ANOTHER SHOOTING LOVER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 488, 9 December 1869, Page 3

ANOTHER SHOOTING LOVER.

{From the St. Paul Pioneer.) The shooting of young ladies by disappointed lovers ha 3 become a popular crime. An affair ef this kind took place last Thursday evening, at Minneapolis, in Minnesota. A young lady of very prepossessing appearance, named Alice Ferguson, who had been engaged at sewing at the Nicollet House, had unconsciously won the affections of a young man named Anthony Cochrane, a bricklayer. The young man was very ardent, but unfortunately his love was not returned. He proposed, and was rejected. The coldness and indifference of the young lady drove him almost frantic. His attentions amounted to persecution, and greatly annoyed the young lady, who is not only very beautiful, but as good as she is lovely. She had reasoned again and again with her unreasonable admirer, until her patience was about exhausted. On Thursday evening he again forced himself into her room in the Nicollet House, where she sat sewing, and urged his suit. Again he was refused, when, finding persuasive words of no effect, he resorted to threats, and drawing a revolver, he told her she could have her choice, either marry him or die. Seriously alarmed, but uot intimidated, she persisted in her refusal, when he fired, the ball taking effect in her hand and arm, which she had thrown up as a protection. This probably saved her life, as he had aimed at her head, and but for the ball striking the bone of her arm, and being thus turned aside, she would have been killed instantly. Immediately upon firing the cowardly wretch fled, and up to our latest accounts had not been arrested, although strong hopes were entertained of his arrest yesterday. The young lady's arm is badly shattered, and may have to be amputated. The feeling in Minneapolis was very bitter against the young man, and had he been found when the facts first became known, they would have lynched him.