The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-08-18
ROMANCE ENDS in TRAGEDY.
Runaway Wedding, a Row, and a Chase
That Proved FATAL HoneymOOn's
Sad Termination.
The State.

The State.
y Fort Mill, Aug. ii. Here, in the
exsrome northern part Of the State,
J not far from where the famous
Squire Bales conducts his Gretna
Green establishment, there has in
the last few days occurred a romance,
followed by a tragedy, that reads
almost like fiction. On Sunday eve
ming last Squire McElhsney per-
formed ono Of the class of marriages
that has made Squire Bales famous.
Two days later the coroner WAS in.
Il vestigating the cause Of tho death of
the happy bridegroom.
On last Sunday evening, having
just performed the ceremony making
a couple from the village of the Fort
Mill Manufacturing company man
and wife, Squire McElhany WAS
II called upon to marry Miss Ella Ram
sey and Mr.. j. n. Norman, both of
I the same village. There was serious
parental objection to this marriage,
and thereby hangs the tragic tale.
After the marriage Norman and
his bride returned to .he home of her
parents, who hao bitterly opposed
the marriage Immediately there
( was first class row, in the progress
! of which Norman severely abused
Il and cursed the girls parenta, his
manner being extremely violent and
threatening. The girls father re.
ported the matter to the town au.
thorities and on Monday morning
Officer II. &. johnson went in search
of the young husband. He learned
that Norman had just left, going in
the direction of Rock Hill, eight
miles distant, with tho Catawba river
between them. Then it was that
Officer johnson brought out his
bloodhound and gave chase. Strik-
ing the trail Of the fleeing man, there
was an exciting chase between man
and brute. As soon as the Catawba
river WAS reached the animal went
straight to tho shore and, hesitating
not moment, plunged in and swan
to the west bank. There he again
endeavored to strike the trail but
failed. johnson had reached the
river by this time, and failing to find
the young man along the banks, he
was convinced that he WAS hiding
behind rock cliff midway of the
stream. After examining this cliff
and failing to find his man, johnson
abandoned the search, taking his dog
and returning homo. On Tuesday
parties along the river discovered the
body of man floating down stream.
They examined it and found that
it WAS the body of the bridegroom of
lesa than day. 1t was pulled
ashore and taken to point near tho
home Of MIR. Hanks Jones, who is
reputnd 70 be a relative of Abraham
Lincoln, where at last accounts il,
was resting awaiting tho arrival of
the coroner Of York county.
MIR. Norman WAS about 30 years of
age. Ho had been ID the mill village
at Fort Mill only few weeks, hav.
ing come from Belmont, N. G., for
the purpose Of taking a position in
the mill He has brother living in
the village.
Mr.. Norman had scarcely arrived
at Fort Mill before he becnme enam
ored Of the girl, who, forsnking her
objecting parents, was willing to go
with him, without their knowl
edge, to tho magistrate, who WAS
formerly the intendent of the town,
and plight her troth. The dramatic
and tragic sequel leaves her widow
and simply brings to the attention
OF the world the sad ending of
beautiful romance, the result Of
case of "love at first sight"
George Is. Evans, manager Of the