More Information:
About Walter Bernard Hunter:
1900 census Chipco, Pasco Co, Florida Avalter Hunter Dec 1873, , Ga, SC, Ga, Married 4, Children
1, 1, Farmer Mary E Nov 1873, , FL , Al , FL , Married 4, , Frances E July 1897, , FL , Ga, FL
, , , Joseph Erland Feb 1881, , FL , Al , FL , , , Farm Labor
The Gainesville Star,
June 26, 1903 A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY Woman Killed By Drunken Fiend While Trying to Save Husband Brooksville,
Fla., June 24. - A horrible tragedy occurred late last evening at Spring Lake, in this county, resulting
in two persons being killed almost instantly, while a third was seriously injured. The killed were
W. B. Hunter and Mrs. Cephas Eiland, Mr. Eiland being badly wounded. From the best information that
can be obtained at this time, it seems that Eiland and Hunter were not on the best of terms. Hunter
was in Brooksville all day yesterday, attending court, which is not in session here. Hunter and some
friends left town early yesterday evening for their respective homes. When the party were out some
distance from here, they separated, and instead of Hunter going directly to his home, as the others
supposed, he went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Eiland, who were preparing to partake of their evening
meal. According to the statement made by Eiland, Hunter came into the house and began using profane
and abusive language in the presence of Mrs. Eiland, and was ordered to leave the premises. At this
point Hunter, being under the influence of liquor, pulled the pistol and began firing at Eiland, who
returned the fire. Mrs. Eiland immediately sprang between the two combatants while they were exchanging
shots, and was instantly killed. After emptying his pistol, Hunter ran a short distance and expired.
From the last report received here, Eiland, though badly wounded, was resting easy and it is thought
will recover. The parties to his horrible affair are well known in Hernando county. Hunter was a
brother-in-law of Eiland, and when sober was all right, but when intoxicated is said to have been very
quarrelsome. Cephas Eiland is a son of Dan Eiland, a citizen of Spring Lake. He is a quiet inoffensive
young man but is said to be ?Nervy? when provoked to anger. The most deplorable feature of the tragedy
is the killing of Mrs. Eiland, who was shot down in the presence of her three little children, while
defending her young husband. Sheriff Law visited the scene of the tragedy last night, but turned
the matter over to Justice of the Peace Croft, who will hold an inquest if necessary. This terrible
affair has caused deep regret throughout the county, as the parties involved are all young and just
in the prime of life. Hunter and Mrs. Eiland will be buried at Spring Lake today. - Times-Union. Who
could see the murdered Mrs. Eiland consigned to a bloody grave amid the sorrowing wails of those drink
made orphans and they say ?Let liquor alone and it will let you alone.
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