The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-21

ACHILLES FELKER,
Murderer of Cora Gross at Goudsboro
yesterday, who is still at large. Is
darll-skinr ed, aquiine nose, black
piercing eyes and jet black harris
said to be of Indian descent.
Achilles, known as Chilo Felker
married man, who has In
dian blood in his veins, shot and
killed 2O-year-old Cora Gress, his
cousin, at Gouldsboro, this county,
yesterday He loved the girl and up
on her refusal to marry him the fiery
nature of the man mastered him and
he deliberately shot her first with a
revolver and when she fell from the
wound in her head, Felker fired a
charge of buckshot from a double
barrelled gun, the charge entering the
body of the young woman. She died
instantly.
Felker then attempted to shoot the
mother of the girl who witnessed the
murder, but Mrs. Gress threw him to
the floor before he could fire. The
murderer, after struggle, escaped
and took to the woods. He is still at
large
The tragedy stands unique in local
criminal records. Felker is related to
the Gress family by his mother. who
is d sister to Mrs. Rudolph Gress,
mother of the dead girl His father
was half-breed Indian. The son
shows the Indian by dark skin, high
cheek bones and black, piercing eyes.
About a year ago Felker, who is
so years of age, visited the Gress fam
lily at their farm house in Gouldsboro.
There he met the eldest daughter,
Cora. She was a pretty girl, with blue
eyes and beautiful sunny hair. Her
manner, bright and winsome, attract
ed the impulsiVe nature of Felker.
DESERTED HIS WIFE.
He never returned to his young wife
and son, who We're then living at
Stroudsburg. He deserted them and
obtained work about the ice houses
near GouldsbOro and succeeded by
constant COaXing of his aunt, Mrs.
Gress, in securing board at the Gress
homestead. His attention to his
cousin, Cora, were q matter of COM
ment and Felker was warned to be
careful. He was a married man and
the close relationship of he and the
girl made marriage impossible. He
was told this repeatedly by Mrs. Gress
The girl also was warned not to en-
courage her cousin. Nevertheless
about six months ago. Felker formally
proposed marriage to the young wo-
man. She rejected him. Felker bore
his refusal ill-humoredly. Several
times after this he suggested marriage,
but the girl, now fully awakened to
her position, gave him a determined
No"
Yesterday morning al about o'clock
Mrs. Gress and Cora Gress were in the
kitchen when Felker came in with a
shotgun in his hands. The girl was
combing her hair and stood before a
small mirror. Felker was gloomy. He
sat in a chair without saying a word
After a few minutes silence, during
which the girl was busying herself
| with her hair, Felker said: Cora, I
want to ask you something for the last
| time"
The girl paid no attention to this,
! but watched her dark-skinned suitor
| by his reflection in the mirror. Felker
| arose, with the shotgun in his hands.
| and slowly said: "Will you be my
Wife," The girl said moi" 1t was
the last word she ever uttered.
FIRED AT THE GIRL.
Felker suddenly whipped a revolver
| from his pocket and fired before the girl
| who saw the mans action in the mirror
| could turn. The ball struck her in the
right cheek and plowed its way through
hp
| She fell to the floor.
Felker then deliberately aimed the
shot gun at the PROSTATE form and
| fired. The charge of bucllshOt entered
| the girls body at the back.
| Mrs. Gress, the mother, who stood
at an arms length from her daughter
| with her back to FellIer, turned when
SHE heard the first shot. 1t was so un-
| expected that the woman was struck
| dumb ana incapable of moving. She
saw the second shot fired at her daugh-
| ter and then with a Shrek rushed upon
| Felker Just as he pointed the gun at
her with the second trigger cooked.
| The frenZied woman pushed aside the
| gun and by main force hurled Felker
| to the floor
He struggled and after a few minutes,
| during which the woman screamed for
| help Fclker managed to gain his feet
and, now thoroughly frightened, made
off toward Tobyhanna. The grief
crazed mother followed after him.
There is a 5-acre swamp on one side
| of the Gress homestead. Through this
Felker made his way, Mrs. Gress fol-
lowing him for several hundred yards
She finally sank from exhaustion and
returned to her dead daughter
The direful news soon spread and the
| populacs of Gouldsboro was thrown in
to state of excitement never before
known in the peaceful little settlement
The Gress Girl was a favorlte i'm the
neighborhGod and F4lker was in turn
| generally dislked
"He never looked right" said one
man to Tribune reporter.
THE SWAMP SEARCHED.
The swamp for miles and miles about
| Gouldsboro were traverscd during all OF
vest rday by hundreds OF men and
| women in search of Falker All kindl