The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-20

A FEARFUL TRAGEDY
-~~~~~~~~v~~~o~O>,.~o~o~~>~o>~
A MURDER In OPEN COURT.
~ N'>yeo~s|~~>~- sr-y>oD.I~~>--
The AnteCedents Of the Parties, and
the incentives TO the Deed.
Etc, Etc., Etc" Etc. ETC., Etc.

About 10 o'clock this morning the court
room of the Quarter Sessions was the scene of
a tragedy which is quite unparalleled in the
history of crime. As a man by the name of
George Eller, was being brought into the court
room, to be placed on trial for the alleged com
mission ofan outrage upon the person of a young
girl, the father of the latter Thomas Leis,
placed pistol at his heart and fired, the ball
entering the body of Eller just above the left
nipple, and causing almost instant death. The
circumstances attending the commission of
this terrible act, together with the past rela-
tiOns of the two parties to each other, were as
follows
Themurdered man was q tailor by trade, and
resided at No $40 Orchard street, below Poplar.
He was about thirty years of age. was of the
ordinary height, of slight build, with dark hair,
and when he met his summary fate was neatly
attired in plain black suit
Thomas Leis, the avenger of his daughters
shame, and, as it is also supposed of his own
imagined personal wrongs, was near neigh
Dor of his victim, as his residence was at No.
$50 Orchard street During the war he was
member OF the Twelfth Regiment of Pennsyl-
Yania Cavalry, commanded by Colonel William
Frishmuth, of this city.
His reputation with his companions in arms
was none of the best all efforts made by the
officers to get efficient service out OF him having
failed, In 1868, while the regiment was in camp
at or near Georgetown, d. c., Leis deserted, but
he was afterwards taken, anu kept for some
time in confinement. From this restraint he
managed to escape, whether through the conni-
vance Of others or by his own unaided eXertions
was never discovered and he was not retaken.
Residing so closely to each other, it
natural that the families of the two men should
be on terms of intimacy, but about a year ago
their friendly relations towards each other
were dlSt9rDeu py some ne i t
manner Leis became indebted to Eller in the
sum OF $780, for the payment OF which
ing finally to settle the Indebtedness for
Si5O S; M Mrs d deiS the mn @ an eiort 20 pay tne
Vored to dispose OF some certificates OF stock in
Land aSsocia1Ioh d & sue Was pna0ae 70 n 1nd "a
operations, and become much incensed at Eller
on np %eGGnni .%n Sf 6f his d nPP isad
commit an outrage upon the person of daugh.
ter of Lels, about twelve years. OF age, and
named Louisa. There are various rumors
atoat concerning the circumstances attending
frain from making public on account of their
conflicting nature. For tins alleged offense
Eller was arrested and held in $500 bail, Mr.
the Sd of May, 1866, he was indicted for the
offense, but shortly afterwards he left the city,
going to Harrisburg IL is said. His bail was
forfeited. and suit brought, Judgment being OBJ
tanned and execution issued some months
on the 10Th of December last, Eiler was again
arrested, on bail process issued by the Court
OF Quarter sessions, and committed to await
bis trlal. FOR this purpose he was brought into
/ Court on several occasions during the recent
term of the Court, but for some reason the trial
was postponed from time to time.
This morning the prisoner was again brought
/ from the County Prison, to be placed on trial.
Just as he was passing into the Court
krotzer being Immediately behind him,
Leis. who was in waiting just within the
room, stepped up and drew q pistol from
/ his side pocket, which he placed at the breast
of Eller, and fired at once. On receiving the
scream, and fell back in the arms of the tip
staye: The shot proved fatal in n few minutes,
and the BODY was removed to the Clerks Office
of the Quarter Sessions, and from there to the
Coroner,s office About an hour afterwards the
wife OF the deceased visited the Coroner's office
| exhibiting great deal Of emotion on account
of the calamity which had fallen so suddenly
| upon her.
AS soon as the crime was committed Lels
was taken before Judge Ludlow who had just
entered the Courtroom.
The report of the pistol had caused a great
commotion in the Courtroom, several of the
ladies who were in attendance as witnesses
| fanting away.
Judge Ludlow having secured the renewal of
good order, listened to the testimony OF several
officers and others who had witnessed the
affair. The Judge was remarkably cool and
| collected, Notwithstanding the confusion pre-
vailing; and having heard the testimony, he
addressed the prisoner as follows:-
This is not the proper occasion for COM
ments upon the occurrence of this morning
was one of the most audacious, ,bold-faced deeds
upon record. order that you be taken to the
County Prison, and there be kept in custody to
await trial at the next term OF the court for the
murder of George Eller,'
and taken at once to the County Prison He is
a stout and square-built man, about five feet
seven inches In height, his eyes dark, as well as
his hair and whiskers, the latter worn only
upon the chin and upper lip.
| He is, apparently, about forty-hve years of
age, and exhibited great composure FROM drst
TO last. Thus far all expressions of public sym.
pathy have been entirely with the prisoner,
but the elicitation of all the facts in the case
may cause a change in this respect.
| The inquest on the body OF Eller will be held
tomorrow afternoon at O'Clock.