Norfolk Virginian, March 1, 1889

AN EASTERN SHORE MURDER.

Moral -- Murder

A Faithless Wife's Paramour Killed by an Unknown Assassin.

[Special to The Virginian.]

ONANCOCK, Va., (via Tasley Station), February 28. -- A horrible tragedy occurred in Back Creek Neck, this county, Tuesday night, February 26. Following is a history of the tragedy:

John William Taylor and his wife, Elizabeth has for several years past been living unhappily together, owing to Mrs. Taylor's intimacy with Cornelius Annis.

On December the 16th last a deed of absolute separation was filed in the clerk's office by Taylor and his wife. In this deed Taylor relinquishes all authority over Mrs. Taylor. He also agreed to give her $200 in money and personal property enough to furnish a dwelling house. Since their separation Annis and she have been living together. Taylor for some time has been making propositions to her to let him occasionally stay with her, but she would not consent.

Tuesday night Annis and Mrs. Taylor were sitting before a fire at her residence. At 9 o'clock Annis left his seat and started to walk across the room, when a report was heard and Annis fell to the floor mortally wounded. The assassin shot through the window. Twenty-three buckshot were found in his breast, just above the heart. It is supposed that Taylor was the assassin. No arrests have been made.

PARKE.