The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-10-31
A DOUBLE
TRAGEDY,

Elkton. Md, Oct. 80 In Elkto,
this morning Elmer A. Pryor. agee
81 years. shot aud killed his sweet
heart. Miss Etfie Davidson. agee
! % years, with arevolvsr, fred tw,
shots at Miss May Davidson, hei
! younger sister, and then killed hiu
| self. The shots fred at her sister
were without effect He then turn
ed the weapon upon himself, plac
ing the barrel OF his 58.calibre re
10 bis mouth, fred and died 10 8
few minutes afterward. Miss Eff.
Davidson died almost instantly.
The double tragedy occurred
shortly after o'clock on West Mais
street. one square west Of Bridge
street and in full view Of q number
of people, Who we're compelled to bs
eye Witnesses to the shocking oc,
curance.
Miss Davidson was employed a
shirt factory IN West EIkton, aud
was on her way to work when shs
met her death. She was accom-
panied by Miss Daisy Cannon, o
Philadelphia, and the following hei
was her younger sister, Mary.
According 10 the statement made
by Mary Davidson, she and hei
sister and Daisy Ca nnon lett home
shortly before 2 o'clock and started
to work. They went out West
High street and down Maffit street
to Main street, near which Pryor
was standing on the opposite side
Of the street. Miss Davidson &C.
cording to her sisters statemsnt
was afraid Of Pryor. and Miss Can.
non advised her TO keep on and moi
notice him But she replied: -
~ am afraid, | will go speak ia
him. She went over to where he
was standing. Miss Cannon lett
them standing on the sidew ak,
while she went to the factory. a
Mary Davidson. who had stopp.
ed on the way, came upon her sis
ter and Pryor and some words tol.
lowed.
Pryor in an instant drew from
his pocket 5S-calibre revolver and
swore that he would kill them all.
Mary started 10 run. ,lmmed-
iatly Pryor fired two shots p her.
both of which went wide their
mark. He then turned the weapon
upon Etlic and fired. The bullet..
struck her in the back aud pene-
tratedthe lung. She dropped,o the
sidewalk. and Pryor deliberately
placing the weapon between his
teeth fired one shot that ended his
life.
Many people & altered quickly.
On the pavement lay the almost
lifeless body Of Miss Davidson. A
few feet away was the boiv OF
Pryor. Neither wasyct dead. iiss
Davidson was tenderiy carried into
the Office OF Kenmore Pulp ar, Pa-
per Company. Pryor was "ll on
the sidew ak, where he died oelort
a physician arrived. The r, Diver
was found close to.him. an wal
found 10 have four chambers npty.
Or. Howard Bratton and r. j
II. Jamer were each summon d bul
Miss Davidson brealhed her LAST
before they arrived. Her re irs
were removed to her home on East
High street, while those Of ryot
were taken charge BY his sister.
Pryor was emoloyed as watch.
man al the Kenmore Pulp and Pa
per Companv, lie had been pay
ing attention to Miss Davidson for
sometime and was insanely Jealous
OF her. Although she never eucour,
aged him, he Insisted upon calling
upon her and on several occasions
threatening her life as well al
his own She had been advised
time and time again TO inform tho
authorities of his threats, but never
did so. She even left Elkton fol
months at a time to avoid him. On
these occasions he would follow her
10 Wilmington and Philadelphia.
The act OF Pryor was premedl
tated. as he purchased the Car.
tridges at Witworth's hardware
store last evening.