OBIT: Mrs. Ira SHAFFER, 1903, Edie, Somerset County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich 
<millich84@hotmail.com>

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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_________________________________________ 

A DOUBLE TRAGEDY

  Ollie Nichols shot and killed Mrs. Ira Shaffer in the public road 
near Edie post office, eight miles from Somerset, Somerset county at 8 
o'clock on Monday morning.
  The murderer then turned the shotgun on himself and blew off the top 
of his head.
  Mrs. Shaffer was 22 years old, but was not living with her husband.  
With Maggie and Cora Miller she was returning on Monday morning from a 
relative's where they had spent the night, after attending religious 
services at the Bethany church, three miles from their home.  When 
passing through a strip of woods they were confronted by Nichols, who 
had been hiding behind a tree.  He was armed with a shotgun and 
commanded the Miller girls to stand aside when he leveled the weapon at 
Mrs. Shaffer and shot her in the breast. 
  Nichols looked at the body of his victim for a moment to make sure 
that she was dead, and then walked away four or five rods, when he took 
the gun and placing the muzzle to his jaw, shot himself.
  The Miller girls ran to Edie and told of the tragedy.
  Mrs. Shaffer had two children, but some time ago, quarreled with her 
husband who left her.  It is presumed that Nichols was prompted to kill 
her and take his own life through jealousy.  Nichols was the son of a 
wood chopper and went from Lestie to Edie about nine months ago. 

Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., Friday, February 20, 1903