The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-31
TWO BROTHERS SHOT DEAD.
Result of Terrible Duel With Winchcs.
ters on Florida lnke-A Guilty Wo.
mans Love.


tiers on q Florida Lnke-A Guilty Wo.
mans Love.
Tallahassee, Fla, July SO.-Because
OF wOman's sins two men are lying
dead in the southwestern corner Of this
county and their slayer is under arrest
| awaiting trial for murder. The wo-
man Is Mrs. John Adams. the dead men
her husband and brother-in-law, John
| and Charles Adams, and the murderer
Is her lover, Joseph Stafford. All be-
long to prominent families in Leon
county. The tragedy occurred Sunday
afternoon on a small lake near Adams
home, but the details only reached here
today.
For long time John Adams has sus-
| pected that his wife and Joseph STAFF
ford We're lovers. Some months ago
he taxed his wife with unfaithfulness,
but she bitterly denied it. and STAFF
ford s,wore solemnly that he felt only
a ibrotherly interest in his neighbor's
wife. This satisfied Adams at the time,
but he told Stafford that 1t would be
best for all concerned IL he would keep
away from Mrs. Adams. After this
Mrs. Adams and Stafford no longer met
openly, but continued their guilty meet
ings In secret
Early last week Adams became con-
WINGED that his wife and Stafford were
betraying him and Saturday he learned
that the guilty couple had named the
boat house on the lake as a trysting
place for Sunday afternoon. Adams
sent for his brother and determined to
trap Mrs. Adams and her lover. Sum-
day afternoon Mrs. Adams went down
| to the lake and mes Stafford at the boat
house. The lovers were getting into a
boat when they saw Adams and his
brother coming. The woman leaped
from the boat and her lover rowed
away. When Adams and his brother
reached the boat house they sprang
into another skiff and pursued STAFF
| ford, who was about fifty yards out on
the lake.
The ADKINS brothers and Stafford
were armed with Winchesters and the
duel between purJuers and pursued be-
| gan Immediately. According to Mrs.
| Adams, who stood on the shore watch
| hlg the duel, her husband fired the first
shot, the bulldt striking one of STAFF
| ford's oars and knocking 1t from his
| hand. Stafford returned this shot and
the woman saw her husband fall over
| in the boat. Then she says Charlie Ad-
ans lay down behind his brothers body
ard continued lo fire at Stafford. STAFF
| ford returned the fire and after many
shots had been exchanged ChaIlie Ad-
ANS gave a shriek and his Winchester
| fell from his hands.
Mrs. Adams saw that her husband
and brother-in-isw were dead and
| called to Stafford to return. Stafford
rowed up to the boat containing his vic
| tins, towed 1t to the shore and made 1t
| fast. Then the officers We're summoned.
| They found John ID. Adams, the iirls-
band. pierced by mary ba'lls. The bull
| let 'tkat killed him had entered his
heart. After he fell dead he was hit
several times by bullets that We're in
| tended for Charlie Adams, who was
| using his corpse as o barricade. Only
one bullet had struck Charlie Adams,
the last fired by Stafford. This had en-
| tered be'.sen Line eyes and caused in
slant de,a'.h. Stafford was not scratched,
although half q dozen bullets had
pierced his olothing an various places.
One bullet pierced his hal, aud cut a
furrow through his hair
Stafford has been ARRESTED and will
allege self-defenee. depending on Mrs
Adams evidence to acquit him, as she
was the only witness. Mrs. Adams
does not seem at all gieved over the
death of her husband and brdher.in-
law. She is a pretty woman about 30
years old. Stafford Is 40 years u.d and
has a wife and several children.