The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-04-25
WAS SHOT To DEATH
BIZ YOUNG WOMEN
Thaddeus Stevens Ross Cf oil City, Pa,
Victim Of Miss Belle Stroup-
was Shot Three Times.

Oil City, Pa, April 25.--Thaddeus
Stevens Ross of this city was shot three
times and instantly killed here yester-
day BY Miss Belle Stroup. The woman
then shot herself through the hearts
The tragedy occurred Ia the Office III
Dr. George w. Magee while the physi-
elan was at lunch. Both victims we're
members of prominent families. Ross
Was To have been married 10 Miss Drus-
lila Sampsell of this city. There were
no witnesses t0 the shooting The mur.
deiess and suicide was a former sweet
heart Of the dead man.
Ross WIS dining at home with his
family discussing hos coming wedding
when the telephone rang. His father
answered the call and 4 wornail's voice
made inquiry for sThad." Mr.. Ross cali
ed his som and the young man after
answering, picked up his hat and lii.
formed his family be had TO 20 to the
doctors Office for few minutes hut
would return as soon Az lie could. This
was the iast time his parents saw him
alive.
Miss Stronp arrived at noon from
Bradford, where she had been employed
iii a hospital and went directly to the
office Of Dr Magee Finding no one iii
the Office she called Ross Oh the tele-
phone and asked him to come to the
oilice and see her What took place
there no one will ever know. 1t could
not have been asceFtained from persons
who were in the building at the time
that any loud talking took place be-.
tween them or that they had a quarrel.
When DIR. Mapee returned from lunch
and opened the door be found the dead
bodies. That Of Ross was IN chair in
the corner Of the office. His head was
lying back on the chair and blood was
streaming from bullet wound IN his
neck. His forehead was burned With
powder where the bullet entered thebrain
Another ball had pierced his heart. Miss
Stroup's body was lying a few feet
away face downward, and ii partly
blocked the office door, Blood was flow
ing from wound in her left side.
Ross had seated himself in a large
chair and apparently while talking To
the girl had thrust both hands into his
trousers pockets. The girl wore long
black kid gloves, but before doing the
shooting she had slipped both her hands
from them and they hung loose upon
her bloody wrists. 1t il thought She
walked oyer to the chair in which Ross
was seated, and coneeahng the revolver
with her dress fred the first shot at his
heart. APPARENTLY he never moved for
the position of the body was natural
one when it was found.
Wishing to make sure Of her work
she fred two more shots, one lodging
IN his neck and the other in his brain.
Standing over her victim she then shot
herself through the heart. The revolver
dropped from her hands and was found
rear her body,
Miss Stroup was born in this country
23 years ago. Both her parents are
aeasi and she n survived ~ bsfp sister
and two brothers who live at Coal Hill,
Ross was SON of Mr.. and Mrs j. G..
Ross, and was 95 years Of age. He was
employed in the postoffice here. He was
a veteran Of the Spanish.American war
and served in the Philippines with the
regular army at its close. Miss Samp-
sell the bride-elect is prostrated.