The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-10-21
A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY
FIGHT A DUEL TO DEATH AT
MARSHF1ELD, COOS
COUNTY.
J. A. Armitage Stays Mrs. J. O.
Stoops B cause She Would Not
Retcrn His Love, and Is
Himself Killed-Other
News.

Himself Killed-Other
News.
Marshfield, Or. Oct. IA
double tragedy occurred here about
3 o'clock this afternoon when J. A.
Armitage was shot by Mrs. J. O.
Stoops, neighbor' g wife, but lived
long enough to shoot the woman
through the heart, causing instant
death. Armitagv reached his own
home, threw himself on the bed
and died in a short time, without
giving any reasons for the shooting.
Mrs. Stoops has four children
and Armitage has a Wife and five
children living on ranch near
Eugene. Stoops and family moved
to this place about three years ago
from near Eugene, and shortly af-
ter they came here Armitage arriv-
ed on the scene and rented a house
near the Stoops. He left his fam
| lily ou the ranch in Lane county,
and lived here alone. There has
| been more or less talk about the at.
tentiona paid Mrs. Ssoops by Ar
mi,age, but Stoops evidently had
faith in his wife, aud no trouble
grew out Of the gossip.
About three months ago Mrs.
lStoops told Armitage that che did
net want him to come to her house.
His reply angered her brother, who
was in the loom at the time, and
he started to shoot Armitage, but
Mrs. Stoors threw up bis arm and
the ball went wide of its mark. Ar
mitage threatened to kill Mrs.
Stoopg and was arrested and placed
under $500 bonds to keep the peace
Stoops was away from home today,
and Mre. Stoops and her young
children locked Themselves in the
house, fearing that Armitage would
force himself upon her.
/ Armitage sat at his window all
day smoking with rife at his
side. The woman not coming out
eide the house until nearly time for
her con to come from school, he took
bis rifle and went to her door.
When Armitage tried to force it in
Mrs. Stoops fred at him through
the door, but the ball missed its
mark. He then went to a window,
broke in the lower cash, entere d
the house and started upstairs
where the woman bad taken refuge
She fired at him as he came up the
stairs. the ball entering bis head
inst above the left eye He also
fired, the ball taking effect in the
heart.
Armitage crawled through thu
: windew and went back into his owr
house. Hs was still alive when tn,
first persons arrived but died sool
afterwards. According to a state
ment made by Armitage soon afte
the fret trouble occurred between
the couple, the intimacy between
them-he and Mrs. Stoops-hegal
I while Sleeps and his family wer
4 living on Armitage's ranch nea
q Eugene. He was very much il
q love with the woman, and elaime'
3 that the feeling was reciprocated
4 Armitage owns considerable prop
4 erty here besides fine ranch i
] Lane county. where be has a larg
\ and respected family. The fell ~
4 ing letters were found on Armita 20
4 table:
! ''To the coroner: Please hav
I my body fixed in proper shape an
4 phone to my brother, F. L. Arm
4 tage, at Eugene, Or.
\ j. A. ARMITAGE.
1 ITO the Coast Mall: I will max
! a statement in regard to this affai
I I am not doing it because I fear tt
! outcome of trial, but I think
Z would be more Of a disgrace for m
to appear in court with such pet
I pie than to commit this deed. ]
4 regard to her complaint, it is abs
4 lutely false. I never presented
I gun, nor threatened her life. 81
I made the remark You want
Z threaten my life. I said I did n
/ want to do any such a thing, ar
4 now they are not satisfied while
4 am attending to my own busines
4 but they are tormentipg me in ev
4 ry way because they think ths
I have the advantage of me for fe
I months. Yours truly,
4 ]. A. ARMITAGE.
4 "P. S.-She told me- one tin
4 when we lived In South Marshfe
q that if che auar oannht mn M; !;