from The Republican (Danville, Indiana)--issue of Thursday, January 21, 1904—page 4, column 3:
WIPES OUT FAMILY
Everett Bourne Commits Suicide After Wholesale Killing
Press dispatches from San Antonio, Texas, Tuesday, state that Everett Bourne, son of J.N. Bourne, of Coatesville, killed his wife, his mother-in-law, fatally wounded his wife's stepfather and finally killed himself. Bourne was a fireman on a railroad and was called from a game of cards Monday night by his wife who asked him to go home. He went home with her and upon arriving, he drew a revolver and shot his wife through the heart, and his wife's mother, Mrs. Henrietta Beatty, also through the heart, killing them instantly. He then shot W.S. Beatty, stepfather of his wife. Beatty was shot through the breast, receiving a probably fatal wound. Bourne then stood in front of a mirror and shot himself through the heart dying instantly.
Relatives of Bourne in this county know nothing more than conveyed in the press notes. Bourne went to Texas some twelve years ago as a private in the army. He has had trouble at various times, once engaging in a running fight with Marshal Starr at Greencastle. A year ago he shot a brother of his wife and once stabbed a man at El Paso, Texas. He is the second son of J.N. Bourne to commit suicide.
from The Republican (Danville, Indiana)--issue of Thursday, February 4, 1904—page 1, column 5:
THE BOURNE TRAGEDY
Details of The Murders and Suicide in San Antonio
San Antonio papers give little additional information on the Bourne tragedy than that conveyed in the press dispatches. Bourne killed his wife, his mother-in-law, wounded his father-in-law and killed himself. The only member of the family who escaped was Jimmie, his own four year old son, who, was found in the dining room crouched terrified between the clasped forms of his mother and grandmother and covered with the blood from their bodies.
The tragedy was the culmination of domestic unhappiness that has existed ever since the marriage of Bourne. Three children had been born to him, only one surviving. Bourne was a fireman on a railroad and was injured in a wreck about a year ago. Since that time he has gone on crutches. He had a suit pending growing out of his injuries.
Bourne was playing cards in a saloon when his wife called and asked Bourne to go home. He cursed her and remarked to his comrades that he would put an end to this tonight. His wife went home and Bourne followed in a few minutes. He and his wife had words and a struggle. Her hands and arms were torn and bruised. She had apparently broken away from him and fled toward a rear door when he shot her in the back. She died within a few minutes. Mrs. Beatty (the wife's mother) appeared to have come in at the door where her daughter was attempting to escape, the women meeting in the door-way. Bourne there shot her, killing her instantly, the women falling virtually locked in each others' arms.
Mr. Beatty had retired but arose and started to the women. Bourne shot him with the last bullet in his revolver. Bourne then went to his own room reloaded his revolver and standing before the mirror, fired and killed himself. The first neighbor who reached the house found Bourne expiring. The revolver was evidently a new one, 38 calibre with long barrel and made to discharge steel-cased bullets.
The last information from San Antonio was that Mr. Beatty was still living.