The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-30
LEoNS TRAGEDY ON THE LAKE.
SENSATIONAL STORIES AFLOAT As
TO THE CAUSE.

TO THE CAUSE.
One of the Versions Declares IL the
Outcome Of the Alleged Relations
of Mrs. Charles Adams With stat
ford-StaHord Tells His story of the
killing and Claims IL Was Done
in SeIf-Defense.
Tallahassee. Fla. July 29.-Up to this
writing il has been impossible 10 inquire
out a reasonable hypothesis upon when
20 base the killing of the TWO men in this
county by Joseph Stafford. brief mention
of which was made in the Geographic
news from THIS city Sunday.
Stafford's own story is that the killing
was done in self-defense, and as there
were no witnesses TO the tragedy the
state may have a pretty hard time OF 1t
10 make out a case against him. but
nevertheless. his story is in some respects
an improbable one. and does not seem
% be very generally believed Ihe colo-
ners jury returned from the scene OF me
murder last night They have not yet
finished their Investigations and are. tnefe-
fore. 10th to give out any information
hut from various other sources your cor
RESPONDENT has CLEANED the following par
giculars.
Charlie Adams and John Adams were
the two menkilled. The former was resi-
dent Of this county, his home being WIN
in a short distance Of the scene of the
double homicide. while the latter was a
resident of Cairo, Ca. and had only ar
rived the day of the killing on visit TO
his cousin. In the afternoon tney tlne
Adams went out fishing on Lake Ella.
stafford saws that he was fishing on
1aIr x4-hp ~
came along in their boat, and that ne
called TO them and asked to 90 IN me
boat with them. They, according 10 ms
story. landed and took him In the boat
but Immediately afterWard commerce
eursing and abusing him. Then one OF
them struck him with paddle or struck
At him. whereupon he Jumped out OF the
boat the water being Nery shalloW' 10
wade ashore. The other Adams, he says,
then shot at him with a pistol Believing
his own life TO be in danger, ne turned or
them with his Winchester rifle, Wnlch ne
had held onto all this Tune anu SHol
rhem twice each, either Of which shois
would have proven fatal He then came
10 town and gave himself up 10 the dep
utv sheriff and was placed in JAN.
This is in some respects very piausl-
bic story, but there are other Facts pretty
generally known which throw sort CT
a damper onto II. There has been bad
blood existing for some time between
stafford and Charlie Adams on account
of Stafford's alleged intimacy with Al
ans wife Threats had been made on
both sides, and il has only been a snort
fine since Adams came to town 10 nave
stafford put under a bond 10 keep the
,eace For some reason he did not do IL,
however. and nothing more was heard or
tbe matter here until the killing took
place.
The story that Stafford asked TO 80 IN
the boat fishing with the Adams IS not
credited here. since the facts above re-
CITED have been made public. Another
damaging circumstance to STAFFORD
story is that, according 70 the way ne
tells. IL. the Adams must have been N
the boat when he shot them when, as
a matter of fact. there was conclusive evil
dence at the scene of the tragedy that
one of the Adams was shot and fell some
distance from the water out on the bank.
being dragged back to the waters edge
afterward.
BY the Southern Associated Press.
Tallahassee. Fla, July 29.-The killing
of John and Charles Adams by Joseph
stafford, which has been briefly noted in
these dispatches, proves to have been
most remarkable tragedy. 1t Is stated that
Stafford and Mrs. John Adams were low
ers and had met at the lake, STAFFORD be-
ing in a boat. They were surprised by
the woman's husband, John Adams and
his brother, Charles Adams. who were al
so in boat. Mrs. Adams leaped out and
Stafford rowed off. the brothers pursuing.
Both Stafford and his pursuers were arm
ed and they soon began firing from the
boats Stafford was not touched, but ne
killed both the brothers He then towed
the boat with the corpses to the shore.
STAFFORD has surrendered and claims self
defense, and as reports say, Mrs. Adams
alone saw the tragedy, it is difficult to
see how he can be convicted. There are
many sensational rumors in regard 20
the tragedy. 1t occurred in a remote
section of the county and details come
slowly. The coroner is now investigating