The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-03-20
Tragedy in a Philadelphia Court
Room.

charge. OF rape. by the father Of the iu.
Jured girl, in the Court Of Quarter Sessions,
in Philadelphia on Wednesday last The
Philadelphia papers give the following
particulars Of the affair:
Ou the leth Of April last, George Eler
WAS arrested on a.charge Of committing
su assault upon Louisa beis, a child,
twelve years Of age, daughter Of Thomas
Leis, a German. At the time of the al.
legged outrage, Eler and his wife occupied
rooms in the dwelling Of Mr.. Leis, No.
$50 Orchard street, 18th Ward, and on
the day in question it is alleged that the
father and mother being away from home,
Eller took. advantage Of their absence to
accomplish his purpose. The fact was
discovered soon after the return Of the
mother, and An examination by a pbysi.
clan convinced the parents Of the truth OF
the story. Eller was then arrested and
bound over by Aid. Miller, to answer the
charge. He obtained bail, but afterwards
left the city. His bail was then forfeited;
whereupon his bondsman followed him 10
Harrisburg and had him arrested and
brought back to Philadelphia He was
then committed TO prison in default Of
bail, and had been in Moy amensng about
two months before bis trial was fixed.-
Since tire occurrence Leis has been much
depressed 10 spirits, and frequently ex
pressed his anxiety TO have the case dis
posed Of, referring to-the fact tha. nearly
year had elapsed since the binding over
BY the alderman. He had employed
private counsel TO prosecute the accused.
The case was named foi trial OH Tuesday,
and Leis, his wife and daughter were in
attendance, while the prisoner sat in the
dock. The ordinary business of the
court prevepted.the case being reached,
and it was understood tb at. it would be
tried yesterday. 10 the morning, a few
minutes before ten O'Clock, Leis, without
his wife or daughter, came into court and
took seat on one Of the benches against
he northern wall near and facing the
narrow entry through WHICH the prisoner.
pass FROM the van to the dock. There
WAS no,bing in bis demeanor to attract
the attention Of the officers, or to indicate
bis purpose to do injury to any one. He
remained quietly seated until the tip
slaves came in with tho prisoners. Eller
was the third brought from the van
Just rs he reached the angle of the entry,
and was about 10 turn to 90 to the dock,
Leis, tben within three feet of him, ex
tended his arm towards the left breast OF
Eller, and discharged one barrel Of an
Aliens revolver, the load taking effect 10
the !et breast, passing through coat, vest,
shirt and into the heart. The wounded
man exclaimed, "Oh! oh !" aud fell back
dead, into tha arms Of an officer.
The report Of the pistol caused great
excitement in the court room. although i,
was not known at first, except to the few
in he immediate vicinity OF the actor. in
the tragedy, that a man had been killed
One lady tainted and was carried out
Others screamed, while there was a rush
OF the male spectators 10 roach the dock
in order 70 ascertain the cause of the re
port. Judge Ludlow gave directions te
the officers 70 have. order maintained and
then produce the prisoner before him. -
To the midst Of all this excit sment apt
confusion Lsis was calm. aud collected -
He made not the slightest attempt to es
cape, but when the officers seized him b,
remarked, ~ will allow no man to destro,
my fatniIy." After q passage way hat
been cleared, by the removal Of the dea,
body Of Eller to The office ofthe Clerk @
the Quarter Sessions, .Les was broup,,
before theJudge and an examination en-
tered into, when tha facts Of the SHOOTING
as above stated. were established BY
number OF witnesses.
During the examination Leis was stand
ing in front Of the Judge, and through GU
8 WAS cool and collected. At the close c
D The Testimony the Judge addressed tn
J prisoner.
, Judge Mudlow-What is your name
I Prisoocr-My name 10 Thomas Leis-
L e'i-s-(spelling i,1
. Judge Mudlow-This is no, the tim
D or the occasion to comment on such
= case as this; still I cannot refrain fror
= charscterizing it as a scandslous and out
9 rageous act; no matter what ths-provoca
J ton. | shall commit you to the count
prison to snswer 1t the-psxL term OF lb,
court tho charge Of murder. rr...