A Lover Shoots His Sweetheart 1902

SULLIVAN, FALLS, NEFF

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 2/16/2017 at 18:40:12

Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, Jan. 6, 1902

WEST UNION TRAGEDY
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A Lover Shoots His Sweetheart
And His Rival At the Commercial
Hotel
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West Union, Ia. Jan. 6 – Homer M. Neff, county supervisor and former county clerk, shot and instantly killed Miss Rose Falls, whom for several years he had been paying attention, and wounded Emmet Sullivan, his rival, and then killed himself. Between 8 and 9 o’clock this morning Neff burst in the door of Miss Falls’ room at the Commercial Hotel and finding Sullivan there, fired five shots in rapid succession. Four of the shots took effect, two entering the girls head and one penetrating the right breast. Sullivan was struck in the face but will recover. Then Neff went across the park to his room, where he locked the door, removed the shells from his revolver, reloaded it and shot himself in the temple. Death was instantaneous. Heff has lived here the greater part of his life and was about 45 years old. He bore an excellent reputation, although considered somewhat eccentric. For some time he has owned and operated in company with his brother the local electric light plant.