Eloped With the Groomsman.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 6926, 8 October 1889, Page 2

Eloped With the Groomsman.

THE BRIDEGROOM'S REVENGE.

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

A terrible tragedy recontly occurred iv a suburb of San Francisco. It seems that a young lady, Eva Atkins, was betrothed to Raymond Pierce, an Englishman, and a writer on financial and other subjects, The wedding was to have takon place at the homo of Mis 3 Atkins' mother, a wealthy lady, well known in San Francisco society. Eva obtained permission to pass the night previous to tho wedding with one of her bridesmaids. Instead sho joined Neill Uobbs, an intimate friend of her betrothed husband, who was to havo beon his groomsman. The pair proceeded to Sacramento, where they were married. In a few days they returned home, where young Pierce was raginglikea madman over the treachery of which he was tho victim. Pale and haggard, he sought the mother of his faithloss sweetheart. Sho deeply sympathised with his grief. "My poor boy !" she exclaimed. "I will tiy to sloep," he answered. " I have not slept in four nights." Sho conducted him to a chambor and closed tho door. Soon after tlie elopers entered tho houso. Eva was bitterly upbraided by Jfra Atkins for her heartless conduct. Silently Pierce stole down stairs anl appeared before the terrdr-striekea inmates of the parlour. In one hand he held extended a large navy revolver. For a moment there was completo silence. Then Pierce said, " You are a happy couple, are you not ?" Neil Hobbs took in the situation at a glance. Like all Californiana, he was armed, and he possessed the knowledge how _to use his weapon. Quick as a flash he pulled out his revolver, but the finger of his quondam friend was on the trigger, and the report of a pistol followed. Hobbs returned shot for shot, but his pistol contained one charge less. He fled from the room to secure more cartridges. Pierce, wounded and bleeding, locked tho door. Then he turned to the fainting bride, and seized her by the arms, exclaiming " How could you do co ?" He placed the muzzle of another revolver to her temple, and fired. As her apparently lifeless form sank on the floor her maddened husband broke open the door and again commenced firing. Pierce closed with Hobbs, and a struggle ensued. Pierce grew weak from lobs of blood, and Hobbs beat him furiously about the head with tho handle of his pistol until he fell fainting on the carpet. The victor deliberately fired another shofc at the prostrate man and then carried hjs young wife to an adjacent chamber. While a surgeon was investigating the wounds of Neil and Eva, Pierce recovered consciousness, dragged himself upstairs to a bedroom, got a bottle of chloroform, poured tho contents on his handkerchief, spread it over his face, lay down, and, placing the pistol against his head, blew his brains oufc. His body was found to be riddled with bullets. Hobba was shot in several places, and it was soon ascertained that his wounds were mortal. He gradually sank, and died, The wounded girl, willit is expected, rncover. Pioree'a father was formerly a, well-knenvn. London journalist.