over and
broken, and large pools of blood covered
the floor. Berce lay on the bed with
hcle in his head, from which the brains
issued. The revolver was still in his
hand. Neighbors have charge of Hubbs
and wife, and the town is in furore OF
excitement over the tragedy. Bierce's
father has been sent for. Hubbs' parents
reside in Stockton. The couple, on their
elopement, left here for that place, where
the wedding ceremony was performed.
MRS BARNEY COULD HAVE PREVENTED IT.
Coroner Bay has taken charge of the
body of Raymond Bierce, and will hold
an inquest tomorrow.
Mrs. Barney was placed under arrest
this evening, tu await the findings of the
Coroner's jury. People seem to think
she could have prevented the sad affair
had she warned Hubbs and his wife that
Bierce was in the house. 1t transpires
that Bierce left here Wednesday night,
going as far as Sacramento, and return
ing last night. 1t is said that he had
made threats to shoot the couple il
they returned to Mrs. Barney's. They
were met by a friend and warned.
Bierce told Mrs. Barney that if anything
should happen to him to promptly tele-
graph to his father, who was on San
Francisco paper.
HUBBs' CHANCES ARE DESPERATE.
DIR. Rodley has probed three times for
the bullet in Hubbs, but has failed to
locate it. He says Hubbs' chance for
recovery is one in ten.
STOCKTON, CAL, July 26.-Neil Hubbs
is son Of Paul Hubbs, proprietor of the
Wayside House at French Camp, four
miles from here, on the county road to
Lathrop. The couple came directly here
from Chico, procured a marriag
license and drove to French Camp,
where they were married by Justice of
the Peace, and visited his family for sew
eral days.