Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-06-27

about 8 o'clock Saturday night in tina,
section of the city known as Canton
Just beyond the New York, Philadel
phia and Norfolk Railroad Station.
Elmer Heath. young man about 2C
years old, shot and instantly killed his
sweetheart, Miss Katie Adkins, and i'm
mediately turned the pistol upon him
self and put three bullets in his own
head.
He dropped the smoking weapon and
ran across the street for about 100 yard:
and fell upon his face. He was found
within l5 minutes after the shooting OF
the young girl and was put in an am
bulance and carried to Jail. Young
Heath, who is a native of Somerset
county, but who has been living in Sal
isbury for about two years, had been
paying marked attention to Miss Ad-
kins for some time, and last week he
secured set of marriage licenses at the
Court House and was to have been mar
ried on Wednesday of last week, how.
ever. he was accused of having stolen
$50 from his employer. who is a con.
tractor in Salisbury. and on being faced
with the charge returned $40 of the
money. AS soon as the young lady
heard of the affair she broke her en-.
gagement and on Sunday evening fol
lowing. Heath. very respondent, left
Salisbury for Camden, n. j.
OPPOSITION FROM HER FAMILY.
The family of the young lady, which
is well connected. her mother being the
daugher of Mr. Robert Hitch, of Sails
bury. and the sister of City Councilman
Herbert H. Hitch. opposed the match
and thought the affair was ended with
the leaving of Heath. Heath, however
returned to Salisbury Sunday morning,
last, arriving there about 6 o'clock. All
day he was seen lettering around Miss
Adkins home, and ae night shortly af-
ter he went to the house and called
her out. They went to the home of
Mr. Leon Messick. short distance
from Miss Adkins home, and going to
the rear of the house sat on bench.
The Messick family was on the front
porch, only about 40 feet away.
FOUND IN POOL OF BLOOD.
What occurred between the young
couple probably will never be known,
but when they had been there for some
time the family was alarmed by pis.
tol shot. The members started around
the house, and within a second three
more shots rang out. When they reach
ed the rear of the building they saw
Miss Adkins body on the ground, with
the feet across the bench and her head
in a pool of blood They looked for
Heath, they could not find him. but ly-
ing about 10 feet from the body was a
smoking revolver.
SMILING IN DEATH.
They took the body of the young lady
to the porch. which was only a few
feet distant, and telephoned for a
physician. 1t was evident, however,
that life was extinct. as there was a
bullet hole in the right temple. Death
must have been instantaneous. Miss
Adkins had a peaceful expression on her
dead face, as though her slayer had
said something pleasant just before
sending her soul into eternity.
While the doctors were examining
Miss Adkins body someone went on a
search for Heath. and found him about
100 yards distant, lying on his face,
with three bullet holes in his head. He
was taken to the Jail and Drs. Slemons.
Morris, Truitt and Dix were summoned
to care for him. The doctors say he
will live, as the wounds do not seem to
be of dangerous character.
THE COMMUNITY AROUSED.
Justice Trader summoned jury, and
after examining the body returned a
verdict that the lady came to her death
by being shot by Elmer l. Heath.
Miss Adkins was beautiful young
girl, not quite Is years old. She was a
daughter of the late Lambert Adkins
and niece of County Commissioner
Elijah J. Adkins and cousin of Prof.
William J. Holloway. principal of the
Salisbury High School She was a
favorite with both men and women.
Heath has not borne the very best repu-
tation since his residence here. He is II
member of Company l. Maryland Nation
al Guard, and was to have attended the
encamrment at Belair this year. Should
Heath live there will probably be a
special trial for his case, as the entire
community is aroused over the affair.
When he called the young lady out of
her house Sunday night her mother
begged her not TO go with him, they be-
ing afraid he might do her some harm.
They are wild with grief.
With the gathering of darkness Sun.
day night Il large crowd assembled near
the Salisbury Jail, and it appeared for
a while that Elmer Heath would be