The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-11

JAMESTOWN, Oct. 4-Special.-Th
community and the entire neighbor-
hood for miles around were startled to-
day by an unaccountable and mysteri-
Gus double tragedy, and as the central
figre in the affair is dead and the
other thought to be dying, the proba-
bility is that the actual facts in the case
will never be fully known.
The Sentinel correspondent, however.
made a thorough investigation of the
affair. and he is satisfied that the fol-
lowing account is strictly accurate:
Last night at o'clock Miss Lille
Majors, a bright, pretty, and vir-
tuous girl, remarked to her mother that
she would go down stairs and wind the
clock. As she did not return her father
grew uneasy and went to find what de-
layed her. He could not see her about
the house and went out into town to
seek her. He soon noticed a horse with
a buggy wandering about aimlessly in
the streets. He recognized it as a liv-
cry rig and took it to the owners. They
said that it had been loaned to Oscar
Darnall a few hours before.
The robe in 1t was bloody.
All night long a Persistent hunt was
made for the young girl, and it was
not until an early hour this morning
that she was brought home with one Of
her teeth shot out of her mouth and
three ugly wounds in the neck. She
was excited and nervous and hesitated
about talking about the matter.
Finally she told her parents that Oar
nall had asked her to take short ride
with him. She consented. He had not
gone far before he began to take lib
critics with her. and although she had
fought desperately in defense of her
honor. he had succeeded in violating her
person. Then he had taken her to his
unole's, John Ashley, and deserted her.
Mr. Ahsley says that DarnaN APP
peared at his house early this morning
with the girl He told his uncle that
he and Miss Majors had been taking a
buggy ride when they were attacked by
hoodlums who finally shot at them, but
that only one ball had taken effect and
that had struck Miss Majors; that they
were knocked out Of the buggy and that
the horse had run back to jamestown.
He asked the loan of Ashley's buggy to
take Miss Majors home. and the buggy
was promptly furnished.
Mr.. Ashley told Darnall that he had
evidently got into some trouble and that
he must take the young lady home and
then 60 and tell his father all about it.
Darnan and the young lady started to
jamestown in the carriage, but had only
gone a few yards when Darnall said:
at must go back and get my rubbers."
He then disappeared. After waiting
some time Ashley's hired man said:
ut is no use waiting for him. He has
been in some scrape and is now going to
skip out"
A shot was heard soon atferward in
the vicinity and Mr.. Ashley's fears were
aroused, but the hired man allayed them,
saying:
'oh. he is only shooting off his pistol
for fun
Mr. Ashley then told the hired man
to drive Miss Major home, which he did.
An hour or two later the tenants on
DarnalIs fathers farm were looking
after a hog that had strayed away, and
they went to a strawstack, thinking that
IL had burrowed under the straw.
There a CHASTITY sight paralyZed them
for time.
Young Darnal was found partly on
the ground and partly leaning back upon
the straw. A pistol was in his lap and
a bullet in his head.
He was dead
Darnall had evidently premeditated a
portion of the terrible program, as he
told one or two Of his friends last night
that he intended to assault Miss Majors.
Mr.. Majors told Darnall a short time
ago that he did not want him to go with
his daughter: that she was too young
and TO keep away from her.
There was no engagement between the
two. Darnall was twenty-five years of
age, rather wild and reckless, and some
say that he was slightly insane. He was
a fine telegraph operator and might
have had steady and remunerative en-
ployment if he had so desired.
DR.. w. S. Heady, a reputable physi-
clan and the family doctor, saw Miss
Majors today and he said that although
she was seriously injured he thought
she would recover. He said the bullet
had lodged at the root of her tongue,
knocking out a tooth in its passage. She