From the November 5, 1910 Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

“Dresden, Tenn.–Despondent because he had been forced to surrender his 18 year old bride, Thomas Gaskins, 75 years of age, a wealthy planter, stabbed himself with a pocket knife at his home, near here, yesterday, inflicting wounds which probably will terminate fatally.

Following the death of his wife, three weeks ago, Gaskins, despite parental objection, procured the consent of Lizzie McDaniels to marry him. Thursday he rode to the McDaniels home astride a mule, held the family at bay with a revolver, and rode away with the young woman seated behind him.

They rode four miles to Paris, where they were married yesterday morning. In the meantime the sheriff, at the request o the girl’s father, went in pursuit of the elopers. When he overtook them Gaskins submitted to arrest, his wife climbed into the buggy with the sheriff, and the three continued to Dresden, Gaskins riding ahead on his mule. On the way Gaskins escaped, and when found at his home several hours later, was in a dying condition as the result of self-inflicted knife wounds.”