A scandal which has been existing for the past year at Ft. Smith culminated Friday night in the shooting and possible fatal wounding of Maude ALLEN of Mrs. Fagan BOURLAND.BOURLAND who is a young businessman of cosiderable property became infatuated with the ALLEN girl who left her husband. Mrs. BOURLAND has several times tried to break up the liaison but failed.About a year ago she found her husband at the girls boarding house and shot at her without effect.
Friday night BOURLAND had an engagement to go riding with the ALLEN woman, who boards across the street from his store.Mrs. BOURLAND learned of the appointment and disquised herself as a negress laid in await for them.When the girl came up, Mrs. BOURLAND struck her several times over the head with a pistol and then fired three shots at her with only one taking effect and that entering her abdomen.During the scuffle BOURLAND started out to seperate the women and the pistol was accidently discharged, the ball grazing his leg.
The scene in the street just after the shooting was most effecting.Mrs BOURLAND with her arms clasped about her husbands neck sobbed hysterically "Fagan, darling, I love you.I did it all for you.I did not shoot at you.I love you too well for that.She surrendered herself to the Chief of Police, Surrett, who immediatly released her on her own recognizance.
Maude ALLEN'S maiden name was AVERY and her mother lives at Seneca, Missouri.The scandal first became public, when her husband sued BOURLAND for $10,000.00 for alienating his wifes affections.(Maude ALLEN is buried in the Mt. View cemetery, but no dates are given.)
Another sensational shooting took place at Ft. Smith Thursday noon, and as a result a woman is now a corpse. The shooting was done by Mrs. Fagan Bourland, the dead woman being May ALLEN, a paramour of Mrs. BOURLANDS husband.
The cause leading up to the killing had a thorough airing a year or more ago, when Mrs. BOURLAND assulted the ALLEN woman and her husband and at the time inflicted a slight wound on both.May ALLEN on her recovery left the city but returned a short time ago and renewed her relations with BOURLAND. Mrs. BOURLAND learning this armed herself and went to the ALLEN woman's room and awaited her return, when she inflicted the fatal wound.Public sympathy is on Mrs. BOURLANDS side and she hasn't even been arrested.(April 24, 1897,Van Buren Press)
For the killing of Maude ALLEN by Mrs. Fagan BOURLAND on the 22nd day of last April, the plantiffs,the mother and sister of Maude ALLEN,are suing BOURLAND for $25,000.00, believing they are entitled to that amount of money.It is claimed that Maude had been in the habbit of sending home as much as $20.00 per month, and this fact is dwelth upon in the complaint.It is said that Mr. BOURLAND isn't concerned about having to pay it.(Saturday,September 25,1897,Van Buren Press)