Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-06-27
MURDERED SWEETHEART
Elmer Heath Shoots Miss Katie oAdkins at Her Home
in Salsbuy.--Brought to Snoqv Hill to PreDent Being
Lynched.--FM Account of the Tragedy.

| tion, in which she told me she loved me,
and would never marry any other man
except me. was then crying very hard,
and so was she. About this time two
children of my relatives came around
where we were, and they were playing.
went to the back porch, got some
mint candy and gave them. and asked
them TO go away, which they did
about this time my uncle's wife came
around and said Mrs. Adkins was
coming toward the house. Katie said:
Let her come, | won't move
"We were then sitting close together
with my left arm around her neck and
her right hand on my shoulder. Our
faces were close together, my head being
partly down on her shoulder. then
told her again that | would not be living
IN one hour and she said she wanted to
go before | went, and Immediately
pulled the pistol from my pocket and
shot five times at our heads, without
stopping The first two bullets must
have struck Katie as she loosened her
hand from my shoulder and started to
Tall backward, but kept on firing and
the other three bullets struck nv head.
We both fell from the bench. threw
the pistol in front of me after the shoot
ing and started to run across the ward.
fell. and then crawled some distance
! when hecame unconscious 'rhara had
never been any quarrel between us.
loved her very much and could not
stand being separated from her, and I
did not start out to kill her l started
out to kill myself, and wanted to die in
her arms, or near her."
GIVES ONLY ONE VERSION.
Heath would give no other version of
the awful affair. When asked what
were his thoughts when he borrowed
the pistol, he said only to kill himself,
and if he had not been watched he
would have killed himself at the pond
and the young lady would now be living.
He said he was perfectly sober: that he
] "oS iAco ~ man, dltiOuku u0
had drank some beer at Wilmington,
Friday night, but not enough to make
him intoxicated or disorderly at all.
His mind seemed to be clear during the
interview, although he complained of
being cold, and had several shivering
spells.
Heath's story is doubted by the public
at large, as many believe from his con.
duct Saturday that he had made every
preparation to kill the young lady and
that his anxiety to kill himself was a
great fake, as he had ample opportunity
to have done so had he wished, and the
three wounds in his head are SO slight
as to arouse suspicion that he measured
his shots before firing them.
SYMPATHY FOR HER SAD FATE.
All Sunday crowds of people passed
the house where the corpse of Miss
Adkins lay cold in death. and more
than 100 persons called at the house to
view the remains and console the be.
reaved family. The body presented o
life like appearance. There was a peace
full expression on the face, and but fo
the two ugly bullet holes in the tempt
one might have imagined the youni
lady asleep. When examined afte
death brooch pin with picture
Heath ON it was found at her throat.
All Saturday night large concours
of people passed around the streets nes
the Jail. and it was feared at one tin
that something dreadful might happ,
to the young murderer behind the bar
The fact, however that he did not
gain consciousness until Sunday NOR
ing is thought to have saved him frt
an awful fate at the hands of the crow
gathered.
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral of Miss Adkins, (,
place Monday from the Old School f
tist Meeting House, on Church str
i'll Salisbury. The largest concours
people was present ever seen at fu
al in that city. The church steps
yard were filled with the friends OF
deceased young lady. Elder A
Francis officiated. A choir of the ys
lady friends of the deceased rend
two beautiful hymns by request.
casket was entirely covered by the
beautiful flowers sent by the assoc
of Miss Adkins The pall-bearers
her cousins-Marviu Holloway.
Adkins. Carroll Adkins Elmer Ad
Charles Adkins and Fred Adkins.
The remains were inferred besid
father, who died year ago.