AN ELOPEMENT AND ITS SEQUEL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2695, 19 October 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

AN ELOPEMENT AND ITS SEQUEL.

A shocking tragedy has occurred in a suburb of San Francisco. Miss Eva Atkins wa3 betrothed to Mr. Raymond Bicrce, an Englishman, and a writer on financial and other subjects. The wedding was to have taken place at the house of Miss Atkins, whose mother is a wealthy lady well known in San Francisco society. On the previous day Eva obtained permission to pass the night with one of her bridesmaids. Instead she joined Mr. NielHobbs an intimate friend of her betrothed, and his groomsman to be. The pair proceeded to Sacramento, where they were married. In a few days they returned to San Francisco, where young Bierce was raging like a madman over the treachery of which he was the victim. He went to the house of Eva's mother, and soon after the elopers entered. Bierce produced a revolver, and Hobbs, taking the situation at a glance, pulled out his pistol. two commenced firing shot for shot at each other, but Hobbs's pistol contained one less charge. He fled from the room to secure more cartridges. Bierce, wounded and bleeding, locked the door. Then he turned to the fainting bride, and seizing her ia his arms passionate imprinted kiss after kiss ou her pallid lips. He held her at arm's length, aud mournfully exclaimed, "How could you do so." He then placed the muzzle of another revolver at her temple and fired. Bierce afterwards blew his own brains out, and Hobbs, who was mortally wounded, also died. The woundod girl will, however, recover.