The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-04-26
WAS DESERTED FOR ANOTHER
Miss Stroup Shoots and Instantly
Kills 7. H. Ross
AFTERWARDS COMMITS SUICIDE
Ross Was TO Have Been Married Last
NiSht-Was Called to Physicians
Office by Telephone Where the
Tragedy Took Placc-Both Were OF
Prominent Families.

Oil City. Pa. April 24.-Thaddeus 5.
Ross, % years OF age, a clerk in the
postoffice here was shot and instantly
killed today By Miss Isabel StrOup. 2S
years old. a former sweetheart, who
Immediately shot herself through the
heart. Both victims of tragedy were of
prominent families in this part of the
state. The shooting occurred in the
office Of DR.. George w. Magee where
Miss Stroup had called Ross by tele
|phOnc while he was dining at his home.
Dr.. MaGee was absent from his office
when the shooting occurred and knew
nothing of the tragedy until he return
ed and the two bodies partly prevented
the office door being opened Miss
Bradford, Pa. and arrived here at
noon. She went directly to the ply
sician's office from which place she
called Ross
Three shots were fired at Ross, two
lodged III the forehead and one in the
heart. Ross was to have been mar
ried tonight to Miss Drusilla Sampsell
OF this place.
There were no witnesses to the
shooting. Rose was dining at home
with his family, discussing the COM
ing marriage ceremony, when the tele-
phone rang. His father answered the
call and a WOmans voice made in
quiry for 'Thad'' Mr.. Ross called his
son and the young man, after answer
ing, picked up his hat and informed
the family he had to go to the doc
tors office fer a few minutes but
would return as soon as he could.
This is the last time his parents saw
him alive. What took place in the
I-of1cce no ore VIII lever know. Tt
could not be ascertained from persons
who were in the building at the time
that any loud talking took place be-
tween them or that they had a quar-
rel When DR.. Magee returned from
the dead bodies. In a chair in a cor
ner of the office sat Ross, his head
lying back on the chair and blood
streaming from a bullet wound in
his neck. His forehead was burned
with powder where a bullet enter
ed his brain. Another ball had pierced
his heart. Miss Stroup was lying a
few feet away face downward where
her body partly blocked the office
door. Blood was flowing from a,
wound in her left side. Ross had
seated himself in large chair and
apparently while talking to the girl
had placed both hands in his trousers
pockets. The girl wore long black
kid gloves, but before doing the shoot
ing had slipped both her hands from
the gloves and they hung loose from
her wrists. 1t is thought she walked
over to the chair in which Ross was
seated, and shielding the 32-calibre
revolver with her dress, fired the first
shot at his heart. Wishing to make
sure of her work the girl fired two
more shots. Standing oyer her victim
she then shot herself. The revolver
dropped from her hands and was
found near her body.
Miss StrouD was born in this county
IS years ago. Both her parents are
dead and she is survived by one sister
and two brothers who live at Coal
Hill. Ross was 25 years old. He was
employed in the postoffice here. He
was was a veteran Of the Spanish
American war and later served ir the
Philippines.