The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1907-05-01


bodies. That of Ross was in chair in a
corner of the office. His head was lying
back on the chair and blood was stream
ing from a bullet wound in his neck.
His forehead was burned with powder
where bullet entered his brain. Another
ball had pierced his heart.
Miss Stroup's body was lying a few
feet away, face downward. and it partly
blocked the office door. Blood was flow
ing from wound in her left side. Ross
had seated himself in large chair, and
apparently while talking to the girl had
thrust his 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 from her bloody wrists.
1t is thought she walked over to the chair
in which Ross was seated, and concesling
the revolver with her dress fired the first
shot at his heart. Apparently he never
moved, for the position of his body was a
natural one when it was found.
Wishing TO make sure OF her work she
fired 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 hand and was found near her
body.
Ross, who was of very respectable
family, was to have been married that
evening to Miss Drusilla Edith Sampsell,
worthy and respected young lady of
Oil City. His slayer was also lady
highly respected by her scqusintsnces.
According to her story Ross was to have
married her in July. and the first init
nation she had of his intended marriage
with Miss Ssmpsell came to her in let
ter on the day before the shooting. That
night she slept not wink, and evidently
in her misery determined OH the course
size would pursue the next morning.
Leaving Bradford she told her friends
she "must see 'Thsd' today" and that
she would "be back that night"
She had kept company with Ross pre-
yious to her removal from Oil City to
Bradford which occurred about four
years ago and after her removal fire.
quently visited Oil City friends. At such
times Ross was an apparently devoted
attendant upon her.
The bodies of the two victims, after be-
ing viewed by the coroner's jury, were
taken in charge by relatives and pre-
pared for burial. While the undertaken
and Mrs. Fred. Ehret, who is a sister of
Miss Stroup, we're disrobing the body
they found photograph of Ross in the
bosom of her dress. A small envelope
was found in one of her stockings. 1t
contained will, dated April %, and
letter, addressed to no one and unsigned.
The will is as follows:
81, Mahsla B. Stroup, do this day make
my last will, and give to my sisters, Mrs.
Fred. Ehret, Coal Hill, and Mrs. John
Ehret, of Aiken, and my one brother,
Henry =. Stroup, of Ten-Mile Bottom,
all my share in land and real estate and
personal property (most all in shop is
Mrs. j. II. Ehret's.)
(Signed) "MAHALA b. STRoUP.
"Witness-MRs. ANNA HAsBRooK.
"April %, 1907"
The letter, consisting as it does of sew
eral disconnected sentences, evidently
was written after the terrible deed was
premeditated. There are repeated eras-
ures:
10 10 yl,,N nIoI Il IL
be to me, "a true lover. He wrote TO me
until the last minute, saying / was his
own sweetheart, and now to marry an
other and had planned, the next time
saw bim it would not be long until we
could marry and be happy but he had
some debts yet. And that i'm July he
would get raise and then all would be
happiness for us. Saying he had quit
going with anyone but me and as soon
as could was coming to see me. Had
planned twice in January but said it was
on account of p. M. (postmaster) and
once another clerk.
"You can give my body to Johnny
Osenider (the undertakerJ he will take
care of me-"
These papers were evidently written in
the night prior to her going to Oil City,
with mind apparently filed with mis-
givings and greatly troubled.
Thaddeus Ross was the son of ]. d.
Ross, and was aged about SO years. He
was Spanish war veteran, having been
a soldier in Cuba and the Philippines.
Upon his return he was appointed to
position in the postoffice in Oil City. All
were completed for his
marriage TO Miss Sampsell, even to the
of their new home, and the
bride-elect was arranging the brides ta-
BILE when the shocking news os the trage-
dy was told her.
Miss Stroup was aged about 35 years,
and was born near Coal Hill, in Gran
berry township, Venango county, where
her parents, the late Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. |
Stroup, died, respectively 2l and II years
ago. The father was brother of the /
late John X. Stroup, of this place, and |
the dead girl was cousin of our present |
Sheriff, A. W. Stroup, who was in at
tendance at the funeral which took place |
on Sunday near Sslina. The attendance
II said 10 have been immense, the funeral |
cortege extending over a mile aud half
10 length, the deceased having been very